December 22, 2006

Good News, Bad News

Little BIL just called us. You may remember, he joined the Army last year, and has been stationed in South Korea since May. He's scheduled to be there until May of 2008. We talked to him briefly last weekend (Husband longer than I did), and I knew the conversation had turned to Iraq. What Husband forgot to tell me was that the rumor was Little BIL stood the chance of being sent to Iraq the end of December.

He called this morning to tell us he wasn't being sent (as of now). There are 3 bases very close together and 10 men from one of the neighboring bases have volunteered to go to Iraq. He may be sent eventually, but not now. This all came as a shock to me, as no one had mentioned it to me. But it's also a relief.

I have a cousin I've mentioned once before named Scottie who's also in the Army. He came home from a stint in Iraq last spring (the weekend of Inkling's wedding shower was his home coming party). My aunt and uncle got a call last week saying Scottie (who just bought a new house and is getting serious with his new girlfriend) is being sent back December 27th for 6 months to 2 years.

Another cousin is a Chaplin in the Illinois National Guard and is constantly hearing he's about to be shipped out, but it never happens. For this we are thankful.

I will not get on a soap box abut Iraq. I don't have one, to be honest. I have mixed emotions on the subject. All I know is that these young men and women are working hard and need our prayers and support. As we are fast approaching Christmas I ask that you keep not only the troops in Iraq, but all the troops that are far from home in your prayers. This will be Little BIL's first Christmas away from home and it will not be easy. I cannot imagine what families who are without Husbands and Fathers are going through right now. Please pray for them all.

2 comments:

Grace said...

My heart always heart for all those families at the holiday time. I always cry when they have soldiers on the news saying "hi" to their families.

Lauren said...

a good friend's husband came home from iraq the day his wife went into the hospital to give birth with their baby. God's timing is perfect! my cousin served in afghanistan and iraq, and another cousin is in the military. yes, i pray for all the men and women who are over there!

congrats on passing the 10,000 count!