When Lindi was just a little munchkin, she would say "When I grow up, I want to be an Ice Cream Truck Driver". When I was a little girl and someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I usually had two answers: A Veterinarian, or a Policeman. Never would I have imagined that when I grew up I would become the Mom of a Veteran. Two and a half years ago, when my world was turned up-side-down, that is exactly what I became. It is a title I now wear with much pride.
Veterans Day is a day to salute every single man or woman who has served and is currently serving in every branch of our United States Armed Forces. Our nation's history is full of great men and women who had the guts and integrity stand up and fight for freedom. In many cases, they leave their loved ones at home to protect people they don't even know. I think it's safe to say that most of us fear death. Members of our Military have to set aside this fear for causes greater than themselves. It brings to the forefront a very precious virtue: Courage. They put their life on the line for the safety and security of others. The American Soldier believes in hope for the future. They believe in their country. They believe peace should be cherished and protected. It is appropriate and necessary that these heroes be recognized for their bravery, dedication, and service to their country. We should all stop to think about the fact that behind every Veteran is a small piece of individual history and sacrifice. For too many, it was the ultimate sacrifice. General Douglas MacArthur said this: "The American Soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war."
In so many ways these young men and women somehow find a way to keep a sense of humor about things. Not long ago, I had to tell Luke he may need to open a care package I sent out to him with discretion. I thought I may have gotten his box mixed up with one I had sent to a young lady. I was afraid that when he opened his box, he might find a box of tampons. He laughed out loud and said "No problem, Momma Bear, I'll keep the tampons! That way if I get shot, I can shove one in the hole to stop the bleeding!" I guess in a lot of ways, being able to laugh every now and then is absolutely necessary. I'm sure it does a lot of mom's and dad's hearts good to think that they try their best to keep their good humor and courage, even under the most horrible of circumstances.
Please do this Mom of a Veteran a small favor tomorrow. Go out of your way if you have to, but find a Veteran and thank them. It's really that simple. I am borrowing an inscription on a memorial to the British Second Division at Kohima because I believe it fits perfectly for our American Heroes on Veterans Day...
"When you go home, tell them of us and say...for their tomorrow, we gave our today.
Lance Corporal Luke & Lance Corporal Matt, thank you for your service, and for making me the mom of a Veteran X2. Semper Fi.
Good To Go,
Proud Marine Mom X2
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Miss Updyke's Fifth Grade Class
Ten years ago, America endured the most terrifying and savage attack in its history. As awful as it is to let all those scary feelings come back to be a part of us once more, on this 10 year mark it is something we must do, not just to make sure we never forget the tragedy and loss, but for the incredible resilience of the American will and the ideal it still represents.
Ten years ago, Matthew & Luke Stauber were 5th graders in Miss Updyke's classroom at Cynthia Heights Elementary School. A t.v. in the classroom was turned on when the first hijacked plane hit one of the towers. The class watched as another plane crashed through yet another tower, not sure whether they were seeing an "instant replay" of the first tower, or something else. They soon discovered that what they had just seen was not a rerun. In fact, what they had just witnessed would change their lives and their futures forever. The total number dead in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania was 2977 people, not including 19 hijackers. Even these eleven year old little boys could feel the weight of the occasion.
At the time, these two little boys lives consisted of playing football for the EJFL Titans, basketball for the Cynthia Heights Wildcats and Coach Lindenberg, and baseball at the West Side Little League. Plans for a future as a United States Marine hadn't really taken shape just yet. However, that didn't change the fact that in the next ten years these two young boys would learn more about terrorism than any of us ever fathomed that they would need to. Not many of us realized that ten years later, these two young men would be in the midst of fighting this war.
In ten years we have learned so much about terrorism, yet still understand it so little. It's hard to imagine that there are actually people who have such a hatred for our country that they would give up their own lives just to hurt us. It causes us to realize that our nation exists because Americans had a vision. They believed in the ideal that each and every person should have the opportunity to rise to their fullest potential...the pursuit of happiness. And this vision comes under attack by those who don't agree with it.
So today as we lay flowers on memorials, and bow our heads...as we stop our lives for a moment of silence to remember a loved one, or honor a hero, it couldn't be a bad thing if we each stop to reflect on our responsibilities to one another...as the passengers of flight 93 did ten years ago. Would it be too much to ask to stop the arguing and fighting, and laying of blame? Perhaps America can become united again the way we seemed to be in the days immediately following this horrible tragedy. Maybe we can all pray together, and just decide to support the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for all of us. They didn't decide to become a part of this war on a whim. They take their duty to be a shield for you very seriously...as do their families.
Matthew & Luke, i pray that you are safe today and every day...and so does your dad. Your little sister is ready for you come home...she misses you more than she ever thought possible. You make us proud.
