May 3, 2012

See Ya Later

I've never been good with good-byes. It's just not my thing.

I hate knowing that I may not be seeing someone for a really long time and it just down right hurts my heart to say those words. Just saying them to a friend or family member who lives far away is a shot to my heart. When deer season rolls around every year, it's terribly hard for me to say "good-bye" to Beau every weekend but I know that child eats, sleeps and breathes deer hunting so I'll sacrifice my emotions for his happiness and suck it up. It may sound cliche but "see ya later", even though it still hurts, just feels and sounds ten times better.

Last night we had to say "see ya later" to one of Beau's very best friends, Brian.

Brian is an officer in the U.S. Army and is leaving for Afghanistan for six months. I wouldn't say he's necessarily on the front lines but after hearing about his mission...he's definitely dealing directly with the enemy.

Beau searched high and low to find something to give to Brian as a constant memory to let him know that we're back at home thinking about him and waiting for his return. It's important to us that he knows we're supporting him 1000% but come December, we'll be damn glad he's back on U.S. soil.

I can't put it into words how much my heart ached as I watched my husband hand his best friend something so terribly precious to him. "These are my grandpa's pilot wings from WWII. They kept him safe and he came back home and I know they'll do the same for you." {Gah. Dagger.} I can't even imagine how hard those words were coming out of his mouth. I just can't imagine...

Though Brian isn't my best friend, he's a big part of our lives and I can't help but feel scared and emotional and nervous for him. This is real. This is happening. He is leaving his home and is being transplanted in a country so full of hate and evil and danger and I just hate that. I hate knowing that he might be really scared or really lonely. I hate that Beau is sick to his stomach knowing that Brian isn't here to hit up the nearest bar at the drop of a hat. I hate that his family is probably worried sick about him while he's over there as they anxiously await his phone calls that he may or may not get to make.

As I drove home last night, eyes full of tears, I couldn't help but think that if every soldier fighting for the United States is like Brian, we're in a damn good place. This is something he wants to do. He has chosen to go fight for our country and darn it, it makes me the proudest wife of my husband's best friend I can be.

I know he'll be okay. I know we'll all be at the airport on that December day when he comes home with signs and flags and most likely, the biggest bottle of Crown Royal we can find to greet him and let him know even though we are so glad he's home, he better not ever do this to any of us ever again.

I thank God for people like Brian; people so strong and willing to fight for our country during such a time of dispair. I thank God for the families who are willing to give up their loved ones for the time being so they can go serve our country and fight for our freedom we so easily take for granted. Call me selfish but I also thank God that my husband is not one of these who is willing to fight for our country. Though I know I'd be the proudest military wife ever and I know, deep down, I would be able to handle it, the thought of it alone puts me in an immediate panic attack.

Today is National Day of Prayer. If you find it in your hearts, could you please pray that God brings Brian back home safely; that Brian knows God is his shield and is there to protect him every step of the way.

We love you, Brian. Stay safe. Be strong and know that we're at home praying for you.
We'll see ya later...


46 comments:

  1. awe this is so touching!!
    I might of even cried a little. I hate goodbyes too.
    I am glad though that beau gave him something that was special to him. It truly makes a difference in the men & women over seas. It takes a toll on them.
    I know while my fiance was deployed all we ever did was worry & wait by the phone. & now that my best friend husband is deployed & on the front lines, it can makes us all sick to our stomachs, yet God is good. I will keep him in my prayers until he returns safe back you all!!

    Happy Thursday!

    xoxo
    jessica

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  2. God Bless Brian!Your hubby's gift to him was so thoughtful. And does this hunky Brian have a lady waiting on him at home? :)

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  3. I have goosebumps and am in tears at my desk!! I love the wings and beau and you and Brian too!!

    PS I want a meaningful gift for when Im not with you! Get on that.

    Thanks and BYE!

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  4. Love you Babe that was very sweet. He will be safe and we will see him soon.

    Hubs

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  5. yup that'll make you cry! thats so sweet!!! when my hubs is sad about a friend i feel it too... its what we wifes do!i hope he returns home safe and sound and i'm sure he will ;)

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  6. Whelp - now that I am crying like a baby - it's a good thing I didn't wear makeup today!! What he gave Brian is so freaking presh. Bromances are the best thing to watch - especially when you are married. It's rare that you see two guys interact similar to two girls. I LOVE THIS.

