Sgt Grit Marine Forums

Ann asked me to locate some information to place here about handling the holidays so I did a search and guess what......Not much info for parents of Marines out there. Bruce and I have been blessed so far to have our Marine home for the last 2 holiday seasons but that will change this year. For the first time ever, we will spend ThxGiving, Christmas, New Years and a 21st Birthday away from our beloved LCpl. I have spent 2 years listening and crying and praying for the young Marines of Mothers and Fathers here. I knew the day would come when I would walk in those shoes and that day is now here. We do not know exactly where our LCpl is but we have some good ideas. We usually get a little info from his unit website a couple of weeks behind. This will be an especially hard Holiday Season for our family as we struggle with many new issues that we had not faced last year. My Mother has had some serious health issues this year resulting in numerous trips to Texas to help out. Our oldest daughter has now been diagnosed with MS and we begin a new journey of support of her and her family. And our beloved LCpl is on the other side of the world. So Mom's and Dads....I think we are sort of on our own to help each other through but I have no worries that we will do with amazing grace. So Tricia, Lydia, Darline, Loretta and all you Mom's who have walked in these shoes could please share how you coped and how you survived, I would particularly appreciate it. God Bless you all

Well Mom's, You don't know me, but I've been around for a while. I am Pammie's and Bill's sister. And know several of the people on Grits, but my story in this. I lost my oldest son (Tony 21) in a car accident in Feb. of this year, my Father in March and my Marine son (Kevin) deployed to Iraq in Aug. I had always had both of my boys with me on Thanksgiving and Christmas till last year at Thanksgiving Kevin was in NC, but was home for Christmas. This year I will not have either of my sons home. It will also be Kevin's first Christmas without his big brother. And he is half way around the world and I won't be able to be with him to help him out. We need to try and focuse on our Marines. They will be having it harder then we will. We have all of our familar suroundings and friends and other family. They have the friends they have made while in the Corp., but not Mom or Dad or Sister or Brother or wife or husband. I know it is hard, but we need to keep their spirits up even if we have to fake it while talking to them. I know I am feeling really empty inside. I won't be celibrating either Holiday until Kevin gets home. March, April or whenever. Those days are about love and family. It doesn't have to be in November or December, but when we can be together. GOD Bless our sons and daughters.

Thank You Becky, I'm sure he'll Love it

Well, Christmas is almost here..... I go through the motions of the technical stuff.....Shopping, baking ect ect....Just can't seem to get my heart into this Christmas... This year we have 2 kids who will be away for Christmas. God Bless all of you Wishing you a peaceful Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Becky, keeping you, your family and that Marine in my thoughts and prayers. Will have Daphne and the baby for Christmas this year. So have been lucky so far. Have missed Christmas when my husband was on battlion but so far not Daphne, although Jason is in Iraq this year.