Well, on facebook, I am "friends" with the Army base Benjamin is from. Hundreds of soldiers are returning from deployment soon. Volunteers are soliciting donations to fill welcome baskets for the them, especially because many of them will be coming home with no one to greet them. I just can't get that image out of my head, these guys getting off those planes, standing in formation while friends and families wait with joy, then...no one there for them. This volunteer group is putting together the baskets to let the soldiers know their community is thankful for them. If anyone wants the address, let me know dellamom16@yahoo.com
The baskets will have nuts and gatorade and shelf-stable microwave meals. wah. But seriously, just think to let them know they are appreciated. Tell me, am I the only one who thinks this is absolutely horribly depressingly sad? Those soldiers not having anyone there for them? Too bad there aren't volunteers to stand there and greet them, give them a hug...awkward though, "Hi, you don't know me, but want a hug?"...
For me, I am still in tears thinking of Benjamin, his dreams stepping off that plane and melting into his wife's arms have been shattered, this time for good. She has made her choice, and it isn't Ben. I am sad for him, and sad for her. I wouldn't wish a Dear John Letter on anyone, but to have it happen to my own son is just heartbreaking. He tried so hard, he wanted things to work. I am just so very thankful that he has his faith in God, because if he didn't, I don't know how he would cope. War is hard enough without heartbreak too.
Paul and I will be there for him though. The ticket prices are inching up, but Ben hasn't a firm date yet, now he says the Medics will fly out last and that is a week later than we had thought. I think a flexible date ticket will cost as much or more than the going rate...but I am still researching.
And so life goes. One thing after another, day in day out...I am trying to Capture The Moments. Live In The Moments. Because today is all we really have. I know that is about as cliche' as cliche' gets, but it is so true. We only get this one ride through.
Today, many of my moments will be taken up doing all the dishes that accumulated between after dinner and now.
My brother Bob is coming over today to hopefully finally get the hot tub pipes fixed. It seems to be a little more complicated than we originally thought, so hopefully it will get done today. I would love to be soaking in that soon...ha, soaking. More like telling kids not to go underwater in the hot water and to stop splashing all the expensive heated water out. But still. It will be nice.
Tonight is Activity Club for the kids at church, I get to drive them. They are carving pumpkins, I will help if I am needed. Friday night is another Dome, then Monday is an NBA event at the Dome. I would like to take the younger kids to a pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin one of these days.
Oh well, enough for this morning.
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6 comments:
Praying for Benjamin and Ashley. What a heartbreaking situation, I'm sorry to hear things aren't going to work out :(
sorry to hear about this. that is sad for all the soldiers coming back w/o anyone. glad you are there for him. yes, stay in this moment, that's all we have. now.
That is so sad for Benjamin, what a bittersweet Homecoming. And although it is not for me to judge and absolutely none of my business, I find it hard to comprehend how she can do that to him, I mean she knew he would be gone for a long time. I hope he will find peace. You are a very nice person to feel for her as well.
Julie...I deleted your comment after I realized I shouldn't have published it. I am slow on the uptake sometimes. Thank you for your kind thoughts! I'm sure things will work out. Simone, bittersweet is exactly the word I would use too. I am also having a hard time comprehending how she could do it.
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