Part 2 , more amazing e-mails

My mail box was flooded yesterday with more love and encouragement!! Again, I want to share some snippets of them ( a couple, a little longer snippets but I just couldn't condense some)! I got long e-mails/short e-mails/profound e-mails/funny e-mails/deep e-mails. I won't use names, (to protect the innocent! HAHA), and will just put snippets in ( like I said, some longer than others). Again, I wish I could share them all in their entirety  but thought I'd just put some of the words to share (some are too long and some to personal. YES, I can keep SOME things to myself! haha). I wanted to share them b/c  maybe something that was written to me, applies to you as well. Who knows? God is so cool like that. He allows His members of His community of believers to share and uphold and lift each other up. While these were sent to me, some may touch a place that YOU needed some reassurance as well. That's what I think we all do best as the Body of Christ. We share and we lift each other up. Especially in times of worry and facing the unknown. As I wrote Jim Savage (my minister) this morning: To be honest, I'm getting a big slice of HUMBLE PIE here and realizing that God is even bigger than I thought He was. (And I knew He was big!). He needed ole GranJan to stop mouthing off and LISTENING for a change. To put my money where my mouth is. Or better yet, put my faith where my heart is. Your words of encouragement have helped me do just that..... So now read/savor/enjoy some more great snippets from YOUR e-mails.  (And , again, THANK YOU , dear friends in Christ)! jxxoo   Oh Janice, you are so sweet, I got your email about Pat, what a wonderful message and so inspiring, I am going to do my best to make it to the luncheonis that ok?  I have watched him grow up into this wonderful guy, I just love your family so much. I am so proud to be an American and I am so proud that Pat will be making that sacrifice to defend our freedom and my country, I respect him so much.  The Navy will for sure be getting a wonderful guy and God will be using Pat is so many ways!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />   GOD BLESS YOU PATRICK! ************************************************************************ I particularly love the one that refers to you “adopting a whole platoon”!  Obviously someone that knows you well!    You’re in my prayers and thoughts! *******************************************************************************************************************   Thank you for sharing your heart with all of us.  God is always  calling us to trust Him, and many times that is hard work!  I wish  He'd make it easier and smoother and less painful sometimes!  But how  lucky we are to know that He is trustworthy and following Him is the  best path to be on! Pat looked so mature and grown up and at peace in the picture you sent  of him holding Daisy.  He is growing into a fine man and God has a  good plan for him!  We will be praying for him, and all our service  people, that God will surround them with His hedge of protection and  love, and while they are accomplishing earthly duties down here, God  is accomplishing His plan in their lives and growing them up to be the  people He knows they can be. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own  understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct  your paths." .... and Pat's! We love you guys! ******************************************************************************************   Thank you for a laugh after a cry over the last e-mail that you sent.  What an encouragement to all who received that last e-mail!!!  You and Terry are setting a great example to all of us on your e-mail list.  You are both COVERING your family with prayer and TRUSTING the Lord with them.  I know it isn't easy when we want something for our children, but the Lord leads them into something else.  Patrick will be under HIS CARE which, of course, is the BEST!!!!  I wonder if Patrick will ever be in my home town - NORFOLK????   It sounds great that he will be in Fl. after Maine - so close to all of you.   I'm thinking of you and praying for all of you!!!! **********************************************************************************************************   I don't know what to say to you and your family.  There's no way I can identify with what you are going through.  My two kids went off to college and basically, they never came home, at least not to stay.  I do miss having them close enough to visit for an hour or two, and love on my three grans a lot more than I get to, but they have the knowledge that we love them and will support their decisions, even if we don't really like their decisions.  Since neither of them joined the services, that leaves me with no knowledge of having a child who is in something for six years and no way to get out of it.  I feel sure that you can't watch the evening news without thinking of Patrick.  What I'm saying is probably not helping, but I did want all of you to know that we care and we feel your pain.  Don't plan on us for a meal, but we may make a short appearance to let all of you know that we are here to help and support you in any way we can.  I love you, Jan.  ***************************************************************************   Jan, I just got caught up on my email & found this one with a bit of surprise after reading it. This situation has understandably been weighing on your mind since Pat gave you the news. As a parent, I can certainly understand your angst, pride, concern, shock, fear,  helplessness & strength. I can feel them all with your words. The two yrs lull sounds as if this was never off the table in his mind. It may very well be a calling that he has finally answered. And as has been the case for many a young man/woman, it may be the best decision of their lives. There are many, MANY positives about the US military. It is extremely structured. It builds confidence. It allows a person to push aside all the past & forces them to concentrate on the present. And to ease a Momma's fears, it really is under close supervision. This may well be Pat's move into total independence & true manhood.  