Deployment

Tonight was a lot different than I thought it would be. Anyone who has wished well for a soldier who is close to them understands what is going on in my head right now. Those people who have never had someone close to you go into the military, I want you to understand: it's REALLY hard.

Maybe it's my genetics, maybe it's just that I'm a softie at heart, but I got weepy tonight. My two younger siblings are headed off to "the sandbox." My brother left about two weeks ago and my sister is leaving in the morning. Both head to Indiana for a few weeks of training and then it's out to Kuwait or Iraq (probably the first) to help close the base. In my last post, I mentioned decisions and the difficulty it can be to make up one's mind about what they are going to do. In the case of deployment, no one has a choice. Well... yeah, you do, but you can be sent to military prison, and you REALLY do NOT want to be there.

It's been a hard couple of weeks. With this math class I'm taking, the siblings leaving, I'll be headed for China in a few weeks, and my parents preparing for a move to another state, there's a TON to do and think about and stew over. This is not to mention the excitement with going on a trip, being finished with a college degree, and summer break. This is the first time for a very long time that I've cried openly. When my brother left, I kept it in pretty well, but this time, ...well..., the tears flowed! MAN!

So, what got to me? This is my baby sister. My little brother (who is taller than me, and probably better looking) left, and now my two youngest siblings are headed for a very dangerous place. Who knows what could happen! (Mom: If you are reading this... that's the end of the sad part) Luckily, LOTS of people pray for our troops around the world. People who don't believe in God pray for our troops. How nice that people support the ones protecting us on many fronts.

Now I'm about finished being sappy. My siblings and I have always been close. It was hard when my older sister got married and I rarely got to see her anymore (she lives 500 miles from here, so it's hard to get to see her often). Don't worry, though. Skype is a wonderful thing.

If you are not one supporting our troops in combat, maybe you should get to know someone who has a soldier. Not just a little bit, either. Go - talk to them, get to know them as a person, as a human, and then see how it feels when they get deployed. I am honored to have people in our military who would be willing to "give it all" to the cause of freedom for our nation, and those around the world.

God bless the soldiers, guard members, and support staff of the United States Military!