Not coming home

[Quadralene]

I just wanted to say to all the families (myself included) whose children are not coming home this Christmas, be blessed in spite of. Remember someone's child/children will not be home this Christmas or any other Christmas. I know that some of you haven't seen your child/children in quite some time now, and I won't be insensitive when I say this.We sometimes loose focus and put too much emphasis on holidays. Let's make it a habit to celebrate life (everyday) honoring our children and the people we love everyday. I think about the families (moms, dads, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents and children) that will spend this Christmas visiting grave sites, hospitals and other medical facilities and my heart breaks for them. It could be me, it could be any of you. So let's vow to celebrate life and one another everyday. Let's never miss that one moment to say "I love you". And never say anything that you may regret.

[Jennifer]

God Bless your Heart, Thanks for da kind words and encourgement .it was very hard for me because it was my first
x-mas w/o my Only son. but I thank you because i'm in total agreement with you especially never missing the moment to say I Luv You. and i'm Staying Focus with the word of God.. And yes i vow 2 celebrate life with fullness and to do God's work and his will My fav is (Psalms 91 (Protection) again, thanks be to you you stay up. God Bless.

[Andrea Hunt]

Jennifer, Hang tough. My son hasn't been home for Christmas for the entire 11 years he's been active Navy. That's ok, though, as we talk often, and with a bit of encouragement he's discovering that if he provides me with updates of my grandson and the expected baby and wife I'm ok. And, his wife is a doll! God will help you get through this entire holiday season. The Navy does make every effort to rotate holidays with their men, like christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Years. Sometimes our guys just need the air carriers to understand that when they do have the time to come home, their pay checks won't allow them to purchase tickets for the entire family to do so and they should assist them in some way. Always, Always remember to tell your children you love them, and that you are proud of them for doing their job in keeping all of us safe.

[claudia]

God Bless you, Quadralene. What you say it's very true, my sailor won't be home for the holiday's , but i know i have to be strong because i have younger children and i have to hold to every tear in front of them. My sailor is doing great , happy,with peace in his heart, and always letting him know that I LOVE HIM. Thank you for understanding what moms of U S saliors go through. Once again (GRACIAS) ...Thank you and God Bless....

[Helen smith]

Hi Quadralene - Thank you for writing something so close to my heart. I also have a son who is on deployment wright now. He wont be back until April sometime. But that's OK God blessed me with a phone call from him Christmas day. Now that was the best gift i could of asked for. But im looking forward to the homecoming. I pray everyday God would look after are men and women and keep his angles with them at all times. I wont to thank you for thinking and praying for us, the mothers because its been extremely hard for me this year, so thank you again. Helen

[Nicole L. Carey]

Life is short so therefore we should not go around holding bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts for one another. I am grateful for each day that God gives me. If our children are not with us at least we know where they are and they made a decision to stand for righteousness just as our Lord and Savior did for our sins. Everyday is a day of Thanksgiving so therefore we should be thankful everyday and all day . If we just think about people that we know that are less fortunate than we are we would realize how Blessed we are. Don't miss the opportunity to do something nice for someone it will take your mind off of your problems. And when we are faced with problems don't focus on the problem but focus on the problem solver JESUS CHRIST after all he is the reason for this season anyway. I LOVE YOU and there is nothing you can do about it. BE BLESSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Florence, Adam's Mom]

Nicole,
I wish Adam's brothers, sister, and wife could read you ture words. You know sometime when one hear the same words but spoken by a different person they listen.

Love and Prayers!!!!!!!!!

[Lesley <TribalDancer>]

What you've spoken touches me as a mother who has a son 'thinking about going' stage. He's made his mind up and has spoken with a recruiter several times. The thing holding him back is about 28lbs. to meet the guidelines for entry. He goes to the gym and I'm helping him watch his eating. So this Christmas has been very dear and very aware that it might be a while before I have another with him. So yes celebrating everyday is the right thinking.

I hope by the spring he'll have that weight off and going in ....and the whole family just excited for him.

Lesley Dale's mom

[Florence, Adam's Mom]

Quadralene,
Thank you so much for your words and I hope every one reads this; we all have to be remined every now and then the ture meaning of Christmas.

Love and Prayers

[Dawn, Matt's mom]

This is so spot on. Thank you for writing, I wish I would have seen it when I was so very funked out on the 24th and 25th. Since then my DH, DD, and I have been visiting the grandparents and sibs in a neighboring states. This has included seeing two nephews the age of my son. The comparison was striking and I was so thankful for what the Navy had done to make him become and even finer young man it has made the missing him much, much easier.

[Alisa (Jason's mom)]

Woohoo...my son showed up here at 2:30 a.m. today. We had no idea he was coming home. He drove straight through after work yesterday (13+ hours) pulling a trailor with his motorcycle on it. My husband woke me up and said "I want you to come look at this." I thought maybe the dogs had done something wrong and he wanted it cleaned up right away. But there stood our oldest son just beaming. I hugged him and cried and cried. He said are you okay. I said I was fantastic now. He's staying for 12 days. Halleluah! He asked us not to tell the relatives so he could surprise them all. What a blessing to start this new year with my oldest boy (oops sorry I meant "man") home with us. I am on cloud 9. I hope others of you will get the same Christmas present from your loved sailor one day. God bless everyone this season and have a blessed new year. ;-)

[Barbara]

Dear fellow Mom. My name is Barbara, and my sailor is not coming home either. I do think of others , that will feel the same emptiness that i do. I always remember the real unfortuntate ones, that will Never see thier loved ones again. Those on the front line, sleeping in dirt , and eating rations. My sailor is warm,has a bunk , warm food , etc. He constantly reminds me of those less fortuntate then him.Ill end this comment , with God Bless all of us. And Happy Holidays. Love, Barbara , mother of Sean

[Tina]

Thank you for what you said. How true that we should celebrate life daily. A family friend's son was in a near death car accident about a week before Christmas--he is doing much better now. My son was unable to come home yet all his friends (they too are in different branches of the millitary) stopped in Christmas evening to celebrate, laugh, and share stories. I took some pictures of the gang to send to my son. Life is very precious and we sometimes get too caught up in our daily lives to celebrate the little things that make life fun, memorable, and exciting. I have been trying to spend more time with my girls. Enjoy the new year and try to enjoy life and all that it has to offer.