Beautiful News about Another Amazing Young Man

Our Favorite Soldier Is Home!
Our nephew Sean has been serving our country in Iraq for the past fifteen months. Today we received the beautiful news that he is safely back at his duty station in Alaska. Thank you, dear Lord! He'll be arriving in Ohio on Christmas Eve to spend the week with all of my extended family---and that's by far the best gift we'll receive this year.

We were blessed to spend a few days with Sean this summer during his long overdue "mid"-tour leave from Iraq. He was relaxed and happy and very patient with all of the kids...who just could not get enough of him. I suspect the tragedies he has faced overseas have given him a deeper appreciation for the simpler joys of life. Following that visit, my husband wrote the following words to my sister and brother-in-law:

I wanted to tell you how impressed I was with your eldest son. I already knew he had character: his joining the Army during such a difficult time in our history told me that. But I really loved watching him deal with all the kids, especially responding to their constant attacks with squirt guns, water balloons, and buckets. A specific incident will always stick in my mind. Sean was fighting off one of many water attacks armed only with a "super soaker" when Charlie charged after him a with a half-full pitcher of water. "Charged" is probably overly dramatic, since Charlie could barely carry it. Sean, while still firing at his other attackers, dropped down on one knee so that Charlie could pour his pitcher over him.

How do some kids turn out so amazingly well?

I can't think of a finer tribute for this brave and beautiful young soldier. Welcome home, Sean. We love you!

We'll keep praying for you, for all of the men and women who sacrifice and risk so much to defend our nation, and for their families waiting at home with anxious hearts. Jesus, we trust in Thee.