SUSAN

Don, my husband was active duty Air Force for 24 years. He spent a year in Korea and a year in Egypt, while I stayed behind. It's not easy, it doesn't get easy and there is no way around it. I had to take care of my two sons, plus all the bills and such. What fun. I know you care about your son so much, because I have 4 son's and wouldn't trade them for anything!! None are in the military however. Just hang in there. Support your son, let the tears flow. Remember REAL MEN cry!! And love that beauty of a granddaughter!!!!

Pam

Don, My hubby was in the USMC for 20 years and I have faced this many, many times. Know that his training is good, and ongoing. The time leading up to his deployment will be very difficult, but even harder is the last few weeks before he returns. I don't know why, but it just is.

I wish to thank him for his service, and you for raising such a good young man.

SharonC

Don-I served in the USAF for almost 27 years. Thank your son for his service! You've obviously raised a wonderful young man. Remember, it's often harder of those we leave behind. We are trained and we do what we do best. You are all in my prayers.
As per usual, your quilts are beautiful! Lovely GD too:) :)
Sharon

jljack

Beautiful quilt and beautiful little grandaughter!

Our son is in Iraq right now. He is near the battlefields in a FOB (Forward Operations Base). Not a very safe place to be. We have put him in the hands of God, and trust that he will be protected and come home safe. We know he will come back with emotional scars, so we are trying to prepare for that. There is not much else we can do. We try not to worry and pray for him. Hope this helps.

May in Jersey

Beautiful quilt and grandbaby. Will be keeping your son's safe return home in my prayers. May in Jersey

Jim's Gem

Beautiful quilt and your grand daughter is precious!!

grammo013

Don my son was in Iraq as a communication specialist. They had a lot of hairy days but he is just not telling me about them after being home for three years. Don't ask questions because they can't atell a lot of things and a lot is to fresh in their minds. Let them recover and tell you when they are ready. But always be there for him.

As someone else mentioned stop reading newspapers and listening to news reports from Afganistan. They are not always 100% accurate and only cause us to worry more.

My son and I agreed when he left that we would just tell each other see you later (never goodbye). And it worked great for us. I raised my sons by myself for 12 years so we was close. They can email when they have time and other than infantry(sp) they do have time to kill.

Thank him for serving for us and he has been added to our prayer chain.

Ginaky

My son has deployed to Iraq twice, once for 12 months and once for 15 months. If I hadn't had work and friends there to keep me busy, I might have lost my mind! But I kept busy so I didn't have time to dwell on it and prayed a lot. He was able to keep in touch with us by computer almost every day, which helped. He had no children then. Now he has a 4 month old daughter and will most likely deploy to Afganistan or Iraq later this year. I think this time it will be much harder on him, leaving Katherine behind. He had to deploy to Haiti in Feb. for 3 weeks--wasn't in danger then, but away from a new baby. That was hard. He's 9 1/2 years from retirement now, and an officer, so he's pretty much stuck until he gets his twenty in. Thankfully they are at Ft. Knox now and less than 3 hours from us, so we are able to visit his wife and baby often when he's away and be there to help her, whatever she needs. Someone from our family was with her every other weekend while he was in Haiti. Like someone else said, make sure you are there to help his family and DON't read the news--the like to show only the bad parts, and they aren't all bad.

littlehud

Beautiful quilt and a beautiful grand daughter. My heart goes out to you about your son. You both are in my thoughts and prayers.

oksewglad

Don I always take time (dial up is so slow) to see your quilts. You sewing guys out there bring back memories of my retired farmer grandfather sitting at his old treadle sewing machine and stitching away. My sis is lucky to have a quilt of his as you grands will be lucky and have one of yours.