Letter 3

Dear Mom,

First of all, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!! I LOVE YOU!  Sorry I haven't gotten a hold of you.  I called today, but nothing went through.  Basic is getting tougher every day, but Mom you are my inspiration.  You are a very strong woman.  I am very honored to have had the opportunity to follow in your footsteps.  Every time things get tough, I think of you and how you had the courage to get through it.  I miss you so much.

They haven't given us much phone time.  But next Sunday for sure I will call around 2:30ish pm.  So be free at that time.  I love you mom.  We have our little disagreements, but that is only because you have raised me to be strong and stick up for myself.  So be proud.  :) 

You have to send me picture of Robyn's prom & graduation.  Well, love you, don't forget about me.

xoxo,

Heather

So, no call from Heather yesterday...

It was hard not to get discouraged yesterday, when I didn't hear from Heather.  I know that Mother's Day is just another training day in Basic, but I really did want to hear from her.  I carried the phone around all day, thinking that each time it rang it was her.  I am sure that my Facebook friends were right, though, when they said that they were sure she thought of me even if she couldn't call.  I know that she was definitely on my mind.  The day was only made harder, when it dawned on me that it was the first time in 21 years that I had not heard her say "Happy Mother's Day".   I hope that each of the military moms reading this blog got to hear from their child(ren).

I did figure out the address to write to Heather at.  I thought that the address that she had sent her recent letters from was the Reception Battalion, where she went through in-processing at.  When I double checked the address, however, it looks like that address is just very similiar to the training unit she was actually assigned to.  After figuring out the address, I was able to go on the Ft. Leonard Wood website and see when her graduation from Basic Training is.  Now, I can start planning a trip to see her in early July.  I can't wait and have already spent some time this evening checking out different hotel sites.  Although it is still a little early to plan anything, I did tell my husband that we will take her out for whatever she wants to eat...whether it is a big juicy steak or hamburger or crab legs & shrimp.  Whatever she wants, this soldier is going to get!

As for the much awaited phone call, I will continue to keep my cell phone nearby.  I completely understand why she hasn't called (training is the priority right now), but I still get a nervous tingle every time the phone rings.

Happy Mother's Day to all of Michigan's Military Moms!

To all of you that are sitting home today, waiting to hear from your military son or daughter....

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO YOU!!!

Behind every soldier is a mother that prays every day for their safety and happiness!

FINALLY...2 LETTERS!

Finally, something GREAT came in the mailbox...The first of what I hope is many letters from Heather!  Since this blog is meant to let others know what to expect when their child enters the military, I will be posting her letters...of course, I will leave out any information that is necessary to protect the innocent.  DISCLAIMER:  I do not know what the reference to "Rough Rider" is, but will include that question in my first letter to her.  Also, in an effort to keep the letters as authentic as possible, I have not corrected all the grammatical errors.  I am enjoying the letters as a mom and don't want to feel like I am "grading" them. :)

Letter #1 - April 26, 2011

Hey Mom & Everyone,

Hey you guys!  What's been going on?  Any new updates at home?  I definitely need pictures from Robyn's Prom and Graduation.  (Note:  Robyn is my daughter that is graduating from Truman High School this year.)  Mom, just an update in Basic training.  I am not allowed any care packages!!!  I guess it is a new rule, so we are only allowed letters & pictures, so send me tons...even of Chesney & Rocky.  (Note:  Chesney & Rocky are our two furbabies.)

As for me, everything is well so far.  Only day 2, but have been very busy with Recessions and getting settled here.  Yesterday we arrived on base at 10:00 pm and were up until 2:30 am and we had to wake up at 4:30 am.  So needless to say today was so rough.  Doing physical and being issued apparel on 2 hours of sleep.  It was exhausting.  But they did give us free time to write back home.  On Day 3 (tomorrow) we get our pictures done in our uniform.  (That was for you mom! (Smiley Face))  I know you may be getting this along with a couple of other letters.  They told us we would not be allowed to call or send letters until week 4.  So I'm sure there will be lots to tell by the time this gets to you.  I know this one is short, but here it is lights out & I'm exhausted!  Love you all.  Send pictures & letters.

Love you all,

Heather

P.S. MOM
No care packages!!! (Army here very strict)


Letter #2 - April 28, 2011

Dear Family,

It is day 4 and finally done with recession.  Ship to actual basic training drills tomorrow, Friday the 29th.  Just got news today that I will not be able to come home after basic at all!  I will not be able to come home until September, after AIT.  Trust me, I'm bummed about it and even had to tell Chris.  (Note:  Chris is the young man Heather was dating when she left.)  So tomorrow at basic I will be mailing this out.  Today was also picture day and pictures should be here 6 weeks from today.  Mom, there is a surprise coming your way :) . 

They did inform us that Sundays we will receive our phone to make a 15 minute phone call.  I won't be able to say much but hi, but every chance counts.  Writing will be the best way to get a hold of me.  Well, it's lights out.  Big day tomorrow.  Love you all.

XOXO,

Heather

P.S.  W/B too! 
NO CARE PACKAGES Mom.  Still love you though!

It's been officially one week and still no phone call!

Darn it!

I have been walking around with my cell phone pretty much glued to my right hand, hoping that Heather will get the chance to call.  I really thought I might hear from her yesterday, but by 11 pm I was pretty sure that I wasn't going to.  I am sure she is ok, but a reassuring phone call sure would have been nice.

I did get a postcard from the Reception Battalion over the weekend.   It basically said that she had arrived safely at Ft. Leonard Wood and that she was going through in-processing, which would take 4 - 5 days.  The postcard was preprinted and I am sure that it is sent to all family members.  The postcard also gave instructions on how to get an emergency message to her, via the Red Cross Field Director on the base.  According to the postmark, the card was sent last Wednesday, Apr. 27th. 

I guess this is a good time to start writing  Heather some letters, since I can't verbalize my feelings to her.  Since writing down your feelings is supposed to be therapeutic, maybe it will bring me some much needed comfort until I can hear my daughter's voice again.

WHAT'S IN THE HEART OF A Proud Military Mom?

The ability to let your child walk out the door with the recruiter.

The patience to wait for those letters from basic and phone calls home.

The pride from seeing that first military uniform picture.

The excitement of that first leave.

The strength to face the unknown.

The courage to send your child into battle.

The love in a woman's heart for her country.

The friendship of finding other military moms.

My daughter is now a United States Army Soldier...

I have had nearly a week to digest the fact that my oldest daughter is really several states away from me, training to be a soldier in the United States Army.  Where did the time go?  Not just the last week, but the last 21 years of having daily conversations with her...even if some of them were by text messages. I think back to the day she came home from kindergarten in tears.  After many hugs, she explained to me that it was "Brown Week" in her class.  Another child had innocently remarked that brown was the ugliest crayon in the crayon box.  Because of her darker skin complexion, my innocent little 5 year old had felt ugly.  In my eyes, nothing could have been further from the truth.  After a few more hugs and a couple of cookies, my daughter's feelings were soothed.


Now, hugs and cookies will not be as easily given.  All the love and support I can offer to her must now be handwritten or condensed into a hurried, unexpected phone call.  How can anyone understand the pride and fear you feel when your child decides to put the safety of our country before their own well-being? 


I encourage each of you to share your own story about having a military son or daughter.  Together, we may just make it through the Basic Training each of us, as parents, also must endure.