Hinson Homecoming

Richard and I had an amazing night last night. Moms neighbor, Chief Warrant Officer Scott Hinson, was returning home from his 15 month deployment in Iraq. His wife and daughters invited us to go with them to pick him up. What an honor. I've never experienced anything like that.
He was set to come in at 2 am on Saturday, June 1. After several time changes and one strategically placed road block on Hwy 196, we finally made it on base only to wait 45 min for the ceremony to start.


I felt unworthy to be sitting there with all of those people who had sacrificed so much for our freedom and the freedom of the Iraqi people. There were parents, husbands, wives, children, and other soldiers all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at that ungodly hour. The 3rd ID marching band was there and played a variety of songs from Rocky songs to God Bless America. Excitement mounted as we saw the buses roll in from Hunter Army Airfield and we could see the soldiers getting in formation on the other side of the field we were on. Then, they marched in formation onto the field and stood at attention as the band played the National Anthem. I cried thinking about how the words of the Star Spangled Banner that we all know are such a reality to these men and women. After a brief address from a superior praising them for a job well done, the announcer gave the green light and all the families rushed the field. It was emotional. It was touching. It was such a relief to see them safely home with their families.

Richard and I got to take another soldier to his home. He was a friend of Scott's who was a single guy. The ride to his house was full of conversations about the war, the media, and the struggles in Iraq. This was a night to remember!

Mom

My mom had her gall bladder removed on Tuesday. In typical Howard fashion, we can't have anything go as planned. She had to go to the ER at about 2:30 this morning. She woke up with very swollen glands in her neck and her finger tips and lips tingling. God bless Jonathan for being up there with her all night until I got there at about 6:45 this morning. She was there for about 5 hours and all they did was take blood, do an x-ray, and a CT scan. The diagnosis?? They claim that the swelling is a reaction to the tube that was down her throat during surgery. I don't buy it. They are smarter than me I'm sure, but I got the feeling that they really didn't know and had to blame it on something. My favorite memory from this experience was the realization that they left her IV port in her arm. We came to that realization about the time we pulled into RH. So, all my medical training came into good use as I pulled the port out and got blood everywhere. Yikes.

As a result of this experience, I have decided that the only occassion in which I will be visiting the ER is if I'm unconscious or bleeding from the head. I'll probably chance it and go see my doctor the next day.

Summer

I have officially started my summer vacation. Life is good.
Mom had her gall bladder out this morning, but she is doing well except for the usual nausea and discomfort.
I threw a shower this morning for one of my best friends. She racked up, let me tell you. The Math Dept all chipped in and got her the travel system she registered for. She was very happy.
The only thing that would make my first week of summer better is getting off the waiting list for the Digital Photography class I wanted to attend next week. God will make a way.
Bible School is RAPIDLY approaching. It makes me nervous thinking about it. We are supposed to decorate this weekend! Anyone want to help????

God Bless The Chapmans

The Lord communicates with us in so many ways. One of the most powerful ways is through music. "hymns and spiritual songs" Steven Curtis Chapman has been a blessing in my life and to so many of my family members and friends through his music and his life. He is a living testimony of what God can do through one individual. I am so sad about what has happened to his family this week. I wanted to blog about it so that some of my friends and family would be in prayer for them. God has to be doing something great. He works in ways we don't understand to bring more glory to himself and bring us closer to Him.

For the whole story, visit his website:

http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/