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  7. Such a touching post! Ah. Definitely had to wipe my eyes, thanks for sharing.

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  8. To Brian: Thank you. Thank you for being a million times more courageous than me, to defend our country. Thank you for being the one to protect us. May God bless you, keep you safe, and uplift your family these next 6 months.

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  9. I am in tears.. God Bless Brian and all of the soldiers. Such awesome, brave men and women!!! I will keep him in my prayers.

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  10. Amazing! soo touching!! I have some friends & a cousin who is in the military. They are such strong & courageous men (& women!). Praying for him, his family, & yall!

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  11. Very touching post! My sister's boyfriend just returned from a year in Afghanistan. It was the hardest year ever for our family and especially for her.

    Prayers for Brian and for Beau's piece of mind.

    xoxo

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  12. Definitely might have cried a little reading this! He will definitely be in many people's thoughts and prayers these next few months:)

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  13. I just stumbled upon your blog thru another blog I followed and I have tears in my eyes reading this post. What a beautiful thought it was that your husband gave his grandfather's wings to his best friend. That speaks volumes!! There need to be more people on this earth like you and your husband and his friend of course too! I will be keeping him in prayer all the way up here in Indiana. Keep your faith! :)

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  14. OMG! This post! Seriously. I love that your hubs gave something so precious to his friend! SO SWEET! He's lucky to have friends like you guys!

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  15. Thank you so much for sharing this post. I cried reading it and I will keep your husbands friend in my thoughts and prayers. Having someone close to you deploy is never easy. One of my best friends from high school (he's more like a brother than a friend) has been in Afghanistan for the past year and it's been very hard. Excpecially since I didn't see him before we deployed. He is currently making his way back home and should be on US soil by Saturday and I can't express how happy I am going to be when I get to see him in June. Stay strong!

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  16. What a sweet gesture from your husband. Prayers going up for your friend.

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  17. What a truly touching gift your husband gave. We owe our men and women in the military, more than we can ever repay. They are the most amazing people on this earth.

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  18. Thank you for sharing this. My college boyfriend was deployed to Kyrgyzstan for 7 months in 2009, and hard doesn't even begin to describe going through something like that. Your letters/packages and just knowing you're praying will mean the world to him! God bless our troops and their families and loved ones waiting back home for them!

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  19. Incredibly sweet and touching post Steph. I will be praying for Brian. What Beau did is sooooo awesome. Gave me goosebumps. God is good and he will protect him. I just know it. Love you! See you soon ;)

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  20. this is so sweet Steph!! i love what Beau gave Brian, that's the nicest gift ever and I'll know his treasure it. I'm always a hot mess when my brothers are deployed so I know how you feel and there's no other way to get through other than with prayer and faith and don't watch the news about the war or read the papers, it'l only make you worry more! Brian is in my prayers!

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  21. Stephie I LOVE this post. My brother-in-law went to Iraq three times, and my cousin just got back. I have ALWAYS said that the people in the military are my HEROS. Brian is my hero!!

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  22. And I'm sure based on you posting this post and picture...Brian will not only have friends and family waiting on him when he gets home...but several interested single ladies!

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  23. Gah! So amazing. What a great guy your hubby is (loved his comment too). Brian is a great guy, lucky to have so many out there like him.

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  24. What a perfect gift! So thankful for Brian and all of our military. I'll be praying for Brian and his family in this season.

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  25. Thank you Brian for everything that you do for our country and our freedom!

    This is such a beautiful post and I can't wait to see the celebration in the airport come December! xoxo

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  26. So true. This isn't goodbye, just a see you later :) I wish I would've thought of that when we were texting last night. Brian is smart, strong, and fearless! He WILL be ok.

    Beau--I will be praying for Brian monthly. I know how much he means to you.

    Can't wait to squeeze you both.

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  27. May God watch over him and bring him home safely. We will definitely be keeping him in our prayers.
    My husband served in the Marine Corps for 4 years, he deployed twice. The hardest thing I've had to go through. Especially the second time when our daughter was only a month and a half old. Now he's in the Coast Guard and we have yet to go through a deployment. My little brother (not by blood) just came home from Afghanistan and my big brother (by blood) just left. So I completely know what it's like to say see you later.

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  28. You sure know how to make a pregnant girl cry. That was so thoughtful of Beau to give him so meaningful.

