MY HERO...

I haven't talked about it a lot...

but the main reason we went to the States this last time 

was to visit our son...(whom we still call Bear).

He joined the Army 5 years ago...

and really, really

loves his job.

 He left yesterday - headed to Afghanistan -

for his 3rd deployment. 

This one...he volunteered for.

When his COs told him he could stay home...

since he'd only been back a year since returning...

(a year in Iraq...a year home...TWICE)

he said, "No. I'm the man for the job".

And he is.

He took us on a tour of the motor pool 

And later told his dad and I -

 and Danny (a friend who came to visit from Florida)

about how he feels when he knows that he's been instrumental in saving a life...or...many lives. 

He had the most beautiful, sincere expression in his eyes when he was telling us this 

that I'm not sure I've ever been prouder of him.

He talked about some of the things he'd been involved in - to save lives - 

and told us that we couldn't imagine how good it felt to be a part of that.

As I've told myself and others...countless times...ever since he joined the Army...

"He will thrive". 

Period. 

And he is Thriving.

In my eyes 

he's a hero.