Please Pray .....

.... for Son #2 ..... and for me (and for Son #3, who's going to miss his brother .... a lot).
He just left.
He's spending the next 3 hours with his closest friends, who will then take him to the airport.

He came in to say good bye to me.
It was emotional.
Surprisingly more for him than for me.
Or at least, for what I showed.

I didn't cry.
I held that back.
For him.
I told him how very much I love him and how very proud I ..... and his dad ..... are of him.
And how we always knew that he was destined for this life.
And ..... that even though he's angry with God right now, I firmly believe that God has always .... and still has ..... His hand on Son #2's heart.

He was emotional.
I told him that I have no doubt that he will excel at this and that I'm excited for his future.
And to always keep in mind ..... that I love him more than he will ever know .... and that I will always be here for him.
Always.

And I will see him on April 1st.
I miss him already.
I miss my child who has always .... and most likely will always .... march to the beat of a different drummer.
I hope he does, anyway.

He'll be so different the next time I see him.
He will have grown from a teenager ..... into a man.
He will totally rock as a Marine.
The Corps will be lucky to have him.

Please join me in praying for him.
For his safety, his strength, his perseverance, his patience, his focus, his leadership .... and his success.

And for my peace and patience as I await April 1st .... the next, and only, time I'll be able to contact him in the next 12 weeks.

He'll do his parents .... and his country .... proud.
I.
Have.
No.
Doubt.

Thanks, Peeps.
And Happy Monday.


P.S.  And now the tears flow.
He was able to call earlier this morning from downtown.  Just to say hi and that he loves me.  And to ask me to FB his girlfriend and give her his love.  He sounded down and still emotional.  I'm not sure if the weather is delaying them or what.  He was also bummed that his recruiter took his cell phone this morning. He'd been told he could take it to Boot Camp and turn it in when he got there.  Then we would've had more time to text/call his friends.  But not now.
So I have to go pick it up.  And did you know..... that AT&T will let you put a cell phone on hold, but will still charge you the same monthly fees?!!  How very kind is that?!!!  Crap!
Anyway, Son #2 snuck in another call just now.  He was able to find an empty room with a phone in it.  He sounds a bit more upbeat.  I think he's pretty nervous, but the biggest issue is that he's exhausted.  He didn't sleep at all last night and has been told he won't be sleeping again until Wednesday.  Maybe they'll let him sleep on the plane?  Please?
Man, I miss him.
So.
Very.
Much.
And I love him so much it hurts.
I doubt that it will  EVER get any easier to goodbye to my children.
Ever.
So I'll just sit here and cry for a bit.
And stay home all day and tonight because once he gets there they let him make one call.  One call during which he does all the talking, I am not permitted to say or ask anything.  He basically is supposed to say, "Hi, Mom.  I am now at Camp Pendleton, in the United States Marine Corps.  Goodbye." ..... click.

Seriously?

I would've made a truly horrible military wife.
So, so, SO bad.
They would've probably just thrown Jim in the brig and kept him there ..... because of me.
I don't take orders well.
And I don't think the Marines take .... for lack of a better word .... "spunk" well.
Thank God he became an accountant.
:)
Thanks for comments and the prayers, Peeps.  They are needed.

P.P.S.  He just called again from the Houston airport (around 3:00).  They finally made it there but were still waiting for a plane.  He's flying into Dallas and then on to San Diego.  I think he'll get there around 11:00 p.m. their time.
He still sounded a bit down.  I keep telling him that these 12 weeks will fly by for him.  He'll be too busy to even know what day it is .... and too exhausted to care.  Then, before he knows it .... he'll be back home for a visit.
He's hoping to get one last "civillian" call when he gets to Dallas.
And then his last call of the day, and his first official call as a Marine ..... late tonight.
It's been wonderful to talk to him and to hear the love in his voice.  I think we've talked more today than we have in the last month.  And he's baring his heart and soul.
I'm proud of him.
Of course.
That's the latest update, Peeps.
Still missing him like crazy.