sons

God’s Gifts

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“The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.” — Eric Hoffer

Giving thanks and counting my three sons among my many blessings today.

Every time I was expecting I did hope for a daughter but God knew better what I needed.

I am blessed to have a close relationship with all of them and they show me in many ways their love for me. I was an extremely meek quiet person but through them I found so much strength. ❤️

“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord..”
Psalm 127:3

https://emyloomwordswovenwithinmyheart.com/poems-and-prayers/mother-of-three-sons/

Photo: 1999

A SuperMAN Story

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Today is national Superman Day, but more importantly today is the birthday the Superman/SuperSON in my life.

At age 6, he was Superman everyday. He created the whole outfit from Underoos, pajamas and red socks which he wore under his clothes everyday. When he was not incognito, his cape consisted of a large red towel.

We lived in the Denver area and I worked in a secure building for Citibank. One day he was sent the door by his dad to let me know they were there to pick me up. He rang buzzer and security opened the door to let him in.

He was covered in a long sleeve shirt buttoned to the very top and long pants to cover his real identity. He told the lady who answered the door, “I’m really Superman! Do you want to see?”

Luckily, I showed up before he completely blew his cover.

He was fearless. This picture was taken in 1981 at barbecue at our house. Just moments before, a friend, Brad, had hoisted him onto the roof. Thankfully, I intervened before he decided he could fly.

These days he is more of a Batman fan. I even set a custom Batman ringtone on my phone for him.

Superman or Batman, he is a super hero in my heart. Not just for me but for countless others whose aid he came to over his many years of public service.

He has always brought joy to my heart, made me smile, made me proud, and let me know I was loved.

Happy Birthday Aaron Kelly!

Feature photo: DC Comics

Fifty Year Celebrations

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Someone ask me recently about who I attended the prom with. As I never went a day of high school, it is an obvious assumption I never went to a prom. I would have graduated in 1974 but left school in March 1970. Up until that point I was a straight A student and really without a lot of effort.

In addition, I have never attended any type of ball or fancy occasion. I have never had an evening gown or even a fancy party dress. I guess I’d have to go on a cruise to need a fancy dress, but you are never going to catch me on a cruise ship either!

So, back to the prom. I contacted one of my childhood friends, who I would have graduated with, to inquire about when the prom was held for the Conroe Tigers class of 1974. Interestingly enough, she told me her and her husband did not go, something about it being too foo-foo. However, she sent out a request on social media and found that prom night was April 27, 1974.

Where was I? I was in Anchorage, Alaska at Elmendorf Air Force Base and I had a 9-day old newborn son. Aaron Kelly was born on Thursday morning, April 18, 1974. Back then was still at a time when we did not know the sex of our babes beforehand. I really, really wanted a daughter and for the slightest moment after he was born, I was maybe a little disappointed but that quickly faded when I held that fair haired infant in my arms.

In May, the class of 1974 will be celebrating 50 years since their graduation but next week, I will help my son, one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received, celebrate his 50th birthday.

I was only 18 when this very special gift entered my world. Since that first day, he has been a blessing and joy in my life. He has always brought joy to my heart, made me smile, made me proud, made me know I was loved. He served his country and he served over 22 years as a police officer. During that time he saved many lives, rescued abducted teens, sought justice for the elderly and abused, and helped people on one of the worst days of their lives. One day, I believe he will see the results of all the good he did. Although there is no thanks sometimes in this world, my hope is that in the end God will show him all the fruits of his actions. I hope to be there to see them too.

I never experienced the traditional high school teen events and I don’t have a 50th Class Reunion to attend but I am not feeling deprived, I was blessed with a gift that never stopped giving.

I love him and he loves me and that’s the way it will always be.

The Battle of Mogadishu

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Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu, commonly referred to as the Black Hawk Down Incident that was part of Operation Gothic Serpent. My son Aaron was there that day with the 10th Mountain Division, a member of the 14th Infantry Regiment (“Golden Dragons”).

Just a little over a year earlier, he had a midnight curfew; now he was one of America’s finest defending the weak and fighting for the lives of the poor and starving in Somalia. They were there to prevent the starvation and assist in the distribution of food that was being hijacked by warlords in the area.

