With tears plunking and heavy hearts a yellow ribbon goes up at our home today.
It is a symbol to our precious son to please come home. It is a reminder of all the sacrifices our military make on a daily basis. Sacrifices for our freedom, so that war is not on our American soil. It is a reminder of what happened on September 11th, 2001. It is a reminder to pray for our son and those around the world risking their lives. It is a reminder to pray for the families of military. Many far from their own families. Many separated by deployments. Many longing for some sort of normalcy in the midst of the separation. All loving America and all the freedoms we so easily take for granted and willing to sacrifice for each of us. 
All military personnel are at risk. Gracious – even those on American bases can be gunned down by a “military psychiatrist” as evidenced by the tragedy at Ft. Ho*d. Tyler told us of a young woman he saw lose her life as she sat in a communication center on the other side of the world. Most in the outside world would have thought her “job” fairly safe in the military. But this is war and no job is safe.
All military personnel are at risk. Gracious – even those on American bases can be gunned down by a “military psychiatrist” as evidenced by the tragedy at Ft. Ho*d. Tyler told us of a young woman he saw lose her life as she sat in a communication center on the other side of the world. Most in the outside world would have thought her “job” fairly safe in the military. But this is war and no job is safe.
Then there are those who are directly engaged in the raging battle. They have trained long, long hours. They know the risks, yet they put their lives on the line for us. Our son is one of those. He came very close to death 3 times last depl*yment. He was awarded medals for his bravery. It is very sobering to this mom and dad.
When Tyler was just about 7 or 8 years old he said to me one day, “Mom, some day I want to be in the military as a way of saying ‘thank you’ to the United States for letting me come home to you.” He is fulfilling that ‘thank you’. As a 16 and 17 year old, he would watch military movies like Black Hawk Down….infact I took him to it when it opened in theatres (I know, what was I thinkin’?). It and other military movies only confirmed his determination to serve our great country. 9-11 was the final straw. How could he let people attempt to destroy America? It was sealed. He was only 15 on that day, but he told me if they would have taken him, he would have joined that moment.
When he finished his training for the special f*rces he was home and said, “Ya’ know what we say in my job? In the movies, jumping out of airplanes? Sexy. In real life? Not sexy.” Turns out because of Tyler’s height, his arms are not as long as others. This makes it more of a jump to even get to the rope. (*tears welling*)
Yes, jumping out, repelling down a rope, all has it’s risks. Huge risks. Yet military personnel do it day in and day out because they love America.
And Tyler son, once again, please remember we are in constant prayer for you…that the angel of the Lord would encamp round about you and your team mates (and sweet Sarah left at home). That you would be comforted and that you would be a powerful witness of God’s deep and abiding love to those with you. We are so proud of you, we love you with all our hearts and we always miss you (and Sarah)!! We are waiting for you.
Lord Jesus, Cover Him with Your Wings and Keep Him Safe.
Please, dear friends, remember to pray for our military and their families.
What an amazing young man, your son!! We pray daily for our armed forces and have a loved one serving our nation as well. We will add a special prayer for your son's safety along with our daily prayers for this Nation.
We are so appreciative of the sacrifice made for our freedom… Freedom that doesn't come free.
Thank You, Thank your son for us!!
Kim (mom to six chili peppers)
We pray for our military. Thank God there are those brave men and women who risk their lives so that we can have our freedom.
Absolutely, dear lady. We will be praying for our awesome brother.
Our #1 son served in the Army for 4.5 years … 2.5 of which were served in Iraq. He's been out for 1.5 years, and is now in the process of re-enlisting. He's ready to go back … to fight once again for our great country.
#2 son just joined the Navy. He will be doing Officer Training and will be part of the Aviation program.
I couldn't be more proud of the choices they have made. While the threat to their safety is real, I know that my God is watching over them wherever they are.
Thanks for the reminder … to keep our military and their families in our prayers.
Mama of Many
Praying for your soldier and for mine and for all our military all over the world. May the Lord bless them and keep them safe.
Blessings,
Monica
Proud Army Mom of David
Your precious son will be on my prayer list until he comes home. Hugs and love
Whoa, I've gotton behind on reading your posts. Your blog has made me cry, as usual. Tears of joy that Jubilee gets to come home to her family, tears of empathy as I promise to pray for God's peace to wipe away your fear, and tears of compassion as I think of my son serving in the military. Know that we are praying for you throughout this month. Blessings to you and yours.
Linny,
This post resonated through me even though I've only had one cousin (actually a cousin's son) serve overseas in my conscious memory. We were so relieved when he came home from the Middle East and dread his upcoming re-deployment. I will be praying for your precious son and the thousands of other brave men and women that continue to stand up for our country.
Blessings to you all!
Kristi
Praying for all our millitary. We have a brother dploying in January. Not sure where he's going, he isn't able to tell us,not even his wife.
Praying for your boy and ours as they serve our country. You just have to love them!!!!! What an honor it is to be their parents!!
Loving you!
I am vowing to pray for your sweet boy everyday until the day he is back home. <3
AMEN!!!! love the military heroes.
I'm praying for Tyler! As a military wife, I get it! Your post made me teary….
Stay safe Tyler!
Praying for you and Tyler.
How can I be so proud of someone I've never met?
CM
As mom to a Speci*l F*rces son, my heart and tears are right there with you. Praying a hedge of protection for T and his team as they lead and protect.
My eyes are filling too. I am praying for your precious Tyler and for all the military. What amazing men and women they are.
Praying for your dear Tyler.
Thank you Linny for reminding everyone to be praying for our troops, and their families too.
We will add Tyler to our daily prayer list.
