Philosophy of a Mother

Another contemplative day....

The thing about family disasters is that you never have to wait long before the next one puts the previous one into perspective.  ~Robert Brault

Yesterday Dana, my lovely daughter (in-law) called to report to her new National Guard unit. The next thing I know I hear this tiny little quaver in her voice, saying "No....I didn't know that...." 
She found out that her new unit is deploying in January!! To AFRICA! Possibly for a year!
She will find out this coming weekend if she is added to the roster and has to go. I am praying she won't! She is not sure how she feels.. And Andrew, my son, is jealous and wished he could go!! Typical response from him! However, as he thinks about his wife leaving for several months, I am certain he will come to realize how blessed he has been to have her with him for the past three years of their marriage and how he will miss her love and support on a daily basis!  I suppose this is the down side of having Army children. As their mother, my heart aches at the thought of any one of them (Andrew, Dana, or Katie) having to deploy and go to another country and possibly be in harm's way!  I am so proud of them, that they are defenders of our country and the American way of life. But I am forever scared for their safety. I will pray daily for each of them, and try to squash the anxiety inside my soul...

So, our family goes from one "experience" to the next! Who knew life could be so exciting once the majority of my children were grown??? I always had in the back of my mind that when the kids were grown, we would have a too quiet, too sedentary, and too boring life! Never have I wished for an "empty nest". I LOVE having my kids around me and with me and watching them grow and progress in so many ways!


But, here we are with one married, and one engaged, and only two little ones at home. And our lives are richer, busier, and fuller than ever! I guess I never realized that once the kids were grown, their problems and activities, and situations are different but not gone from mom's heart. I still worry as much about the older ones as I do about the little ones! And they still come to mother with questions, problems and decisions, just as they come with news of happiness and joy! It is a beautiful thing to be a Mother!  I wouldn't trade it for the world!!


And thank you for a house full of people I love.  Amen.  ~Terri Guillemets