Spring Milestones

As I sit here and write this, I am gazing at my service flag, hanging on my front window. Today is the perfect spring day. My windows are open, I can smell the fresh cut grass, the fragrance of the blooming flowers and I can hear the birds chirping. All things that make me feel grateful and blessed. This week marks a very special time for my family. My niece, Rose Yvonne, was born yesterday, March 24th, weighing in at 5lbs 14oz. She is beautiful. This weekend is a milestone. New life has taken form in so many ways.

Matt called me last night and I could tell he was beaming through the phone. "I saw a picture of Rose. She is beautiful!" Matt genuinely loves children. I could tell, even with thousands of miles between us, that he was sharing in the joy and awe of this new life.

The last month has been a very hard month for many of us. Afghanistan, the people of their country and our troops, have experienced such devastation, loss and chaos. These events have also marked a milestone for so many.

It is hard to balance both joy and sorrow all in the same breath; to appreciate the new life of spring and babies, while grieving the loss of life on an all too frequent basis.

Matt and I share the love of an author, Kahlil Gibran. In his book "The Prophet", Gibran writes of sorrow and joy:

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

As I sit her on this spring day, enveloped in the joy of spring and new life, I am mindful of the sorrow and joy of so many. I am blessed because of Rose, my family, the spring day and the love of a man in Afghanistan.

In memory

Two 82nd Airborne Division Paratroopers die in southern Afghanistan

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Two 82nd Airborne Division Paratroopers died Thursday morning in Kandahar province, Afghanistan after three individuals, two Afghan National Army service members and a civilian literacy teacher for the Afghan National Army, turned their weapons on the Paratroopers.

Staff Sgt. Jordan Bear, 25, of Denver, Col., and Spc. Payton Jones, 19, of Marble Falls, Texas, were Infantrymen with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team.

“Staff Sgt. Bear set the example for all the squad leaders in his Platoon. He was a phenomenal leader and beloved by the men he led,” said Capt. Cecil Wolberton, Commander of Company B, 2-508 PIR.

Capt. Wolberton remembered Spc. Jones as a bright young man, “I remember Payton’s first day in the unit, he was young, fit and had all the makings of an outstanding Soldier. Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of watching him develop as a Paratrooper.”

Staff Sgt. Bear joined the Army in September 2004. He completed One Station Unit Training and the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Ga., before being assigned to Fort Bragg in 2005. He deployed twice with the 82nd Airborne Division in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from February 2007 to April 2008, and again from August 2009 to July 2010. This was Staff Sgt. Bear’s third deployment to Afghanistan.His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the NATO Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 3 combat stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 3, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Parachutist Badge.Staff Sgt. Bear is survived by his wife, Sarah Bear, his daughter, Kailee Holbrook, 4, his son, Kayden Bear, 2 months.

Spc. Jones joined the Army in July 2010. He completed One Station Unit Training and the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Ga., before being assigned to Fort Bragg in 2010. This was his first deployment.His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Parachutist Badge. Spc. Jones is survived by his father, Buell Jones, and his mother, Tami Sims.

Fighting the fear

Today I received a call from Matt's Dad first thing in the morning. Two US soldiers were shot and killed in the Zhari District of Afghanistan, the region where Matt is stationed. Nausea and fear quickly overwhelmed me. Despite this natural reaction, I made an attempt to stay strong. I realized this morning that this was the first of what will be many causalities in Matt's unit. How does one come to terms with this? How do I process the raw emotions of fear associated with loving a man in war. I spoke with my Dad today shortly after the news. He said to me with gentle confidence "Matt is a trained survivor". This hit me. During this time of fear and loss, I need to remember this. Matt's conviction to survive will be my strength. I too am a survivor.