My wife Jen, my daughter Jessie, and I took Jason, my son, to Columbia, SC this evening and dropped him off at MEPS. If you have read some previous blogs you know that he decided to join the United States Marine Corps.
We checked him in at the hotel and went out to dinner for one of his favorite meals. Then we took him back to the hotel, said our goodbyes, and drove away. There wasn't a lot to say since we had covered the bases over the past months. I am so proud of him that my heart could pop in my chest. This is my boy. In 13 weeks he will graduate from basic training and be a man. The next 13 weeks are going to be interesting ones. The house will be quiet. His room will be empty, and way too neat after cleaning it up in preparation for this day. And Jen has to take out the trash because I am not home trash night. I will miss that boy. It isn't like your kid going away to college. They come back for the summer and holidays. He's gone. Starting an entirely new life and direction. He will be home for Christmas this year because it's just after his graduation. This is big. I don't even know how big just yet. I'll let you know in a few weeks, months, and years.
I'll leave this blog with this letter that I gave Jason last March:
March 1, 2004
Jason,
As you get ready to go into the world you have made a choice that will take you deeper into "the real world" than most in your class. You may possibly, before the end of next year, when others are entering their second year of college, see combat in some corner of the world.
By then you will have experienced more than most people will in a lifetime. You will be a man. You will have discovered many truths and life lessons, yet I would like to leave you with some thoughts that I hope will be of help as you move through life:
* Value your friends. Make sure that you know whom they are. Be a friend. Someone who will stand back to back with in any situation and never let you stand alone.
* Intelligence and wisdom are very different. Know the difference and work harder to be wise.
* Understand authority and how it protects and propels you.
* Never sell out for anything or anyone. Keep your integrity. You have to look at yourself in the mirror every day.
* Don"t neglect the spiritual part of your development. The Kingdom of God makes sense out of upside down situations and you must learn how to sense the Holy Spirit and His instruction.
* Remember your roots. You represent the family name.
* Hold your head high - you can change the world
* Never be afraid to cry or show emotion.
* Don"t marry the person you can live with, marry the person you cannot live without.
* When you are a father remember that you are not an anchor or a sail but rather a light who points the way
* If something seems too good to be true it usually is
* Be characterized as an investor rather than as a spender in relationships, finances, time, life. Look at the "return" you are getting and decide if it is the best place for your resources.
* Remember that I love you more than life itself
Life is good. Live it to the fullest.
Love,
Dad
-----------------------------------------------------
See You.
WH
9.19.2004
9.01.2004
It Has Been A While, Hope You Are Well
Busy is a good word. NO, frantic is better.
If you read the last post - May for God's sake - I was talking about starting a new job. I began full time in June, having provided input and consultation since February, and it has been full-on wide open since then. We opened on July 12th. Here is a link to the web site if you are interested -
HealthFirst/Rapidcare.
This is an amazing place to work. We have a great staff. Energetic, smart, motivated and "can do" type of people. We are going to change the way that urgent and primary is practiced. In fact, in five years or so you will be able to go to your doctor's office and thank us for the fact that you didn't have to wait for TWO FREAKING HOURS for a scheduled appointment.
Our average patient wait for August was 7 minutes before the chief complaint was addressed - you read that right - 7 minutes. I could go on and on about what we do here but it is amazing. The web site has some basic information.
I am thankful for the opportunity to work here and be surrounded my folks who are high quality and true team workers.
----------------------------------------------------
My family is doing well. My incredible wife Jen has been great through this transition and has decided to stay working a few days a week for the activity and relationships. For the next few weeks, however, she will be working every day to sub in for a good friend who is having surgery. This friend actually took over Jen's job at Dogwood, so the work Jen will be doing is the same stuff she is used to. The real benefit is that she can sleep in late and not have to get up early. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.... She is very excited about getting to work out regularly and take care of her health. We love just hanging out, spending time together and even shopping for clothes (just not too much). I love loving her and being loved. My life is enriched in every way by Jen's presence.
Jason enters Marine Basic Training in just a few weeks. I am so proud of him and his decision which he made on his own. He is so far beyond where I was when I was his age. Very mature and astute in many areas. Remember, he is 18. Our home will be quieter and we'll miss him a lot. I will hopefully post some of the letters that I write to him during the next few months. September 20th is his day. Please pray for him.
Jessie, my 15 yr old daughter, is growing up. She just entered 10th grade and is the apple of my eye. That is exactly what I intend to tell every guy that wants to date her. In fact the dating has started and she is learning some great lessons about what type of guy that she really wants to be around. I am so proud of her for how she is managing the teen years. I have kids that are way beyond what I deserve.
Our church community is also doing well. Here is the link for them: Downtown Vineyard
We are trying to honestly follow God and flesh out this relationship thing in a real way - I love the people more and more all of the time. We are part of a small group there and are able to serve in a variety of ways. If you are in Augusta, GA drop in.
Well, gotta go. I'm at the office now and it has slowed for a few minutes so I had a hankering to catch up on the blog.
Hang in there all. Have hope. God believes in you even if we don't believe in Him.
WH
If you read the last post - May for God's sake - I was talking about starting a new job. I began full time in June, having provided input and consultation since February, and it has been full-on wide open since then. We opened on July 12th. Here is a link to the web site if you are interested -
HealthFirst/Rapidcare.
This is an amazing place to work. We have a great staff. Energetic, smart, motivated and "can do" type of people. We are going to change the way that urgent and primary is practiced. In fact, in five years or so you will be able to go to your doctor's office and thank us for the fact that you didn't have to wait for TWO FREAKING HOURS for a scheduled appointment.
Our average patient wait for August was 7 minutes before the chief complaint was addressed - you read that right - 7 minutes. I could go on and on about what we do here but it is amazing. The web site has some basic information.
I am thankful for the opportunity to work here and be surrounded my folks who are high quality and true team workers.
----------------------------------------------------
My family is doing well. My incredible wife Jen has been great through this transition and has decided to stay working a few days a week for the activity and relationships. For the next few weeks, however, she will be working every day to sub in for a good friend who is having surgery. This friend actually took over Jen's job at Dogwood, so the work Jen will be doing is the same stuff she is used to. The real benefit is that she can sleep in late and not have to get up early. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.... She is very excited about getting to work out regularly and take care of her health. We love just hanging out, spending time together and even shopping for clothes (just not too much). I love loving her and being loved. My life is enriched in every way by Jen's presence.
Jason enters Marine Basic Training in just a few weeks. I am so proud of him and his decision which he made on his own. He is so far beyond where I was when I was his age. Very mature and astute in many areas. Remember, he is 18. Our home will be quieter and we'll miss him a lot. I will hopefully post some of the letters that I write to him during the next few months. September 20th is his day. Please pray for him.
Jessie, my 15 yr old daughter, is growing up. She just entered 10th grade and is the apple of my eye. That is exactly what I intend to tell every guy that wants to date her. In fact the dating has started and she is learning some great lessons about what type of guy that she really wants to be around. I am so proud of her for how she is managing the teen years. I have kids that are way beyond what I deserve.
Our church community is also doing well. Here is the link for them: Downtown Vineyard
We are trying to honestly follow God and flesh out this relationship thing in a real way - I love the people more and more all of the time. We are part of a small group there and are able to serve in a variety of ways. If you are in Augusta, GA drop in.
Well, gotta go. I'm at the office now and it has slowed for a few minutes so I had a hankering to catch up on the blog.
Hang in there all. Have hope. God believes in you even if we don't believe in Him.
WH
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