Military brat

He's a military brat.

It's official.

He was born in a military hospital, lived in 4 different homes, his Dad was deployed during his second birthday and will be during his third. He brings me toy cell phones, hair brushes, toothbrushes, and even sippie cups and says, "It's Daddy. Talk to Daddy Mommy." So I take the phone/brush/cup and pretend to talk to Daddy about the boys. I tell Daddy how Jack is sharing with Ty and how he has kept his underware dry for so many days now and how he is growing tall. Then Daddy usually wants to talk to Jack again so I had back the "phone" to him.

At 5:00 every day the National Anthem plays. When we are outside we stand at attention and face the flag. Jack knows to put his hand on his heart and stand still. When we are inside, Jack rushes to the door or the window and pays his respects.

I won't ever really understand what the young children go through when living this type of lifestyle. But I see a lot of it. I carry a lot of it. I explain over and over how much their daddy loves them and how he misses them and that he will come back -but not today. I hear the cries for "DADDY!" when the boys are getting disciplined. I assure them that Daddy would be doing the same thing to them because Daddy loves them and wants them to learn to obey.

I wonder if the kids are lonely? Do they feel the tension that I sometimes feel? Does it spill over onto them? Do they need a break from me as much as I need a break from them sometimes? I don't know. All I know is that God will fill all our needs. And that his grace will get us through anything the military can dish out... including losing Ty's shot records.