Coming Home

"Some people go through life wondering if they make a difference in this world. The Marines don't have that problem."  - President Ronald Reagan -

"A Marine is a Marine. I set that policy two weeks ago - there's no such thing as a former Marine. You're a Marine, just in a different uniform and you're in a different phase of your life. But you'll always be a Marine because you went to Parris Island, San Diego or the hills of Quantico. There's no such thing as a former Marine."   Gen. James Amos, 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps

So proud of my son in law, Cody, and my daughter, Courtney, who supported him and cheered him on for the past 5 years! They are COMING HOME for good in 18 days!!! Oooh Rah! Semper Fidelis!

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I originally posted this on my fb 'notes' page on July 21, 2011.  Those were some of the happiest days of my life - when my Courtney and Cody returned home from Camp LeJeune, NC after leaving a week after their marriage - more than 3 years earlier.  It was some of the hardest days Courtney's dad and I lived through.  Praying, hoping, and anxiously awaiting their time to come back home.  We marked each day off on the calendar...day by day, month by month, year by year.  They did extraordinarily well - seemed to mature quicker than we thought, managed their money well, and got along like a normal, newlywed couple.  Then their time in war was over and they were coming home.  Rick had built them a little temporary cabin next to our house for them to 'make do' until they moved into grandma's house down the road...someday.  We were so thrilled and happy to have them home and we were also proud of them for the way they lived their lives while they were gone.  We were proud of them THEN, we are proud of them NOW.  On June 3 of this year, they came to us and wanted to tell us something.  (We thought we might be told we were going to be grandparents!  Boy, were we shocked to hear they were splitting up.)  Say what?  Huh?  What did we miss?  This came out of nowhere.  Out of the Blue.  They didn't explain much - other than it was pretty much a done deal.  They had talked about everything, worked out all the logistics, division of assets, etc....had it all worked out in their heads and on paper.  TheyWereEndingTheirMarriage.   Rick and I were heart-broken.  I don't even remember how I functioned for the next month.  This was around the same time I learned my job role at work was changing.  Suffice it to say I might rather just go on to heaven than ever have to re-live those two months in my life.  You can think you know what's going on in your own backyard - literally - but you never really know.  We never saw that coming!  Naturally, we tried everything we knew to do (as parents) to get them to reconsider - but ultimately, it's their decision.  We might not agree with it - we might wish they would take some unsolicited advice from us or from others whose opinions they valued.  But, we couldn't talk them out of getting married so young and we can't talk them out of getting a divorce after being together 8 years and married 5.  But we are still proud of them.  We still support and love them - and always will.  Sometimes, it just IS what it IS.  I may never understand - but I will always love.  I even respect the way they handled it - they did not blame one another, said they still love each other - but just could not be married any longer.  There seemed to be no 'good reason' given to us, but again - they are grown adults - and it IS their decision and theirs alone.  My heart still hurts as I see them move on with their lives, without one another.  I still have a heavy heart and I think they do too.  I leave it all in God's hands and remember to trust in his will.  Meanwhile, I will do the only thing I can do - I will love.