We've Left Iraq

If you're up late and you happen to read any headlines on the major internet news sites, you'll see several headlines like this one saying that the last American soldiers have left Iraq. There is reason to rejoice in that news, but if you're one of us - a family member of the brigade that got the short end of the stick and will be leaving Iraq, but not returning immediately home - you may feel a little slighted, even a little mad and bitter! Knowing that your family member played a key role in actually closing up the operation in Iraq and knowing that their homecoming isn't going to be celebrated by the media as part of the historic ending to the war is heartbreaking. At least those are my feelings.

We've endured much to be at this point. We were told in October that our soldiers were definitely coming home by the end of the year, even though we knew that some wouldn't make it home until January. The President even made his bold statement that all of our troops would be home for the holidays. A few weeks later, that information was rescinded. Now we're being told that they will likely stay somewhere in the Middle East for the duration of their year long deployment. It's been an emotional roller coaster. I tried not to put too much stock in the coming home news because I know that nothing is ever set in stone. 

Now, though, watching the reports and seeing ABC's graphic that says "The War Ends. America's Heroes Come Home" just makes me mad. My hero isn't coming home. 3-4,000 heroes aren't coming home. Only one article lately has told the truth and surprisingly it was an ABC correspondent's article. You can read it here. The media may totally miss their final return home from Iraq, but I can guarantee you there's a brigade of families who will be celebrating the end of this quite memorable deployment.

I can rest easy tonight knowing that my husband is in a safe place, but there's still this bittersweet feeling I have about how this whole situation has gone down. The tendency is to ask Why Us? Unfortunately, we volunteered for this because we wanted to be in Central Texas! If you know much about our family, you know that the roads we travel are often those with lots of potholes and frequent detours. Things don't often just fall into our laps, especially not in the Army! This deployment was a sacrifice we were willing to make to get here. 

So when I start feeling sorry for myself and getting mad about our current predicament and being envious of those families celebrating having their soldier home for Christmas, I have to remind myself that we volunteered for this. If I knew then what I know now, though, that Italy assignment we passed up may have been more appealing!

We've made it to the half way point or maybe further since the jury is still out on the length of this deployment. We can push through to the end! Thankfully we have good mental health coverage with our insurance because the kids will definitely need therapy by the end of this one.

My flesh and my heart may fail, God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!  Psalm 73:26