My hubby is in the National Guard. He was activated last Friday night and told to report on Monday morning. They packed and got ready all week. Yesterday (Thursday) morning they rolled out. There were about 100 men and women who left with the unit. I tried hard to hold it together, but there were a few tears when we said goodbye. His papers say for one to two years, which I think is standard. After our initial goodbye, me and the kids drove up to the mall and waited by the side of the road to watch as they passed through town. We waved to each truck that went by. By the time, I saw hubby driving by, I was just bawling. I hope he didn't notice. I don't want him to worry about anything at home. I want him to concentrate on being safe and know that we will miss him but be okay. It is so hard to think that after all of this we will be separated. At least this time it is not because of something he did to us. And I hope that he believes that I will take care of these children. I am kinda glad that he went away for a month long AT last summer. It was like practice for me with new kids and a hurt lonely heart. I really think that after I get this broken leg healed we will be alright. Deep breath, constant prayer, good friends, still...whew...
Anyway, the neatest thing was that sporatically along about 25 miles of highway, people were standing out waving flags and God Bless Our Troops signs and cheering them on. Wow! What a show of support. The support for our military members should not waiver regardless of what we think of the war movement. In our little town, they came out in full force. The streets shut down for nearly an hour as the soldiers passed through. The last sign that I saw is my prayer for them- "Soldiers, Go with God and Our Love".
They will spend a few weeks at a base here in the US. Then they go to "destination unspecified".
I notice that several of us here are affected by activations. Both of my brothers are gone too. I pray that those of us left behind show our spouse a strong homefront, that we stay healthy and smart as we deal with life practically alone for awhile, that we have or develop a good support system, that the children feel secure and maintain a positive image of the parent who goes and the one who stays, and that our spouses will be mentally and physically safe, that they return home soon, and that we all lean on God knowing that there is a plan.
