What is your definition of a hero?

What is your definition of a hero? I told Daniel a few weeks ago that he is a true American Hero, and he disagreed. He said, “I’m just doing what I’m called to do. The true heros are those who don’t get to come home.” I pray that Daniel never has to fulfill his own definition of a hero, but to me, he truly is one! I ask that you pray today and every day for our soldiers who are deployed, their families, and especially for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. They are all heros in my book!

Peace

I learned years ago not to pray for patience. God doesn’t just hand out things like patience. HE teaches patience by putting me in situations where I will have to learn and practice patience.

Lately, I have been praying that God would give me peace with regard to Daniel’s upcoming deployment. God has told me over and over again that as much as I love Daniel, HE loves him more. And I do believe that. But I’ve continued to be nervous nonetheless.

This week, God taught me peace! Peggy, a wonderful family friend and Christian, died from liver cancer last Saturday. She was 74 years old. I got to visit with her husband of 49 years, Charles, on Wednesday. He was a junior high science teacher for several decades (which was how my family came to know him), but he has also been a “rock,” always standing firm for what he believes in. He and his wife have been great friends to our family for more than 20 years. And he is always teaching. As I visited with Charles, he talked about the wonderful times that he has had with his wife for “half a century.” He is grateful for the years that they had together and didn’t seem the least bit angry with God for his wife’s passing. He knows he will see her again. Of course he is sad, but he seems very much at peace. What a fantastic lesson he taught me.

God also showed me peace through an experience Daniel had. Two weeks ago, a tire separated from the rim while Daniel was driving to a dentist appointment on base. Fortunately, Daniel was traveling at a relatively slow speed and was able to safely stop his vehicle and call for a tow truck. Once at the tire shop on base, he learned that he needed to replace all four of the rims on the vehicle because they were all somehow damaged or defective. The approximate cost for this repair was going to be approximately $1,000 to $1,500. Later that day, Daniel got a call from the tire shop telling him that there was going to be no charge for the rims. To this day, we don’t completely understand why. But Daniel picked up his vehicle and was only charged $40 (for an oil change).

While I was preparing to share Daniel’s story at church on Wednesday night, God revealed Himself to me. HE told me, “I protected Daniel in the midst of his tire failure and even with regard to his vehicle repair. If I can do that, believe that I can protect Daniel in Afghanistan or wherever the Army might send him.” Such is peace!

Much as our good friend Charles never stops teaching, neither does God!

best friends forever

Daniel and Tiffany have been best friends for nearly 10 years. They have attended church together, been to church camp together, and even went all the way to the Ukraine together last summer on a mission trip. So as a result, it really didn't come as much of a surprise that they kept in touch when Daniel left for Army basic training several months ago. Since Daniel left, she has flown three times to see Daniel in Missouri and Colorado. This past weekend, she flew with me to Colorado Springs to see Daniel, and they announced that they are engaged! They are planning a wedding for December 26, 2010 in Santa Fe, Texas. (Daniel chose the date in honor of his great-grandparents' anniversary.) More details to come ...

skype

Daniel now has Skype. If you aren't familiar with Skype, it is a free way to communicate across the internet. Just go to www.skype.com to download the free software. It is very user-friendly and easy to use. Also, if you have a webcam on your computer, Daniel can see you and vice versa. It is helping to cure a lot of the loneliness and homesickness that he feels, particularly in the evenings and on weekends. Daniel's username on Skype is: Daniel.George.Hart

some years are harder than others

As I dropped Abbie off at school yesterday morning and drove on into work, I reflected back on the past 14 first days of school – back to when Daniel started kindergarten. Abbie started 6th grade this year, and this was the first year that Abbie didn’t want me to walk with her to her first class. She is becoming so independent. My “baby” is growing up. I also reflected on the fact that next year, she will enter junior high, which I remember as the most treacherous years of my education (and Daniel’s). Although it is a year away for Abbie, the anxiety still overwhelms me sometimes.

