Ins and Outs of my Life

A soldier's letter

One of my students has a Dad and older brother both serving our country in Iraq. My class sent care boxes to the both of them a few weeks ago. Well today we got a letter back from Dad. It was so heartfelt and touching that I teared up. Then I showed it to my teacher friends and staff and they to teared up. It started out by saying how he appreciated the box and was sharing. Then it went into how smart he and his guys felt my class was by just seeing the drawings and writings they had sent with the box. Then he asked my class to do him a few favors. He went into a few items about listening to Mom and Dad, teachers and getting a good education. Then he told them to hug his son. Then toward the end he directed the letter to me. He said how he loved protecting our country but it was truly the teachers that were the inspiration for our country. He thanked me for being a teacher and doing service for the country. He went on to say how much he appreciated all I was doing for his son. IT was a real tearjerker..the way he had it worded. Then he said to tell his son he loved and missed him. He said our box meant more to him than we would ever know. He was sooooo homesick.
It is kind of sad as he doesn't live in with my student. They are a newly divorced family. Mom moved here with son a year before Dad got shipped out. He (when not at war) live about 600 miles away. Kind of sad. But he said he would come right to our state to see his son as soon as his plane landed ( maybe this summer) He will visit us ( the school ) as soon as he is able. I thought that was so sweet. He is a good Dad . I pray for his safe return and maybe even the family will get back together as a result of being apart during war. I know mom shared with me she loved him still and when he called with the exit order news she wanted to tell him she loved him and it was as he was wanting to hear it but she had a boyfriend beside her. She said if the boyfriend hadn't been there it is no telling what she would have said. She could only think how she should have for days after as she thought there was a chance he might not ever make it home. She said that if he was killed in action she would regret it-- not telling him she loved him. I told her I am sure he knows. But she said it was so awkward between them on the telephone and then she just put her son on after telling him-- well be safe. I told her I would just have had to tell him anyway even if the boyfriend was there.