The Soldier I Carried

I don't even know where to begin about what I experienced over the last few days, in seeing my son graduate from his Basic Training at Fort Benning, GA.

I guess I'll start by posting The Infantryman's Creed - as I saw my son recite this creed at his Turning Blue Ceremony on Thursday, I saw that it was more than just something he'd memorized - it was coming straight from his heart. My heart was so overwhelmed with pride not only as a citizen of this great United States of America, but moreso as the BLESSED Mom of this soldier, that I once carried in my womb.

"The Infantryman's Creed"

I am the Infantry.

I am my country's strength in war, her deterrent in peace.

I am the heart of the fight - wherever, whenever.

I carry America's faith and honor against her enemies.

I am the Queen of Battle.

I am what my country expects me to be -

the best trained Soldier in the world.

In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous,

armed with a fierce will to win.

Never will I fail my country's trust.

Always I fight on - through the foe, to the objective,

to triumph over all.

If necessary, I fight to my death.

By my steadfast courage, I have won 200 years of freedom.

I yield not - to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue,

to superior odds, for I am mentally tough, physically strong,

and morally straight.

I forsake not - my country, my mission, my comrades,

my sacred duty.

I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever.

I AM THE INFANTRY!

FOLLOW ME!

When I was carrying this baby, I heard the Lord speak to me saying, "He will be more of a blessing to you than you can ever imagine or hope for". All throughout my son's life, I have seen this promise fulfilled over and over again; this past week, I saw it fulfilled in ways that I cannot express in words.

My emotions right now are at an all time high. I keep reliving these moments of seeing my little boy become a strong man of integrity, honor and courage - ready and willing to serve this great country in whatever call is given to him. I have shed many tears over the past few days; tears that only a mama can understand.

Here are a few photos of our time at Ft. Benning - some are a little blurry, but are clear as a bell in my mind.

This is at the Turning Blue Ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008. This was the first time I'd seen my son or held him in almost a year.

This is his father pinning on his blue cord - a sign that he is now qualified to be an infantryman in the U.S. Army. As I touched his face, it took me back to the moment they brought him to me after his birth, and the first thing I did was to touch his face.

Dude's father, Dude, Bill(my hubby) and Gina, his stepmom, as they were bringing out all his gear, to go home.
Dude's little brother, Harry - we were at Red Lobster, and he was posing "like a soldier".

Gina, Dude, David and Harry

"The Guys" - Bill, Dude, David and Harry

Me, Dude, Gina and Harry

Dude and his little brother Harry, who wasn't real fond of getting his picture taken.

Kennel Field, Fort Benning, GA. This is the emblem of the Infantry, and all the flags represent where the soliders have come from to train here.

Dude's unit, as they marched past us at Graduation - December 12, 2008. I of course, had to be front row, and yelled out "I LOVE YOU DUDE" as he marched past me. After the ceremony, I asked him if he'd heard me, and he said, "Yes Mama, I heard you".

Bill, Dude and me after the Graduation Ceremony. I look like the Michelin Man! :) We had on about 3 layers of clothes, and wrapped an Army blanket around our legs and were STILL freezing!

This is the Soldier I carried - David Thomas White, Jr. - a promise fulfilled by God.

The Lord is faithful, and He has been so very good to me!

Be Back in a Few Days

In about 12 hours, I'll be finishing "puttin on my face", and heading out the door for my 6 hour drive up to Ft. Benning.
I've been in shorts and a tank top today, and am going to where it's in the 20s in the night and early morning, and only warming up to the 50s w/ rain in the day....
Ya know what though? They could have a full blown blizzard, storm, or anything else, and I'd sit through it, just to see my boy graduate from Basic!
In talking to him Saturday night, he just sounded SO grown up - he has a sense of pride in his voice that I've never heard before.
And it was just yesterday that he was my little boy who was asking Santa to bring him a bike...
Yes girls, they grow up ALL to quickly, so my advice to you who still have little ones at home: ENJOY the loudness, ENJOY the messes they make, ENJOY EVERY MINUTE you have with them....you'll blink, and they will be grown and gone.
I look forward to reading your blogs when I get back, to see what memories you've been making with your children in the next few days.
Be blessed in every way................
Janelle

An ARMY Mom's Pride

Brrrrrr! It was only in the 40's here this morning, and hasn't warmed up much since getting up earlier. The house smells so wonderful - I have a big pot of vegetable beef soup going, and will let it slow cook all day, and have it for supper tonight.
Yesterday, I got the most wonderful package from the U.S. Army. It contained bumper stickers, lapel pins that have a star and say, "ARMY" and "PARENT". Bill and I will both proudly wear our pins daily, to show our pride in Dude. Also included were a letter to me as the mom of an American soldier, and a certificate, honoring me for my pride and support of my son, as he trains to be one of America's finest.
I was opening the package as Bill and I were driving to the library to do early voting, and I was trying to read the letter and the certificate out loud to Bill, and I just couldn't hold back the tears. The pride in my son continues to grow daily, and has done so since I gave birth to him 26 years ago.
In my letter to him today, I told him that when I was pregnant with him, the Lord spoke to me and said, "He will be more of a blessing than you can ever imagine". The Lord has continually proved that to me over and over again throughout Dude's life. He was such a loving child - I used to call him, "Sweet Thing", and we had a little game we'd play where I'd say, "Where's my Sweet Thing"?, and he'd been right there at my side pulling on my leg saying, " Here I am Mommy, here I am"....and I'd pretend I didn't hear or see him and repeat my question. He would jump up and down and keep telling me he was right there, and then I would act surprized and say, "OH THERE YOU ARE!!! I WAS SO WORRIED I COULDN'T FIND YOU AND NOW I'M SO HAPPY"! It seems like that was just yesterday......
As a teenager, he never went through the phase of being embarassed to be seen with his mom, or to have his mom hug and kiss him when his friends were around. He has proudly told his friends his whole life, that he loves his mom, and you know as a mother, what that did/does to me!
I am counting the days until Family Day and Graduation at Fort Benning arrive. I haven't seen my boy since last Christmas, and I'm sure I'll need plenty of kleenex to get me through the ceremonies!
Have I mentioned that my children are my life, and how proud I am of each one of them? :)
Have a great day - enjoy your children, no matter what age they are; no matter what challenges you may have with them throughout their years - they are God's most precious gifts to us, and as a woman, I couldn't think of a higher honor to be given, than that of being a mom.
Spoil them with love.....the blessings you'll reap are limitless...

Janelle