I thought back to Daniel’s first day of kindergarten. Lee and I took our son to his classroom and the teacher asked Daniel “if he had anything for [her].” Daniel told her, “No.” Then I realized that she was asking for his school supplies and told Daniel to give them to her, so Daniel opened his backpack and shook his supplies out at the teacher’s feet. I knew then that it was going to be a long year! By the end of the first day of school, his teacher called me and said that we “needed to do something.” That afternoon, he was put on the wrong bus home. It was every kindergarten mother’s worst nightmare. I thought to myself, “It has got to get easier! Next year, I will be better prepared.”

However, each year when I have dropped my children at school, there has been some anxiety in one form or another. Sometimes it is as minor as, “will she make new friends since she knows no one in her class?” And other years more severe as, “what can I do to protect him from the bullies?” But each year I have lovingly placed my children into the hands of the school system and trusted God to protect them. And God has been faithful to do so!

After Daniel graduated, I realized that there were no more “first days of school” for him and breathed a sigh of relief … and sadness for that chapter of our life had ended. I knew that he had become a man, and I thought that many of my responsibilities as his mother had ended. I soon realized that there would be more “first days” – his first day at work, the first time I put him on a plane to fly halfway across the world to do missions work, and the first day that I watched him walk around the corner to board a bus that would take him to Army basic training. Each of these firsts came with their own sets of challenges and varying degrees of anxiety. And I think to myself again, “It has got to get easier!”

Daniel has overcome and exceeded everyone’s expectations with each new “first.” He has experienced new firsts since arriving at Fort Carson – some more difficult than others. (I’m flying to Fort Carson over Labor Day weekend to help him with his first car purchase.) There are still many more “first days” to come. I think about other “firsts” that are in Daniel’s future – in particular, his first deployment. And I think to myself again, “this is the most difficult ‘first’ yet!” But I believe, as always, GOD will be faithful to protect him, and that gives me peace!

I reflect today realizing that my job as Daniel’s parent has not ended. My responsibility for his everyday needs has passed, but my duty to love him and support him is never-ending. I pray for him daily, and I trust God to protect him.

no greater love

This weekend was a time of remembrance. I have always considered myself to be patriotic and grateful for the sacrifices made. My great-grandfather and grandfather served in World War I and II (respectively). Fortunately, both of them returned home safely, but they were willing to lay it all on the line. My great-grandfather even took the phrase, "never leave a fallen comrade" literally as he pulled soldiers from a tank that had been mustard-gassed during the war.

I am thankful for those who have died for my freedom and those who are laying it all on the line. But I don't think I ever really understood those sacrifices and heroism as much as I do this year. My son (and others like him) are true American Heros!

On Sunday, I attended Memorial Day services at our church. There was a lot of patriotic music sung, as there always is for Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day, but this year instead of just singing the words, I listened to them a little more closely. Tears came to my eyes as we sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic, and I could hardly even mouth the words when a young child sang God Bless America in front of the entire congregation. (I wonder if she truly understands how blessed we really are.)

Then I wondered, why do we say to each other, "Happy Memorial Day." Is it truly a "happy" day? Are we happy because we have the day off from work? Surely we're not happy because so many have died? So why is it that we say, "Happy Memorial Day"? We are happy because we're free. We're grateful for those who have given the greatest sacrifice, and we're blessed. Hopefully, we're humbled by the men and women who have died for our country. Perhaps for many, their death meant going on to heaven where they are truly free! (That would be a happy day!!!)

Daniel told me several weeks ago: "IT IS AN HONOR TO GET TO BE DEPLOYED!" You see, it isn't a matter of "have to" for our men and women in uniform. When asked why he joined the Army, Daniel's answer has nothing to do with income, college, retirement, or anything else tangible. He will look you straight in the eye and tell you "BECAUSE I LOVE MY COUNTRY!"

I can't honestly say that I look forward to the day when my son will be deployed and be in harm's way, but I'm starting to understand what it really means and why he has to do it. You see, he loves this country so much that he is willing to lay it all on the line. He is willing to die so that you and I can be FREE! What greater sacrifice and honor could there be?

Why is he willing to die? He tells me it is because he has been overseas on mission trips and even to areas of the United States where people don't have the freedoms that we take for granted. He knows that not all are qualified to serve in our military, and he feels privileged to be among those who are qualified. He truly appreciates what he has, and he is determined to defend it. Some tell me that he is only 19 years old and thinks that he is "invicible," but I disagree. Daniel knows that he is putting his life on the line, but he is honored to do so for YOU! Daniel tells me that he has been called by God to serve! This is his mission field!

