Eight days

There is an old wives tale that says you're to leave a candle burning until your solider comes home. It's supposed to bring good luck (and I hope safety). This is a picture of our 21st century burning candle... it may look a little funny, but it is very sentimental. My aunt Sonya bought it for my mom right after Ben was deployed. Since she gave it to her, we haven't taken it out of that window or turned it off. A "burning" candle that symbolizes our desire for Ben to come home. Safe and sound. To a family who misses him very much.

You probably read the subject as "eight days" and you may have wondered what that was about. It's about trusting God through all the days we don't hear from Ben. Fortunately, we hear from him roughly about every 4 to 5 days. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later. That's the average. However, about two weeks ago, it took him eight days to be able to call us. Eight LONG days. Through those days, it is a constant battle of your will to give your worries over to the Lord, to stop your mind from wondering away and not trusting that He is in control.

When he finally called, Ben was able to tell us about the new base they had created overnight. He's apart of the team that is securing a main road, out of the hands of the Taliban. In order to take everyone by surprise, they built a small base (a large fort if you will) in one night. Ben didn't think they were going to be staying there, but they did. It has no running water; it only has water out of bottles to drink from. You can imagine how all of those guys smell... They pulled 30 hour shifts and probably were all loving life. Anyway, it wasn't until he made it back to his regular (still small, but larger than the new base) that they were able to call home and assure those they love they were okay. Praise God they are okay! And thank goodness, he called. I do believe if there was any way, my mother (and the rest of us) would be on our way over there to make sure he was alive and well.

We get sooo excited to think about him coming home! The other night Mom and I were watching a video of this group of Marines that just got to come home. The video was of them coming in and greeting the ones they love. It was wonderful! One girl had jumped on her solider (in like a koala bear position) and was just so excited! Another mother found her son and was just crying on his shoulder. When the son tried to pull away to hug his dad, the mother just held on tighter, determined not to let him go... The son just laughed and his dad came in for a big family hug... Everyone was crying, including Mom and me... It was wonderfully precious. Ben will be home soon...

Anyway, there's part of an update on Ben! He's alive and well... Seeing things no one should ever have to, but he's apart of a big picture. I am very proud of him.