Bitter Sweet...Kids grow up....I'm in the Army NOW!

This day finally came...July 9th 2013, the day Nick got sworn into the Army and headed to boot camp.  We have known about it for a year, we planned a big family trip, a going away party, hit the beach one last time, spent as much quality time with him before...and it came and went. 

We raise our children with the knowledge that they will grow up and go out on their own and hopefully you have taught them well...right from wrong, strong values and morals, good character, what it means to love, laugh and live, the importance of family, being true to yourself and your beliefs....but at some point you need to let them go...off into the world without you.  Yes you are in the background but now it is their life and their decisions. As parents we now play a different role in their lives.  They must go forward with their dreams, and they will stumble and fall and make mistakes just like we did.  But all that knowledge as a parent doesn't make it any easier to let go and watch them spread their wings.  You have a sense of pride knowing you have done your best and you try not to second guess your decisions but now it is up to them!

 

We were lucky enough to have Nick's 2nd nephew, Richard, fly in to do a private swearing in ceremony.  It just added so much to the morning.  Don, Justin, Ryan and I headed over to watch him fly!  Our only contact with him for 10 weeks is via the US postal service. We love you Nick and miss you like crazy.