Today, I ask no more than this. Don't let your honor of our military be reserved only for those holidays dedicated to them. Whenever you see a soldier in uniform, remember to thank them for their service! And when you don't see them, remember to pray for them! It truly does mean the world!

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 (NIV)

huge thank you!

Last Wednesday, we took Daniel to Bush Intercontinental Airport as his leave ended and he was headed to his first duty station at Fort Carson. We arrived in plenty of time for his 2:15pm flight. American Airlines gladly accepted and checked his three very large pieces of luggage (carrying all of his personal and military gear with him) at no charge. The ticket agent even marked his luggage sith "priority" tags so that it would be among the first luggage off the plane and onto the conveyor belt when he arrived in Colorado Springs.

I watched sadly and proudly as he passed through security and out of sight. (I managed not to cry until he was completley out of sight.)

Although Daniel has flown alone before, he had never gone out of such a big airport with several terminals. I was a bit nervous for him, but we left him in the proper terminal, and I gave him maps and directions for the DFW airport to help him find his connection. (He was to have a 2.5 hour layover in Dallas, so I figured he had plenty of time to find his gate there as well.) We had considered booking him on Continental Airlines because they had non-stop flights, but the flight was about $100 more than the comparable American Airlines flight.

Once Daniel was beyond security, he re-set his watch to Colorado time. He then determined that he had time before his flight to go to the USO and relax for a bit. (At Bush Airport, the USO is in Terminal D, but he was departing out of Terminal A.) He checked his watch and then proceeded to log onto the internet. At about 2:00pm Texas time, he thought he would go ahead and move back towards his gate (thinking that he still had over an hour until flight time because he had reset his watch). When he arrived at the gate, he discovered that he had just missed his flight. He was absolutely devestated and angry (with himself) for his mistake and worried that he was going to be AWOL if he didn't find some way to get to Colorado Springs that night.

Fortunately, the American Airlines agent near the gate saw his frustration and began to assist him. She did some checking and got Daniel on the 4:15pm flight to Dallas, where he would still be able to make his connection. Unfortunately, this meant that he now would only have 30 minutes to make his connection at the huge DFW airport. Daniel then called me to let me know what happened. I began to explain to him that he wasn't going to have much time for his connection and that he should talk to the flight attendants on board to try to get permission to be one of the first ones off the plane in order to make his next flight. He understood, and we were both grateful that American Airlines was making these arrangements for him at no extra charge.

While I was on the phone with Daniel (and trying to get him to calm down a bit since he was still frustrated with himself), the American Airlines agent came over to him where he was sitting. The agent told him that he wasn't going to be on the 4:15pm flight afterall, but instead they had put him on a 6:15pm non-stop flight which would get him into Colorado Springs about 30 minutes later than his originally scheduled arrival time and handed him his new paperwork. Again, she told him that there would be no charge for this change, and she even offered to escort him to his new gate (in a different terminal).

Since I was still on the line, I began to search frantically for this new flight. I didn't think that American Airlines had any non-stop flights from Houston to Colorado Springs (and I was right). I couldn't figure out what they had done. I asked Daniel for the flight number for his new paperwork, and he told me it was flight 2116. I searched for that flight number, and American Airlines didn't have a flight that corresponded with that number. I asked Daniel to look at his paperwork again, and he discovered that it was a Continental flight. American Airlines and Continental had worked out some sort of deal to get this young soldier on the non-stop flight FOR NO EXTRA CHARGE TO DANIEL!

A short time later, Daniel and I hung up the phone and the American Airlines agent escorted him to his new gate. Daniel called again to let me know that he was at the gate, and I told him that he did have time to go back to the USO and relax from this ordeal since he had a 3 hour wait for his flight. Daniel was too nervous at this point to venture far from his gate, but he did find something to eat in the terminal.

I can't say enough good things about American Airlines and Continental for how they handled this ordeal and how well they treated Daniel. Truthfully, I don't know if the fact that Daniel was active duty military and traveling in uniform had anything to do with how well he was treated, but regardless, both airlines went above and beyond the call of duty to get Daniel to his destination on time!