I'm a proud mother of an American Soldier!! He just made it home a couple of weeks before Holloween 2006 after serving along side the United States Army (He's a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force) performing escort duties in Iraq. He's a wonderful son, dedicated to family, his wife, their two children and of course, his country. I couldn't be more proud of him!!

The eight months that he and his unit were deployed were to say the least, the most difficult of my life. I simply cannot begin to decribe the emotions I felt as his mother. The news was always turned on, in every room of our home, and no matter which room you entered, you were surrounded by photographs of my two sons. I wanted to "feel" my children around me, engulfing me with the love that I know they have in their hearts for me, even before they left home to venture out on their own. It was always a great comfort for me to "have" my sons there, even though they were not (in the physical sense).  My husband told me once that I'm a "different person" since my oldest son enlisted in the Air Force and that I will probably never be the same again....ever.

Currently, my son is deployed again (the Air Force deploys on a 6 month rotation schedule) and God willing, he will be home again in February. So for now, we're planning yet another holiday (this is our 5th) without my son. All I want for Christmas is my son, home safe and healthy with his beautiful wife, son and the baby daughter he barely knows (she was born while he was serving in Iraq).

Is it possible for a heart to die while the "vessel" that carries it lives? I do believe it is true. A heart will wither and die, whether it be a little at a time or suddenly, all at once, but it dies just the same. When all that the heart contains is sadness, grief, loss, yearning and feelings that all hope and help is lost, then I would have to say "Yes", it is possible for a heart to die; broken and fractured.

Bob, I saw your story and wish you and your beautiful family the best this holiday has to offer, and YES, I am so GLAD you MADE IT!!!! You are an inspiration and although you cannot see me, I'm standing and applauding at this very moment!!!

If you could take ANY message to our troops in Iraq or Afghanistan, just tell them, there are mothers, wives, children, grandparents and friends who love them, trust them, and are so grateful for the freedom we have BECAUSE of them.  We pray for them every day and pray that soon, they too will be returned home to those who love and miss them desperately.

Thank You So Much,

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas,

Sandy