    Thankfully, I've haven't had to say see ya later to my husband for a deployment yet. Just friends and it's still heartbreaking for me. :S

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  29. So beautifully written girl! Made me tear up too... I will absolutely be praying for Brian! xoxo

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  30. This is so sweet. I remember how hard it was to say goodbye to my husband when he left for Iraq. Totally not a good bye, it's 'see ya later'.

    <3

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  31. Such a beautiful post, Steph. As a military SO, I can't tell you how much it means to know how appreciated our men/women are who fight for us.

    xo,
    Molly

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  32. Absolutely. Will be praying for him and all the other brave men and women overseas every day. Please let him know that we are so thankful for his bravery and sacrifice.

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  33. Beautiful post!
    He will definitely be in my prayers. Our soldiers are such amazing people :)

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  34. I want to thank you for you kind words about the men and women who do fight for our country. It is extremely reassuring when civilians take notice to how hard it is to have someone you love deploy! As an army wife of a husband who returned from Afghanistan in December, it makes me proud that people recognize the sacrifice that men and women make everyday.

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  35. This post made me cry! I'll def remember your friend in my prayers. I love our troops, how incredible that someone would volunteer to serve and protect us and our country!!!

    Hubby's cousin deployed to Afghanistan in January, and as he's a couple years younger than us, it was really hard to see him leave. Keep all the troops in your prayers!

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  36. Keeping Brian and all the soldiers that fight to keep us safe in my prayers! There is no greater act of sacrifice and bravery. I couldn't be more proud to live in America.

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  37. Man, this made me tear up reading this...it is SO hard. My cousin just left on Monday to head to Ft. Bliss for 2 months, then to Afghanistan for a year. His wife lives near us on our family ranch, and I cannot imagine how hard it must be for her. My sister's boyfriend is also going to Afghanistan for 6 months in a couple weeks. My little brother just joined and is in Basic Training right now. It is SO hard to see your loved ones going, just to fight for us so we can be free. Write him LOTS of letters-I promise they will do him SO much good and keep him going while he's there. He will be home before you know it. I'll be sure to add him to my military prayer list.

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  38. I love this so much. My college boyfriend was in Iraq for 2 years and that feeling of saying good-bye is one I can't even describe. But, it's true...our country is in such good hands! I will keep Brian in my prayers. So sweet of BBFT, what a great friend.
    ps. Brian is quite the hottie, isn't he? :)

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  39. Those wings were such an amazing gesture of love... Forever thinking of him and all those fighting for our country. It can be unimaginably hard at times. Having been through it with my brother I can relate to this. Write letters, share care packages, pray for safety.

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    Hope to see you there! Thanks so much!
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  41. This brought tears to my eyes.
    What an amazing husband you have to give such a meaningful & thoughtful gift.
    My family just went over to Hawaii to visit my cousin before he is gone & are feeling that same hurt & the fears. I pray for him, for your Brian, and for those who are missing them.

    Might I add....Brian is one sexy man.

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  42. this is unbeeeelivably amazingly touching steph/beau!!

    One of my friends is going overseas with the airforce in a couple months and i cant help but think about that when I read this. Beau is so thoughtful for giving the pilot wings ohh mann! Gave me chills!

    THose will protect him for sure :-) Will be praying for him and all you guys! Cant help but say thank you a million times to all the soldiers who protect and defend us overseas <3 <3 <3 Thanks to Brian and his company!!!

    xoxox

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  43. This definitely brought some tears to my eyes. My brother-in-law is in the U.S. Army. Thankfully he has not yet been to Afghanistan, but it is still hard on the family knowing what he is out there doing without family along side him. We miss him terribly and are the same way you described you all will be in December sooo excited to see him everytime he comes home to visit.

    Your friend Brian will definitely be in my thoughts and prayers today!

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  44. TEARS! Esp. at Beau giving him those wings! :(

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  45. first off - brian is HOT....so we definitely need him back in the US! This is so sweet Steph. Such an awesome, well-written post. Will definitely be praying for your husband's best friend - that he'll be safe and come home soon! Gave me chills friend! You are so sweet!

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  46. I just started reading your blog and this was the sweetest post it made me cry sitting at work. I pray the Lord keeps all our brave men and women safe overseas.

    P.S.- may not be appropriate but is Brian single?!?

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