On 3 October 1993, a raid was planned to seize two of of the warlord’s top lieutenants. During the operation Somali forces shot down three American Black Hawk helicopters and the battle that followed to rescue the soldiers deep in city became an overnight standoff that extended into the next day, October 4. In the end, although a success, it left 18 dead American soldiers and 73 wounded. Mine was one of the wounded.

Receiving a call from the Department of Defense is something that is burned into your mind. Thankfully, I was forewarned by Aaron’s dad who was called first and told that he had been injured. In some ways it was a relief; as it had been nearly unbearable to have a loved one serving there and watching the horrors unfolding on the news.

My DOD call came after days of watching live action on the news, watching as young men were being dragged through the streets, watching as the chaos unfolded. I found myself trying to determine if it was my son in these scenes. The truth is, they were all my sons; they all wore US uniforms, they were all… oh so young.

He received a Purple Heart for the wounds he received that day. A medal to honor those who sacrificed for our freedoms; those wounded or killed in combat.

After I watched the 2019 documentary “Black Hawk Down: The Untold Story,” I understood better the terror of that night and the bravery and loyalty these young men exhibited surrounded by darkness and gunfire in the middle of Mogadishu.

Young men who stepped up to the job, fought to bring their fellow soldiers home. Some wounds heal quicker than others and although they relive the horrors and loss of this day every day, on the anniversary it is especially poignant.

My prayer is that on this day their hearts will also be filled with pride for their actions and those of their brothers in arms who accepted the task and fought through that long night. We love and respect you all and keep you in our prayers.

I often pray for the mothers whose sons and daughters are today serving our country today, as it is a hard job to be strong and supportive when your child is in harms way.

Remembering the lost:

  • CW3 Donovan Lee “Bull” Briley – 19 Dec 1959 – 3 Oct 1993
  • SSG Daniel Darrell Busch – 30 Jul 1968 – 3 Oct 1993
  • SPC James Manuel Cavaco – 12 Feb 1967 -3 Oct 1993
  • SSGT William David “Bill” Cleveland Jr. – 27 Jan 1959 – 3 Oct 1993
  • SSGT Thomas Joseph “Tommy” Field – 11 Apr 1968 – 3 Oct 1993
  • SFC Earl Robert Fillmore – 16 Jun 1965 – 3 Oct 1993
  • CW4 Raymond Alex Frank – 11 May 1948 – 3 Oct 1993
  • MSG Gary Ivan Gordon – 30 Aug 1960 – 3 Oct 1993
  • SGT Cornell Lemont Houston – 22 Jun 1962 – 6 Oct 1993
  • SGT James Casey Joyce – 15 Aug 1969 – 3 Oct 1993
  • SPC Richard Wayne “Alphabet” Kowalewski Jr. – 31 Mar 1973 – 3 Oct 1993
  • PFC James Henry Martin Jr. – 17 Mar 1970 – 4 Oct 1993
  • MSGT Timothy Lynn “Griz” Martin- 9 Jul 1955-3 Oct 1993
  • SGT Dominick Michael Pilla – 31 Mar 1972 – 3 Oct 1993
  • SFC Matthew Loren “Matt” Rierson – 29 Sep 1960 – 6 Oct 1993
  • SGT Lorenzo Manuel Ruiz – 21 Jun 1966-3 Oct 1993
  • SFC Randall David Shughart – 13 Aug 1958 – 3 Oct 1993
  • CPL James Edgar “Jamie” Smith Jr. – 16 Feb 1972 – 3 Oct 1993
  • CWO Clifton Phillip “Elvis” Wolcott – 20 Jan 1957 – 3 Oct 1993

Father’s Day Memories

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Many warm wishes to all fathers out there today, especially to my sweet Chrissie. I wrote this ten years ago after our son had a health crisis and was in the hospital for over nine weeks. Chris was then and still is our rock, provider, and hero.

The midnight report, Sunday June 16, 2013

A pretty good weekend all in all.

Slowly removing IV medications as J is eating a little more. Thus far it seems PBJ’s are the food of choice, but hey whatever works. Dr. Menan says it takes a while to release old food phobias.

