Editor’s note: I am privileged to correspond with some very wonderful PGRiders. Annette sent me the following in an email.

Hi all,

Just reporting to you the "wonderful works" of the Lord in what He is doing in the military ministry right in Appleton. Before I begin, just want to share with you that today is our son Luke's 25th birthday! He celebrated his 21^st (golden) birthday as a sniper in Iraq, then his 23^rd birthday somewhere in Iraq on a convoy security and then today celebrating his 25^th at Ft. McCoy for a 21 day war drill, next March his unit will be in Iraq, God-willing.

Two weeks ago, Luke called disappointed, they were being tested for rifle marksmanship. He is tied with another guy for 2nd and 3rd place out of 400 men. He got 20 out of 20 night gun shooting, and 38 out of 40 for day time shooting. He said – “Ma, I should have not rushed those two shots!" That's my boy!

~~~

We had a "Send-off" mission for a soldier from Appleton on Monday, July 7th, here is my God report!

Early Monday morning, I open my bible up, and I so happen to open up to a page that had this verse underlined.

Isaiah 50:4

The Lord God has given Me, the tongue of the learned,

That I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.

Yes, that has been my heart's cry ever since I prayed 3 years ago after Luke returned home from Iraq the first time, I prayed for a military mom's ministry to come along the side of other soldier's mothers to help carry their burden. I prayed to be like Kong Solomon to have a "largeness of heart" and to have words to be seasoned with grace and salt. I continue with that prayer.

Monday morning, I and others arrived at Cindy and John's house in honor of their son-Brian. We had a flag line and soon after the parents came out apologizing that their son went to visit friends the night before and he didn't return home. We Patriot Guard Riders were a surprise to Brian in sending him off to war. The parents were so embarrassed and we assured them that we are not only here for their son but also support for them. (Only normal for a young 19 year old hanging out with friends for his last time before he goes to war.)

As we stood in our "circle of comfort" to begin going around the circle to say encouraging words and prayers from Mike Weaver – one for the soldier and the other for the parents. I noticed on their sign on their house-the Christian "fish" symbol! That made me smile!

After our words and prayers, you could see the overflowing thankful heart that we were there for them. This picture is taken while Mike was praying, Cindy to the right, younger son in middle, John and then neighbor on left.

I presented John with a "Father's dog tag" and a cross pin with a flag on it and a hug. Also gave him Brian's card with the Joshua 1:9 scripture in it and his dog tag along with a soldier's bible. (At the Family Christian Store in Appleton and all over the United States, they are trying to get this $5.00 bible out to as many soldiers as possible. You may go to the store and purchase a bible, write something in it and they will send the bible to soldier's for you.) This bible is the digital camouflage cover just like their uniforms.

Then I presented a "mom" card and mother's dog tag along with a military prayer book to Cindy and a hug. We shared tears in each others' arms and I told her that I am here for her because I know exactly what she is going through. I had my telephone number included in the card.

I handed out to the brother and neighbors support dog tags and the patriotic cross.

Cindy presented us a white rose with both patriotic and yellow ribbons.

~~~

Tuesday, July 8, Cindy called me and thanked me again for attending the send-off and apologized up and down. I again assure her, I actually came to love on her because I knew what she was going through. I told her as I drove to her house, I cried for her, never knew this mom but my heart was hurting for her.

Cindy was saying she was holding Brian's hand at the Madison Airport that she wished he was little again so she can protect him. (I told Cindy that I too had that SAME thought with Luke going to war, but a war trial is the biggest test of faith for a mother. To trust and "Let go, Let God" and knowing that God is holding Brian's hand and will be protecting him is a lot better then what us mother's can do.)

I told Cindy that I prayed Sunday night for a scripture to share with Brian to read to him when we had our circle of comfort. Since he wasn't there, I read it to her over the phone. Jeremiah 29: 11-13

For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Well...A God thing! Cindy started to cry and shared with me that she bought Brian a "Marine Bible" and had THAT same scripture highlighted in that bible with a yellow ribbon! We both had tears and those Jesus shivers! I said to Cindy--that's a confirmation for you that Brian WILL return home safe from war. Cindy said "I hope so."

How awesome is the Lord that not only Cindy is my sister-in-the Lord but we our military mothers together to encourage each other. God is so good!

God bless our Marines and soldiers and their families!.."with a humble attitude of gratitude"

~net

ps. Below is Cindy's tribute she wrote for her son. What she wrote truly reflects all Marine and soldier's mothers hearts!

~~~

My son..My Marine...

My son leaves for Iraq in July.  But before that, he leaves me.  I will be taking him to the airport on July 7th.  It will be the last time I touch my son, umblemished by war.  He will return forever changed.  I know this.  Regardless of his physical state of being on the day he returns, he will be forever changed.  As will I be.  I am not a Super Mom..  I want to say “stay here with me”.  Safe.. Whole.  I keep this to myself.  But he knows…and it goes without saying..I love him, I am proud of him..but I am terrified..    

I think of poetry I wrote back in the day when he was born…when he was a toddler, child, adolescent, now a man at the tender young age of 19 and going to War.  My whole being is wrapped around the unsettling distress of now letting him go..entrusting only what God can do that I cant..  and that is take care and reign safety over my son.  What did I know back then when he was small? Actually a lot.  But my boy is too young to go to war.  I still had control back then, when he played in the sandbox with his GI Joes and army tanks, and trucks, his bleach, blonde, hair, glistening in the sun..showing me how proud he was of all the little cities he made in the sand. And now, I look at him, and I see the man behind the boys eyes.. What did I know back then?  

How would I ever known while watching him play in the backyard that he would become a US MARINE, that he would be going to War...going to a real Sandbox..unsettling ..undaunting…

And now this day, he is a US Marine..a Warrior...defending Freedom, as so many have done before him.. in the past, present and future... I wonder if people  really do acknowledge..and understand the sacrifices these young men and women make every day for them, for us.. for me… for the sake of safety for our Country… I struggle to ignore the unwelcoming and univiting heartless comments made..at the expense of my son.. and many other Mother’s sons...and I wonder..would their comments be different?. If it was their son going to a War Zone? A country where he is not welcome..where soon his meals will consist of contents in a pouch or a bag..and Thanksgiving, Christmas and his birthday will be spent without his family..where the sound of bombs exploding will become the norm for him to experience…perhaps then,  their outlook would become of a different mindset..of this thing called war..

As the days become closer to when he is deployed..I savor and cherrish every moment he is here..every second he is on US Soil..and when the last hug I give him at the airport becomes a reality.. my heart will ache..my arms will become empty ..the day to day uncertainty for his safety will illuminate and dwell within my soul until he comes home but one thing I know for sure as he walks away from me..one step closer to deploying without question or doubt..he will know he is loved..cared for and supported...My Son..my Marine..

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