Semper Fi

Monday a week ago, my husband and I, along with my parents and our two daughters, witnessed a wonderful event. Our 13 year old son, Ryan, graduated from Boot Camp with his fellow Young Marines of Davidson County. They are the first of their kind in this area. Although Young Marines has been around since the 1940's, it is relatively new to this and surrounding areas in NC. Each "new" recruit must complete 10 weeks of "basic" training to advance to the level of Private. It takes weeks of hard work and dedication to achieve this end result and I am please to say that our son did so with honors. He received ribbons (decorations) for completing several training levels and maintaining an "A" average in school all year. We simply beamed! Like parents of a "new" baby or something. I actually had to give my husband the tissues I had brought for myself...he is such a softie! I am also thankful that Ryan's grandparents were able to attend as well. They have 13 grandchildren and they make each one feel so special and loved on an individual basis that we as parents fail to achieve! I thank God for my loving parents and their never-failing love for all their grandchildren! And yes...they were beaming too!! (See pic above!)

On the way home from our event, my husband, still teary eyed, reminded our son of an incident that had happened when he was just a little feller of 6 or so...

We had gone to a local parade, Memorial Day or Thanksgiving, I'm not sure which. And of course during the parade the Shriner's and Veterans made their appearance with their funny cars and expensive cars and old time cars...Ryan was completely absorbed. He loved the fire trucks at the end and the police cars that blew on their sirens and blew out our covered-over ears! He was so very excited and everything was so wonderful. He truly was a kid-in-a-candy-store! During the car ride home, we discussed all that had happened and all we had seen. As Ryan munched on the candies that we so thoughtfully tossed into the street, he made a startling revelation.."I want to be a veterinarian...so I can ride a funny car in parades too!" Mike and I could not contain our laughter. Restraint was a word we searched for...but it eluded us...for what seemed forever we continued to wipe the tears from our eyes as we giggled and repeated his words and giggled some more. "Did you mean to say Veteran, Ryan?" his father asked. Giggles could then be heard from our back seat..."Oh, yeah..." he managed between bursts of laughter! "Just how do you become a Veteran, daddy?" he asked. "Well, you must serve in the military and I am pretty sure you must do a tour-of-duty in a war or fight of some type." Ryan sighed, "Oh."

But last Monday night was better than any parade he could have rode in! He stood so nice and tall. He looked so manly and grown-up. What an accomplishment...and he had done it on-his-own...with only support from his father and me. He was beaming and yes, we did see just a little pride creep into his eyes, but not the kind that says "I am the best"...but just an ever so slight twinkle that said..."I knew I could do it."

And to top it all off, when we finally got home that evening, Ryan told us that he had asked God to help him each week and he had prayed for his leaders and fellow recruits to achieve their goals! He totally gave God the glory for his rewards!

Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that dilligently seek him..

Amen.