Pride and Joy, Pain and Sorrow

As I sit here trying to find the words for this blog today my heart is heavy and I am in pain. The recent loss of my brother weighs heavy on my heart. We were not as close as I would have like to have been. But, such is the life of families. Words cannot express my sorrow at his loss. Now I must write of another pain. The pain of a mother's heart when her son leaves for deployment. This pain is fresh and open and searing. He has gone to do his "JOB" as he calls it. I call it a "LIVING HELL" As any mother of a Marine, I stood tall and proud and watched half of my heart board a bus to "GOD KNOWS WHERE" to defend our home. If you have done this for a son, daughter, husband, wife, father, mother, sister , brother, or friend then you know. We will stand tall and pray for word that they are OK again today. Words on the computer, and their voice in our ear when they get a chance to call. So for all the military families, I salute you and your loved ones who make it possible to lay our heads down at night and know that we are safe, and free.I LOVE YOU RONNIE !!!!