StColette Posted August 5, 2004 Author Share Posted August 5, 2004 Amen to that Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorphRC Posted August 5, 2004 Share Posted August 5, 2004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franciscanheart Posted August 5, 2004 Share Posted August 5, 2004 yes amen to that.... and BUMPEDY BUMP BUMP BUMP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franciscanheart Posted August 5, 2004 Share Posted August 5, 2004 bump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeraMaria Posted August 5, 2004 Share Posted August 5, 2004 [quote name='StColette' date='Aug 4 2004, 03:30 AM'] I was speaking with someone tonight on this topic and they suggested that I post about it so I am. It’s a very personal topic for me. My brother is a 1st Lt. in the US Army and was stationed over in Iraq for a year. Praise be to God he returned home unhurt in March. He missed so much while he was gone. He missed his youngest sister, me, graduate High School, he missed Christmas and Thanksgiving with his family. Many others I'm sure have had to go through the same thing as my family and I have. Waiting each day that he is gone and watching the news for any report of a soldier being killed over there. He had a few close calls, some more close than anyone would want to imagine. My prayers during the period he was gone grew stronger and stronger. There was a period while he was gone when we didn't hear from him for a full week. There had been an accident where he was stationed in Iraq and I immediately sent an email to check on him. Days went by and no answer came to the email. I began a novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, asking Our Lady to please help bring word that my brother was okay. On the last day of the novena I received an email from my brother, he was okay . I've never shared that story with anyone not even my father. From the time that he left I had began carrying my rosary everywhere with me, it never left my side. I still to this day carry my rosary everywhere because of what comfort it brought me during that year. And believe me a year can feel like an eternity. After my brother returned home he came by the house to see my dad and I. It was hard to fight back tears but I managed some how. He began to tell us about his experience over there and about his close calls. He had said that there were so many chances of him being seriously hurt but he came home without a single scratch. My dad and I just smiled at one another because we knew that he was kept well protected by someone I know in my heart that Our Lady took special care of him. I thought my faith was strong before my brother went away to Iraq but after his going and his return I can truly say that it has grown twenty times as strong. Because while he was gone I had to completely rely on God for the strength to get through him not being here and for the comfort that I needed knowing that my brother was in danger everyday and to wipe away the tears that I shed out of fear of losing my brother. But God did erase my fears as time went on. After time I knew that God would take great care of my brother one way or another. This short version of my story I've just told only touches the surface of what it was like to have a loved one away in war. So many people share the same story as I do but since we're Pham I decided I would share it with all of you. So please remember to keep the troops in your prayers God Bless, Jennie Catherine [/quote] How did I miss this thread? Jennie, you're amazing. It must take a lot of strength and faith to go through something like that. Praise God he is ok. Gloria. God Bless you, older sister!! My prayers are with all those in stationed in Iraq and their families. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franciscanheart Posted August 5, 2004 Share Posted August 5, 2004 such a strong gal.... go jennie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancesforLove Posted August 5, 2004 Share Posted August 5, 2004 Jennie that is so sweet and touching. Alot of my family is military and my parents are both retired Marine Corp Vets. We had a very big scare when 9-11 happened. My Uncle was stationed in Bahrain with my Aunt and 2 cousins. They were scheduled to leave the day after 9-11 happened. As soon as the towers were hit they were suddenly in even more danger than before. They couldn't leave their house at all, my cousins and aunt had to be stuck in some type of underground facility. Because when towers were hit there was suddenly an uproar of bombings, murders, all sorts of terorist activity. My grandmother and my family were distraught because my Aunt was allowed to call home. As soon as we heard from her the whole family was on the phone. She was only allowed to tell us that she was told to pack everything and be ready to leave at a moments notice and they wouldn't say where she was going or anything. Then we lost contact for about a month or so, we were all so scared of what happened to them because the only news we heard was about the mass suicide bombings and stuff. We were all SOOO happy when we found out they have removed them from Bahrain and that they were safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franciscanheart Posted August 5, 2004 Share Posted August 5, 2004 thats sad but its cool theyre okay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StColette Posted August 5, 2004 Author Share Posted August 5, 2004 Chels that's wonderful that they are okay !! Sometimes people get too rapped up into the entire political side of the war and they often times forget the strain it puts families through. But that's why God gave me a voice, it may be tiny but it tends to never be quiet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancesforLove Posted August 5, 2004 Share Posted August 5, 2004 lol yes Jen mine is never quiet either but you know that. Yes I was VERY happy they are ok. See they were stationed in Bahrain about a month after there wedding (when I was 5) so I have only met my Uncle at the wedding! they are now in Hawaii so I still haven't and I have a cousin I haven't met either lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StColette Posted August 6, 2004 Author Share Posted August 6, 2004 lol true Chels you aren't too quiet either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancesforLove Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 hehehe I know I'm not and I see no point in changing who I am for anyway lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franciscanheart Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 never ever change.... unless its good change and then go ahead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaidoh Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 my bro is going sooon. but if we get a KIA letter we(my family) will have to say ok he has gone to make its world a better place and may god have rest his soul. we no that my bro would like us to keep livein and keep goin with ours lives. that was what we have thought of for like a bit now and that is all we can do in my house. it smells of elderberries i no but we cant help it now can we. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancesforLove Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 aww i'm sorry tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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