Taken several successful walks around the ward. Saturday and Sunday.

The incision is looking better, the fever is down as is the WBC.

I was able to get to the office on Saturday and pay the past due taxes and straighten out the payroll situation. Much love to Sho who chauffeured me again.

Becky brought homemade peanut butter cookies. Along with PBJ’s, a favorite at the moment.

Chris spent the weekend with [J]; talk about an awesome father. He has been the rock of strength on which we have all been leaning on. During this entire ordeal he, in addition to spending hours with us here and keeping up with his busy work schedule, he has driven around town feeding [J]’s fish, checking in at his office, picking up mail, even trepidatiously going to the data center to restart or service servers.

On this Father’s Day he came in with coffee and said the cafeteria lady told him his coffee was free if he had a picture of his son. He broke down in tears when he told me he showed her the one of him walking in the hall yesterday.

Nothing says I love you from your Father like emptying the urinal and holding you up as you walk.

Latest projections are that “maybe” if all progresses as planned, [J] could be released on Wednesday!! That’s my hope and prayer and from then on he improves by leaps and bounds each day.

Hope all you fathers out there had the opportunity to receive and give some love from your kids today. Hold them close and cherish each moment because as I posted on April 16, this quote from Lee Cowan a CBS reporter, “But they do remind us we don’t get to set life’s clock.While we may think we’ll have a tomorrow to say all the things we want to say, or should have said, what this week proved is that sometimes, that tomorrow doesn’t come — and the things left unsaid could end up one of our greatest regrets. “

Little did I know then the challenge that was to lie ahead in just a few short weeks. Thank you all for all your love, support and prayers. I cherish each and every visit, phone call, card and texts and encouraging word I/we have received. ❤

Mother of Three Sons

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by Trish B on Monday, 19 September 2011 at 17:07

For over forty-one years
I had a son with me.
First one, then two, then one,
Two briefly and back to one.
A total of three.

They, all three, have never ceased to;
Amaze me, puzzle me, surprise me;
Love me.
They’ve scared me, challenged me,
Pushed me to a level I didn’t think I had the strength to go.

Through the eyes of my sons,
I have learned about every snail in the garden;
That under any rock one might find a salamander,
I’ve seen Lizards and gecko’s found from our backyard and around the world
Beaches are places where we find, crabs, starfish, and little fishes in the pools.

I’ve been a nurse to countless abandoned and injured birds,
Walked the forest to find, the smallest fragment of a robin shell under a tree,
Long-lost feathers from every type of mysterious bird, and
Every acorn, seed pod and piece of drift wood is a treasure.
They’d find the tiniest flowers that I may have over-looked.
Had the careful, watchful eye of a boy, not been beside me.

My sons have had every pet imaginable, from
Stick bugs, to hermit crabs to hedgehogs to Snakes
Goldfish, tropical fish, chickens, ducks and doves.
Hamsters that we mourned when we thought gone, but only hibernating
And once even a grasshopper that came back from CA on the plane.
A handful cats and a couple of dogs that lived long past the boyhood years.

I’ve cheered them on at baseball games,
Served my volunteer time at the concession stand,
Watched football games in the cold;
Soccer in the rain and basketball in the hot gym.
All for enjoyment,
Only to realize to some parents this is a very serious competitive thing.

There have been times of mischief and trouble,
Mistakes forgotten and forgiven.
I’ve seen their hearts broken by girls from the age of 5 to 33;
It never gets any easier boy to man.
Losses from wars, life changing accidents and fate…
Some of those memories still weigh heavy on my heart,
I survived it all, and came out a stronger, maybe a little wiser too.

Some days I wish I could go back;
And be more patient, more understanding, more loving,
Take more time to listen and not be in such a hurry.
That we could play more, talk more.
Some days, I long to just sit and cuddle
With a little boy who thinks I’m his whole world.

Sadly, I can’t have that time back,
I do know that they all love me.
Sometimes they have to put up with me.
Like when I want to be a matchmaker or I fret or worry.
I am the mother of three sons; I am very blessed.

Trish 2011©️