Love,
Alycia
proud wife of an Air Force Officer
Oh Linny, my heart just goes out to your whole family. I will pray for Tyler. I just started to cry when I read what he said when he was 7 or 8. What a precious, precious son!!!
Thank you so very much Tyler for protecting my family and our country. You are an amazing man and my family thanks you!!!
God Bless,
Jenn
God Bless your sweet Tyler!
What a hero!
Thank You Tyler, you are one special man!
Praying for Tyler and Sarah. Praying for you has parents also. I am a former Army wife and now my daughter is wearing those shoes as her hubby is in Afgh**stan. Praying for all of our troops all over this world. God bless you all.
The day your yellow ribbon went up is the day mine came down as my husband returned from his 8th deployment with 1/75. I've commented before but want to say again, just because my husband has returned doesn't mean my prayers stop. I especially hold near and dear the men serving in our great regiment. Tyler, Sarah, and your family are on my daily list now.
My grandfathers, father, father-in-law and husband have all served in different branches of the military and now my neice speaks of joining. It is a sacrifice for the entire family. We proudly fly our flag in front of our house, and remember my grandfather lost in the Korean war, and the other men in my life who all fought in different conflicts and came home safely. I will pray that your son comes home to his wife, and family. You also have my prayers for a safe journey to your new daughter.
Please thank your son for living out the Gospel. "Greater love has no one than this. Than he that lays down his life for his friends."
Love in Jesus,
Amy
Praying for you as you travel for Jubilee and your loved ones at home. Praying for Tyler's protection.
May God Bless you and your family!
In Jesus,
Lori
Linny, This one hit home. My husband is active duty. It really doesn't matter where they are, on US soil or overseas, they are willing to put their life on the line for us. People always say, "well at least he's not overseas" and that just kills me. Like those men and women who are serving actively here on our soil don't have a purpose and those who were killed in Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, or the Pentagon didn't die serving their country. They are all serving their country no matter where they are. Gratitude needs to be given to them not only when they are overseas, when reservists get called up to active and return home from a deployment, but to those active duty members that do it as their job day in and day out also. Thank you for this post. Being a military family is not easy. We have spent 2.5 years living apart from daddy/my husband because of his duty station and trust me, it was not easy at all but it's part of it. We couldn't be more proud to serve together though as a military family. And in 1 more month we will be adding 2 kids from Ethiopia to our proud military family. Safe travels to China, Linny!
Praying for your Tyler. My son is also serving with the Guard in Ira* now. Thank you for this wonderful post about our brave soldiers. They are the best of our country. My sons wife waits at home and his 4 little children do too. Please pray for my son too.
blessings
Dawn
Once again your words touch my heart. As a mom whose only son is in the Air Force and stationed far from Iowa I am thankful for all those who pray for our military men and women. This will be our first Christmas with him enlisted and of course do not know what this next year holds for him in Security Forces, but this one thing I know, God Knows and Sees All!!! In this I take great comfort and rest in his ability to keep our loved ones safe!
Bless you as you travel to unite your Jubilee with her Momma and sister…I have been on mission trips to China and have a love for the precious people of that country…May you sense the extraordinary presence of the Lord with you as you travel. I am so thankful that we can pray for peace, but even greater than that is the truth that He says he IS Pease and because He IS peace and lives on the inside of you, you are walking, breathing, living peace. It is on you, around and IN you!!!!!
Bless you!!!
Proud mom of an Airmen!
Sandy
Your most tender post yet…and I have read hundreds of yours!!!
As a Marine Corps wife, I know how it feels to say goodbye as they deploy. Know our family is praying for Tyler, Sarah, and the rest of your family.
I'm putting Tyler and Sarah's names on our special intentions in church.
You and DW are already there.
Praying for Tyler's safe return.
Oh man, I love your blog….I hope to be able to sit and read more of it. We are leaving this weekend for Cleveland for our little boy's surgery. I know I will have many hours sitting next to him..and days..So I hope to read much more..esp the posts on How To Pay For An Adoption..I scrolled through it and found it so interesting.
Will keep Tyler in my prayers…
Jubliee…her eyes just twinkle and dance with glee!! What a honey!! Praying for a speedy trip. We were in China last Dec. adopting our 7yr.old little boy..such a neat time to travel. We were there from Dec.15-24th. We landed in Chicago late Christmas Eve night…and drove like crazy to get home to our 3 little ones waiting up for us. Actually…2 little ones, our baby Sophie was tucked in her crib, but I still had to go and scoop her up and kiss, hug, smell..all that good stuff 🙂
Oh Father, we pray for this brave young man and his love for his country. Bring him home safely and quickly. We pray for peace for his dear family and the knowledge that you know the end from the beginning.
We pray that our leaders make wise and prudent decisions and uplift our country as opposed to tearing it down. We pray that our nations forefathers visions come full circle and that you will do whatever is necessary to bring all those to their knees that have forgotten our nation is One Nation Under God.
I better stop before you need to moderate my comments…. sigh. I love you Linny. Our prayers are with Tyler.
Miss Linn,
Your sweet son Tyler is in my prayers. I am so happy God blessed me in the opportunity to know him. To laugh with him and to pray for him and Sarah. God bless you Mom of Many and my favorite Blue Star Mom. May angels go before you to China… and may the biggest buffest toughest angel stand guard with your son. It is my prayer. God send the toughest to come alongside Tyler as he protects his friends and his country. Love you girlfriend, Jen
Praying for your precious ones and all of the troops!
Your son and your family are in my prayers! And a big Thank You to Tyler for being the person he is and for making the sacrifices he is making!
Praying for your Tyler…can't even put into words how hard it is to send our sons off to war. Please, God, let them come home safely.