Sometimes it would be just so nice to pick up the phone and call my son. Since that is not possible I try to think what I would say to him if I could talk to him. This exercise helps me in formulating my next letter to him. I don't know if he has even received any of the letters I have sent to him. Hopefully this weekend I will hear from him. Some day if he gets married and has children he will learn what it means to wait for a phone call, letter or visit. I'm happy he is able to do the work he loves and that he is healthy. I continue to pray for his safety and the safety of his men and wisdom for our leaders.

Encouraging to others

Today I was going through some older pictures of David and remembering how he developed skill as a leader. He was in Speech, cross country track, and enjoyed school. He was a team player and encouraged team mates to do their best. He was the one who encouraged the competitor who came in last. He would find something that was a demonstrated strength for that individual and assist them in developing that part of their performance. He didn't compete with others as much as he choose to try and improve his personal best.

Sunday Funnies

It is with so much pride as parents we witness our children growing and developing into the men and women we believed they could become. When that time arrives, It is accompanied with a sense of loss, the loss of knowing we no longer have the ability to protect or help them to manage the tough bumps in the road. As a parent of adult children, I have had to learn to be patient and quietly wait until the invitation is extended to share my thoughts. (I don't always succeed, but I try) When my son was deployed to Iraq, trying to communicate over the telephone was difficult at best, due to time constraints and often poor connections. The conversations are short and mostly only have time to say I love you and try to be safe. One strategy I've found helpful is to avoid watching the news on the television, write to David every week and include items in my letters that are upbeat and positive, such as the Sunday funnies.