It has been interesting leaving the combat zone, going home and coming back. It’s the extreme contrasts between places that have me constantly thinking of home and family. I’m sure in a month or two Afghanistan will become routine and even the humanitarian pediatric clinic at the Egyptian hospital will seem ‘normal’. But today, the differences between here and home are so vivid in my mind that I long for being with you all again.
I am so grateful! Grateful for family, grateful for freedom, grateful to know that God lives, grateful for the opportunity to serve and grateful to be alive! For 18 days I was at home with Leigh Anne, Kerrigan, Lily and Joshua. We went out to eat, saw movies, played games, laughed hard and often fell asleep together exhausted. We had some quiet times at home alone. We went to the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama with Jimmy, Lisa and their children. We all came together with our extended families and met in the temple to have Joshua sealed to us. We gave him his blessing and we had lots of time to just be together as a family.
When it was all done I got on the plane and came back to Afghanistan. Back to the combat zone, security issues and bleakness. I’ve left home where the future is full of unlimited possibilities for my children -- to this land stifled by time and circumstance, causing what I would consider a hellish future for my own children to look like a bounteous and blissful future to the parents of Afghani children here.
It makes me appreciate our country and our culture – and it makes me miss you all very, very much. Thanks for all the sacrifices you have made for us. Thanks for coming out to Tennessee and giving us all such a great experience. I can’t wait to see you all again.
