As I sit here with nothing much to do for the day I keep thinking how much all of our lives have changed during the past few years and I wonder what will happen next. Look at Erich. How excited were we when the time came close for him to finish High School (something we thought we might never see there for a while - LOL) and what a milestone that was. On the heels of it followed a few years of uncertainty as to which direction to take his life. He tried moving away, tried coming back, tried college, tried finding a job and eventually realized that none of these tries were working out for him, although I'm sure he needed each one to get him where he is today.
At the beginning of this year he decided to become a Soldier, and regardless of my fears and feelings about the subject there really wasn't any other choice but to be proud and supportive. I hoped daily that he wouldn't regret the choice he made and that he would find the confidence and strength to pull through those first few difficult months of training - everything else would come with time.
And boy did he ever. He went from a kid almost 21 years old that could barely do a handful of push-ups to a full grown man of 21 years old doing many, many push-ups within 2 minutes. He went from not knowing what to do with himself the next day to knowing what he wants and knowing that it's in his power to get if he only applies himself.
He's made tremendous changes during the last 5 months, physically as well as mentally and I can only assume that the next year or so many more changes will be happening.
Erich has completed basic training and is as good as done with advanced individual training, only 4 more days to go and another graduation will be happening for him. At this very moment we are not sure yet where the next step in his journey will be, if he will remain stateside for a bit or head on overseas - but it doesn't matter all that much. He will go where ever he's needed and where ever he's asked to go and he will make the best of it.
But first he'll be home for 2 weeks and we can't wait to have him here with us and to spend some time with him.
And then, with much curiosity will we ask and see: what's next?
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This sounds so like our Patrick and I hope our son will find a place in this crazy world.
ReplyDeleteUs mothers are proud of whatever our kids do as long as they turn out to be good people and not druggies and thugs.
We wish Erich all the BEST and it looks like he found his place in this world.
We still have a ways to go with Patrick, freshmen year starting tomorrow. He wants to join the Coast Guard and we just have to see how it goes. Patrick is not very athletic and very skinny, so we are waiting for him to fill out a bit.
I will let Patrick read Erich's story here, maybe that will get him thinking just a bit.
HUGS to all of you
Rikki
Thank's Rikki. Erich was never the athletic type or the most motivated for that matter. We were always proud and always knew he had a lot in him to share - it just took some time for him to realize it too.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Patrick will realize this one day as well. He might make some mistakes in the meanwhile and might have some trials and errors that will drive his parents crazy as well - but he'll get there, you'll see!!