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I awoke this morning to a shadowed world of fog and mist that had settled upon the lake outside of my Lanai.  My world is so centered around my piece of Paradise I thought as I poured a cup of hot coffee generously laced with a creamer.  The world was quiet...save for the sounds of unseen birds perched upon the branches in the trees across the lake.  I feel very tired this morning, so the coffee and the magic of caffeine was very welcome to my sluggish mind.  I had babysat with Katie (my nine-year old granddaughter) and Don and Lisa's friends little girl Megan (age 6) last night.  As I drove home around midnight the fog laid across the street in thick patches.  I arrived home and sat for a bit of time out on the lanai, peering through the darkness and fog, listening to the sound of the lake lapping gently against the bank.  This morning, was no different.  The quiet remained...and my mind soaked up the peace like a sponge...allowing this time of solitude to center my disquieting thoughts.

My grandson Josh is scheduled by the Army to return home for a ten-day family visit beginning next month, Feb. 8th.  During this time, I plan to fly to Michigan and spend time with my son Dan, Brenda and Parker (my seven year old grandson) as well as seeing my new great-grandchild Dakoda and seeing Josh and Megan.  I am excited to see everyone and I anticipate this time together beyond any words that I can write here.  I also know that it is going to be terribly difficult for Josh and Megan both, when Josh has to return after his time home, back to Iraq.  Now he knows what to expect...it is different than when he left for his first portion of duty in Iraq...then, he was still an innocent ...not knowing what the war in Iraq was like.  This time, it will be different...it will be much more difficult for this soldier to return to finish out his tour of duty ...this time, the innocence is replaced by a weariness of war.  This leaves me sad for my grandson...the bittersweet visit will be shadowed by him having to return...and there is nothing I can say or do to lessen this pain..this knowledge that we all share with Josh.  I can only do as I did before he left for Iraq...enjoy every moment with him...fill his heart with memories of laughter...of love so that it will carry him through and bring him home again safely to those of us who will once again await his return.  But until then....I must focus on the joy of him coming home to see his firstborn son...and so it shall be.

As I grow older, I am filled with a sense of past, present and future intertwined.  Is this the wisdom that we all seem to obtain as we grow older, I wonder?  I don't know...only that it is...and sometimes it comes in those brief moments of quiet...when the fog shadows the world around, and I sit quietly, my heart beating gently within my breast.

I wish to add this beautiful poem from my Dear Friend Marge who has written this poem for my Grandson Josh and his sweet wife Megan and their newborn son Dakoda James who is waiting at home for Josh to return home from Iraq to hold his baby son in his arms for the first time.  God Bless you Marge....this is truly beautiful!!!!

Quote

soldier's heart

 

 

soldier's heart

 

© by margaret griswold-scheiding

 

 

 

your letter came today, sweetheart

i read with eager eyes

about our brand-new baby boy

and i could hear his cries

i saw you hold him to your breast

and count his little toes

you listened to his baby sounds

and kissed his little nose

 

i wish i could be there with you

when you wake up at night

to feed and change our little boy

and hold him soft, but tight

you know that i would be there, too,

instead of where i am

but we both know i made that deal

to work for uncle sam

 

there's not much time for tender thoughts

while doing what i do

but when i can, i shut it out

and stop and think of you

i miss you and those thoughts of you

help keep me safe and strong

i do my job the best i can

as i have all along

 

so when you think of me each day

please try not to forget

and know that while i'm where i am

i serve without regret

my mind must be a soldier's mind

and i'll be brave and true

but through it all, my soldier's heart

belongs to only you.

 

I dedicate this poem

to my friend Sandra's son,

a soldier and new father

who has yet to see his new baby boy,

and to all those separated from their families

by war.

 

The Us Deaths In Iraq Counter is a freely provided image that depicts the current United States military death toll in Iraq since the start of combat operations in March, 2003. It is updated at 8am and 4pm from http://www.icasualties.org/oif, a website that provides analytical data on the conflict. They get their data from Department of Defense and CENTCOM briefings.