ARMY OF ONE

James is a 19 years old Christian man. He is a hunter and a fisherman. He loves old movies and new ones too. He his a good cook. He is the middle child of five. He is out going and alot of fun to be with. He is loved very, very much by his family.

update Oct.05

James had a birthday in Aug.11th, Hes 20 years old now. He is stationed at Fort Lewis WA. As far as I can tell he is happy, having fun and doing well. He met a girl and he likes her and her family very much. (Im jealous but very thankful for this family!). He has been having hip pain and was put on rest for 6 weeks, was put back on full duty, but is still having pain. He hit 18 targets out of 19 in a simulation training, he got top score.(Im so proud :).

I can not tell you how much my heart aches to hold my son in my arms and kiss his face! I have not seen him for five months now. He calls now and then. Its sooo good to hear his voice I cant think of anything to say! Will I ever get a grip on this? I am hopping he will be home for Christmas :) .

May 2007

James has done so well keeping in touch with his family. Im so proud of him, more then I can say. Its been three long years and he calls all the time. He comes home a couple times a year and has been home for every Christmas . " I NEVER stop missing" my buddy.

One time he snuck home and surprised us all. One at a time we all found him home and each one of us was over whelmed with the surprise. It was great fun !!

James has been stationed in Washington at Fort Lewis. His stay there went well with one exception. James dislocated his collar bone horsing around with some gorilla. You would think with all the money and time they put into building a solder that his health would be a big concern not some sick joke! James was put on light duty to heal. Well, that was a sick joke. I wanted to "talk" to someone over there about this matter, but James wouldn’t let me. Because it would make matters worst for him, no doubt. They smoked him all the time for it! He did his best and did dame well!! He has lived with it for a year now and has healed some. Im not impressed with the care they gave him and Im very pissed at the needless pain they inflicted on him. I would really like to give someone over there a peace of my mind. Ok............

So last Thanks Giving we had a nice time all together. As I drive James to the airport

he tells me the girl he has been with for the last two years is expecting a baby in Feb., a boy and his name is Ethan. This was not part of the plan. I stammered out some advice and off he flew. Next thing I knew it was January. And I was on the phone with my son as he was about to get married. I was so distort, words can not tell how sad I was that I was not there for him. I didnt have the money to fly out to him. I didn’t even know anything about his girl or her family but James has known them all for a couple years and they have treated him well. All I can do is cry out to my Jesus now, He told me he would make a blessing out of this new family, and I found some peace. As I came to grips with the fact that James was not my boy any more but Miilanes new husband, I drank a bottle of red wine in 30min., it was all good till I got the spins............

Ethan was born in February. A beautiful little boy and he looks just like James :}

Mia, James wife, and her family all have brown eyes and James has my light blue eyes. Come to find out every one prayed he would have James blue eyes. And God laughed at science and gave Ethan our blue eyes :}LOL James is a proud, happy new husband and daddy!

In march it was my husbands and my 25^th wedding anniversary. We went on a little honeymoon to ......... Washington. James and his family met us at the airport. Mia put Ethan in my arms and it was love at first sight! Turns out Mia and I are very much alike and we love each other and are becoming very good friends. Thank the Lord! And her family is wonderful. I love them too. They have been very good to James and I will always be thankful to them. They gave James a going away party while we were there because he was shipping out to Iraq the following week for a year and a half. (I had hopped his shoulder would keep him home.) We all had so much fun. It was a great time for all of us! We stayed a week and now its time to leave. This is the day I have dreaded for so long. I have prayed and prayed that the Lord would give me the strength to turn away from him and leave him to go off to war. And He did just that. I was cool as a cucumber, a brave soldiers mom. It was truly a miracle.

Mia calls me every day. We talk about James and Ethan for hours. Its "our" favorite thing to do :} and she and Ethan are moving to Maine in July to come live with us. James has been in Iraq for two months now. Mia got his last call. He has had a tough week. His troop has been out on missions. They had one casualty already, memorial service was held this week for there fallen soldier. Its been very hard on James and no doubt all the others as well. Mia got James last call the other day. She said he sounded very tiered, sad and lonely. He told Mia, it looks like he is just about the only one who calls home all the time. We know he spoils us with his calls, we love him so so much for it.

James drives a striker, he is a sharp shooter, specialist, of the Attach Co., Black Knights, 4th Brigade 2^nd Infantry Division, 138 th Unit. You can e mail me for his address. TTFN