He will do fine. You will turn over to the Drill Instructor a boy & he will give you back a man. Happens all the time. It will be a very marked difference in him when he returns home for leave. And most all of it will be for the better. Hang in there Jan. You guys have done a good job with all of your kids. Pat will be going to a very challenging & rewarding job & with the support of all of us, Democrats & Republicans. You may be a scared Mamma right now, but you are going to be one proud Mamma when you see what Patrick becomes.   Prayers to all of you guys. ************************************************************     I have not responded to your news yet as I am finally at a loss for the right words. You know me...never at a loss for words, but this time it is different. You know of my heartbreak of being away from my own son so long and even though the circumstances are very different, there is one common denominator and that is that we will have both had our sons gone and they are our babies no matter how old they are. I am very proud of his admirable choice and I prayer that he will return safe and that you can remain your special, positive self. The notes from your friends were very sweet   Janice -- Now that I have recovered from my "wild ride of a day" yesterday I am catching up on emails from others. I know that you know I went through a half a box of kleenex as I cried the whole time I was trying to read yours. As a mom I felt your pain and sadness and your dread of seeing him leave home for the service...but also as a mom I feel your love, support and pride in Patrick's courage and decision to serve our country. As a mom we are never ready to "let them go", are we?? We need all the great men we can get in our armed services to protect our country and the preserve the freedoms that we take for granted every day -- now more than ever. Patrick will be an asset to the Navy and I will definitely keep him (and y'all) in my prayers. Your large family has something that so many families are missing these days....unconditional love and support....a happy home filled with God's love ...and it shows! God surely has some big plans for Patrick. When Patrick had his near miss with early demise last year I knew that God wasn't finished with him yet! Only God knows what that plan is but Patrick is following his heart in his decision.    Patrick and the rest of your kids (yes, I know they don't consider themselves kids anymore but you know and I know they will always be your kids...right?!) have the most valuable things anyone could have in their lives with you and Terry as parents. I think Brad is one lucky man to have you as his in-laws. I am sure he misses his family in Aussie but what a huge wonderful family he has in all of yall!    And as "that day" in April gets closer you may have fleeting moments where you may doubt his decision. Please know that it is completely human. Patrick will probably have a few of them too. Leaving home is hard for anyone. I know that he will miss his family in Birmingham too but he will make all of them and all of us who know him (or know of him through emails from you) proud to say that our country is a safer place because Patrick and many other dedicated young people with conviction and courage like Patrick who each followed their heart and soul. He will come out a stronger, more organized, more mature, and well educated version of the Patrick who left....but he will still be your kid forever and ever. May God give you all the love, peace and support you could ever know through friends and family sharing their love with you all in the weeks, months and years to come. You know I am here, only a mere 600 miles away by car but also seconds away by cell or email.  Hugs and kisses coming your way to all of you in this time of roller coaster emotions. Just hang on tight, trust God and remember ...."It is well with my soul!"  BTW:   My Dad was a Navy man too. He even lied about his age so he could join. I guess they didn't feel the need to check on ages   back then but he was almost a year too young to sign up.  He stills says it was the best thing he ever did...made him a man. He had never been outside of Birmingham. He was based in Brazil during the war and learned a little bit about the world.  Here is a pic of my dad getting ready to leave Brazil and head back to the states. (put your finger on the right on the flag he is the one with the tiny arrow above his head --I put a   *      under him too under the pic)   He ended up in San Francisco, wired my mom money to fly there and get married.  That was in 1945...the rest is history!       *********************************** Jan I have been praying.  Pats move seems right in my heart for him. I may be wrong but my gut says its good. Peace and safety to you and him     Janice,   Thanks for the beautiful e-mail. As a Mother I can certainly understand your feelings but I have heard many times "God has no grand children" so Pat is one of God's children too! It can be a beautiful thing to let go and watch God work. Your faith is a blessing to all you share it with. I would love to get together one of these days for lunch. I will let you know about Palm Sunday. Janice,   I read your email about Pat – actually, not quite through it.  But I am back at work today and just now reading your emails about Pat, Natalie etc.    I would be as upset as you were, Janice.  You are his Mama.  You don’t want your kids out of your sight.  But God is going to look after him and has the plan.    I love you Janice.

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