All I can say is WOW!

I'm kinda stunned and at the same time I have to laugh.  Several weeks ago I had a dream that my son was deploying back to war.  All the fears and anxieties were all there in my dream.  I woke up and thought, thank goodness it was just a dream, he's not going to deploy again.  I thought I would mention it to a friend of mine for some sense of documentation just in case but I said nothing else to the others....Well my son called me yesterday to ask my opinion or at least thoughts about him re-enlisting in Active Duty.  Wow, what do I say?  All I could really muster up was make sure the decision you make you can live with.  I just want him to be happy.  Of course and then I said, you know you'll probably deploy again.  Sigh, I don't really know what to say.  The economy is in the tank, he has no job, he's in school but that's no guarantee of getting a job, not anymore.  I guess really all I can do is wait and see what he decides to do.  He wants to talk to a recruiter before making his final decision, so I will wait...

...and try to remain calm. ohmmmmmm, ohmmmmmmm...

Once an Army Mom always an Army Mom

I know I brushed on this topic before, but it never ceases to amaze me the bond between a mother and her child and the bond of the military mothers as well.

The soldiers have their fraternal brotherhood, but let me tell you, the military moms have their own and it extends to the other mothers' soldier as well. It's not just about our own kids, it's about everyone else that touches the lives of our children within the military. We all grieve together, and we all rejoice together. Now I thought that now my son is serving in the National Guard and the possibility of him going back to Iraq had dimished greatly and the resemblence to a "normal" life would resume. However, that's not so, that is I still think about the Soldiers still fighting and are about to fight. I still say prayers for them and my heart goes out to the ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. I still think about JD's mother who is now a Gold Star Mother.

When I see a soldier, during my everyday life, I think of his mother, of him and all that he has gone through. He may or may not have been through war, but he has still made sacrifices for the sake of our country. It humbles me to think of all they have been through. I think of my life when my son was deployed both times. In fact I had a dream not too long ago about my son. He was redeployed. All the feelings I had back way when came rushing back. It actually shook me up a bit. Now don't get me wrong, I'm truly proud of my son, it was that fear that came back of having a child deployed in harms way. I don't miss that part of his Active Duty.
My heart still goes out to all of the mothers with current Active Duty Soldiers. God bless them all.

However, I know there are a lot of you out there who have not gotten to the stage of their child finishing up his/her contract or for those whose child will be a lifer. For you, how are you doing? How are you coping? If you ever need an ear, please drop me a line. I'm here for you.

Until next time, Army Mom Out