I would LOVE the opportunity to come teach your group! Please email for details.
LET THE MAGIC IN YOU COME OUT!

Search This Blog

11.05.2012

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.


40 comments:

  1. Oh wow my heart is nearly bursting with pride for you for your son. Thank you soooo much for sharing . :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you SO much Helen for your beautiful thoughts and words.

      Delete
  2. Me too Helen! Proud of a son who answers the call of his country and proud for the mom and dad who raised him! <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now...ya'all are gonna have me crying. Thank you dear friend.

      Delete
  3. Beautiful all of it, all of you.
    Lynn x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lovely words from a loving mother. A tribute to your son. Hope he comes home well again. Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Caatje! I'm sure he'll come home just fine...and the good thing about this deployment...is that it's only 9 months instead of the usual year.

      Delete
  5. A hero he is. Tell him so in your next letter that blog friend are so thankful there are men like him in the world who's purpose extends beyond themselves and we are lucky to have him . xox

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a beautiful story well told and illustrated. You and he look just alike. Congratulations Annie. You're an inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh gosh Sandi...I'm not the inspiration...he is!!! (Thanks for saying we look alike! - so many people think he looks like his dad...that it's nice to hear)! (Plus...I think he's beautiful). :)

      Delete
  7. I feel proud just reading this, he is a handsome man, you made me cry today,happy tears,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Laurie...so very much. Our tears are mingled.

      Delete
  8. This is a very powerful and inspiring post! He is a hero!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh thanks Carolyn. You can't imagine how your words support me.

      Delete
  9. I just wanted to walk away from your post feeling proud for our somewhat of late confused country, knowing that not all the people in it are confused about what needs to be done. But then you wouldn't know how your post touched me today. ...and proud of Bear We The People are too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm just sitting here crying...so thankful for your thoughts.

      Delete
  10. Just saw your intro on Art Quilts Around the World. Nice to meet you and meet your son!!! How proud you should and are of him!! Here's hoping he'll keep safe! He'll be in our thoughts for sure! Thank him for his effort from me!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you SO much Robbie! I will thank him from you. We got an email yesterday telling us that he'd arrived safe and sound and I'm sure that's the way it'll be for the whole deployment.
      PS - nice to meet you too!

      Delete
  11. You should be a proud mama! And I am thankful for the men and women who serve us in our military.

    ReplyDelete
  12. It is so amazing how our children become grown-ups without us realising it!....some day I may grow-up!
    Blessings...ybf ann.

    ReplyDelete
  13. He is a hero for all of us. We are proud of all your family.... :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. He does indeed look like he is thriving and very much a hero. I feel very moved by your words and photographs. Thank you for sharing this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lisa. He is, he is. :) I'm amazed at the empathy I've received from this post...and oh so very thankful.

      Delete
  15. This is so touching- I have a lump in my throat the size of London! You are a perfect mom too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Lord...I wish! Thank you so much. I cried for two days and thought I was over it...but your comment is bringing it on again!!!

      Delete
  16. I'm proud of you Annie ... for raising a son to be such a compassionate man.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Obviously I am way behind on my blog reading as I'm just now reading this one. This brought tears to my eyes! God Bless Your son (and you guys!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm way behind too Julia. Thank you so much for visiting. The kids are in Indiana until the week before Christmas...so I think I'll get lots of catch-up time with no babysitting. I so appreciate your tears and your blessings. (Isn't it funny?!? I thought about you yesterday).

      Delete
  18. Hello Annie

    What a beautiful tribute to your very brave son.

    Lovely to meet you at Vicki's party!
    I'm now following your blog - I love all things creative!
    You have such a beautiful giveaway, your art quilts are magnificent.
    I do hope you'll pop over and see me too and enter my GYB Giveaway!
    Enjoy the party
    Hugs
    Shane ♥
    http://roseslaceandbrocante.blogspot.co.nz/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Shane! Thank you SO much for reading and commenting on the post about my Bear. There is a slight chance that he can come home early. He's one of two left from his platoon that hasn't been sent home...so I sent readers to this post in hopes that more prayers would go out into the Universe for him. I'm so happy that you're following and that you enjoyed my art. Thank you! I'm off to see your blog now!

      Delete
  19. Hi Annie
    Trying to catch up on my blog reading - I'm way behind but now the boys have gone back to uni I hope to have a little more free time!
    You must be (and obviously are!) so proud of your son!
    Best wishes from a snowy England!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Gill!!! So good to hear from you! I am very proud of Bear and so happy you came to leave a comment...and I'm going to believe...send out some good thoughts for him and company! :) With 75 at night...at the coldest...I can't even imagine snow right now...but I'm sure it must be beautiful.

      Delete
  20. Your son IS a hero! And you raised that man, Annie, so you are too! I'm happy for you that you are moving back to the US...I can tell it's where you want to be. Also, am I in the correct place to win one of those lovely, lovely brooches? :) Safe travels my friend!

    ReplyDelete

Yuckola. More than half of my email has been from anonymous, so.....