Matt deploys to Afghanistan: The First Stage of Goodbye

Thursday, October 8, 2009

The First Stage of Goodbye

Matthew, Sarah, Jacob, Hannah, Isaac, Samuel, Rebekah (in age order)

(and I didn't approve the plaid-stripes-combo-lol-BOYS!!!)

After playing football in the front yard, the kids wanted to watch a movie with Matthew one last time before he heads off across the vast ocean. I snatched up the chance to get a family picture with all of us just as the sun was setting. Matthew propped up the camera on the yard chairs, and set the timer. We got a good one after a few tries, then we headed in to have dinner. After dinner, we sat down in front of the TV to watch The Legend of Zorro.

Later Grammy, Uncle Ty & Uncle Derek came by to pick up Matthew. We didn't let him go until 11pm. Standing around hugging, finding ways to stay and hang out, and last minute preparations kept us up later than we had planned. He spent the night at her house, and she will drive him to Camp Pendleton (CPen) in the morning. My uncle wants my mom to bring Matthew by his office on the way as well. Everyone wants to see him before he goes. :) He has to report by noon today.

As far as we know, he does not have any more leave time or weekends off until deployment. I am hoping that we can go see him off as he boards the plane or something. I think we deserve to have that opportunity.

I learned last night that he has been given the responsibility of overseeing the safety of all the squadron's equipment and gear on the way to Afghanistan. He will meet the squadron over there, as he gets to arrive first with the cargo. What a huge responsibility! I am thankful that his CO sees fit to trust him with this great task.

He's still here in the states, so I reserve my tears until there is reason to be concerned. I must keep my home and family running smoothly for the sake of the rest of us.

Thank you for keeping up with the details. I promise to post as I have news worthy of typing, or as I need to get it "on paper" to get it off of my mind.

Blessings,
Matt's Mom <3>

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Psalm 18
"I love You, O LORD, my strength." 2The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies. 4The cords of death encompassed me, And the torrents of ungodliness terrified me. 5The cords of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. 6In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears. 7Then the earth shook and quaked; And the foundations of the mountains were trembling And were shaken, because He was angry. 8Smoke went up out of His nostrils, And fire from His mouth devoured; Coals were kindled by it. 9He bowed the heavens also, and came down With thick darkness under His feet. 10He rode upon a cherub and flew; And He sped upon the wings of the wind. 11He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies. 12From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds, Hailstones and coals of fire. 13The LORD also thundered in the heavens, And the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire. 14He sent out His arrows, and scattered them, And lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them. 15Then the channels of water appeared, And the foundations of the world were laid bare At Your rebuke, O LORD, At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. 16He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. 17He delivered me from my strong enemy, And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. 18They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my stay. 19He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me. 20The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. 21For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God. 22For all His ordinances were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me. 23I was also blameless with Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity. 24Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes. 25With the kind You show Yourself kind; With the blameless You show Yourself blameless; 26With the pure You show Yourself pure, And with the crooked You show Yourself astute. 27For You save an afflicted people, But haughty eyes You abase. 28For You light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness. 29For by You I can run upon a troop; And by my God I can leap over a wall. 30As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. 31For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God, 32The God who girds me with strength And makes my way blameless? 33He makes my feet like hinds' feet, And sets me upon my high places. 34He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great. 36You enlarge my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped. 37I pursued my enemies and overtook them, And I did not turn back until they were consumed. 38I shattered them, so that they were not able to rise; They fell under my feet. 39For You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. 40You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, And I destroyed those who hated me. 41They cried for help, but there was none to save, Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them. 42Then I beat them fine as the dust before the wind; I emptied them out as the mire of the streets. 43You have delivered me from the contentions of the people; You have placed me as head of the nations; A people whom I have not known serve me. 44As soon as they hear, they obey me; Foreigners submit to me. 45Foreigners fade away, And come trembling out of their fortresses. 46The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation, 47The God who executes vengeance for me, And subdues peoples under me. 48He delivers me from my enemies; Surely You lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man. 49Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O LORD, And I will (sing praises to Your name. 50He gives great deliverance to His king, And shows lovingkindness to His anointed, To David and his descendants forever.