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Monday, December 21, 2009

A Brother's Homecoming

Ode to the days when a mother runs around like a chicken with her head cut off. For many mothers this is a common 'illness' that will bereft them during the holidays, but for a military mother whose son is headed home it is a different matter entirely.

You can always tell when my brother is coming home because the house is suddenly impeccably clean, his room is put together with new sheets placed on the bed, and I am being yelled at to clean up my 'crap' in the bathroom... Our Marine is coming home and he has not been home for a year.

It's interesting, the anticipation, as you await for that phone call from your Marine to come in at any minute declaring that his plane has landed. At first I was thinking I would remain at home and wait for him to walk through the door, but when my mom's phone rang I knew I had to go to that airport; there would be no holding myself back.

I was in charge of driving to the airport. I was a little excited, but I was generally keeping my cool; that is until Ian came into view. My brother, my Marine, my best friend was standing there just a short drive away within view. My heart started racing as I pulled up next to him, threw the car into park, swiftly opened the door and jumped (literally) into my brothers arms. (I was determined to beat my mother to him and I did so by a mile.) My brother was in my arms again.

I still cannot get over it. You get used to saying goodbye after a while, but you can never get used to saying hello. The emotional relief that washes over you the second he is back in your arms is unbelievable. You were so busy going about your day-to-day life and so used to doing so with this emotional stress that you were able to back stock it in your emotional venue. However, the second they are back in your arms safe and sound, the release of all that tension is amazing and you suddenly are made aware of just how heavy the emotional burden you were bearing is.

Sitting down and talking to my brother the first night he is back is always fun. However, this time he was explaining about how his team for his deployment to Afghanistan is the most stacked team and therefor they will be the team sent in to perform more solitary missions deep in the heart of the enemy. The dangers my brother will face send shivers down my spine. I have no idea how I will survive this deployment, but that is months away and for now my Marine is home.

Music filled the house through guitar and piano once again. The sound of a song once created by an innocent high school band lover now flowed through the fingers of a strong well trained machine. There is no better way to describe a Marine than to describe them as a machine. However, they are Machines with hearts. When they come home they love their families and it is as if all of the metal is melted away to reveal the human underneath. When in battle, however, they are at full armor their heart encased within.

He's home... I still cannot register it. Yet the smile on my face combined with the tears in my eyes tell me that this is the truth and my Marine truly is home safe and sound with his family. It is a Merry Christmas, Praise the Lord for my Marine is home.

Until Next Time!
McConnell Out

"This is my covenant with them," says the Lord. "My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children's children forever -- Isaiah 59:21

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