Good To Go,
Proud Marine Mom x2
Friday, September 9, 2011
Ten Years & Many Tears Later
September 11, 2001 was of course a day that changed our lives, our hearts, our country fundamentally. Will you ever forget where you were, what you were doing...surely not. I had actually just gotten out of the shower when my dear friend Lisa called. "Are you watching t.v.? Something horrible is happening." Pointing the remote at the little black box on my dresser that day turned into something I could have never dreamed or imagined. I now had an event in my lifetime that might be comparable to the way my grandparent must have felt when they learned about Pearl Harbor. Or the way my parents might have felt when they learned of the assassination of J.F.K., or Martin Luther King, Jr. The only difference...they learned about those terrible events in our history after the fact. I was sitting in shock watching this happen live. Myself, and millions of others watched as thousands died before our very eyes. I heard a Pathologist on t.v. once say that death under a microscope is merely colors and shapes. I found out that day that death on national t.v. is much of the same...colors and shapes. The limestone of the pentagon, white smoke, black wingtip shoes and brown high heels trying to escape the white smoke, a lush open green field in Pennsylvania, black towers.
As our President sat in a classroom that day, he continued reading the story of a pet goat because he didn't want to frighten the children. As those same children marveled that the President of the United States was actually reading them a story, cowards attacked. These attacks spawned two wars that, to this day, add to a rising death count affecting countless lives. While the mom in me likes to imagine that my two brave Marines are a part of an elite force that can conquer the world on any given day, 9/11 taught me that despite our nation's economic and military superiority on that day in September, we were not invulnerable.
Our ability to share has changed since that day ten years ago. It came before twitter and facebook. It was pre-youtube, and Google was barely four years old. Now we are able to share our memories, our pain, and even our triumphs with a world that back then, couldn't have heard us quite so easily. The motto was "Never Forget", and of course, we never will. The wall to wall coverage you can expect over the next few days will be sure of that. It helps remind me that whatever our differences, we all do love our country, and compared to so many others, we are very fortunate to live in the most extraordinary democracy the world has ever known. We are a people, though scarred, God has continued to bless beyond measure. And though some memories are hard, many of us find healing in sharing. I know I do. Thanks for listening.
Matt & Luke, I miss you beyond words, and you continue to make me proud. Semper Fi.
Good To Go,
Proud Marine Mom x2
As our President sat in a classroom that day, he continued reading the story of a pet goat because he didn't want to frighten the children. As those same children marveled that the President of the United States was actually reading them a story, cowards attacked. These attacks spawned two wars that, to this day, add to a rising death count affecting countless lives. While the mom in me likes to imagine that my two brave Marines are a part of an elite force that can conquer the world on any given day, 9/11 taught me that despite our nation's economic and military superiority on that day in September, we were not invulnerable.
Our ability to share has changed since that day ten years ago. It came before twitter and facebook. It was pre-youtube, and Google was barely four years old. Now we are able to share our memories, our pain, and even our triumphs with a world that back then, couldn't have heard us quite so easily. The motto was "Never Forget", and of course, we never will. The wall to wall coverage you can expect over the next few days will be sure of that. It helps remind me that whatever our differences, we all do love our country, and compared to so many others, we are very fortunate to live in the most extraordinary democracy the world has ever known. We are a people, though scarred, God has continued to bless beyond measure. And though some memories are hard, many of us find healing in sharing. I know I do. Thanks for listening.
Matt & Luke, I miss you beyond words, and you continue to make me proud. Semper Fi.
Good To Go,
Proud Marine Mom x2
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wanted...Dead or Alive
So, Osama Bin Laden is dead. The world's most wanted man, who most of us thought was hiding in some cave in some big ol' mountain was really hangin' out in a pretty decent "compound" within walking distance of a Pakistani Military base. He had some of his wives with him, some of his kids. He had televisions, computers and even people who ran errands for him. And guns - he had guns. Hiding in plain site really. It took our Intelligence many years to track him down, but we did...just like we said we would.
People were actually cheering in the streets. While my head completely understands that, my heart is a little weighted by it. It makes me think about the extremists who were undoubtedly cheering in the streets as the images of the Twin Towers crumbling to ground were broadcast over and over again all over the world. This man's (coward's) death makes me realize that although this was the revenge that so many people thought would bring closure...it actually seems to have reopened many wounds. The fallen will not come back because of this. The wounded are still wounded. The hero's of our military will not pack up their tents and head home. There is still a war going on. One man does not make the war on terror. He was, in the end, just one man, with only one life to give after having taken thousands. I think back to that December day in 2003 when the U.S. forces captured Saddam Hussein. The world seemed to breath a sigh of relief, but the Iraq war raged on for several more years. In fact, the post-Hussein era were some of the darkest days of that conflict. To think that this post-Bin Laden era might be different could be foolish. While it's a relief that this evil man is no longer capable of harming another family, we must understand that his ideology is still prevalent in some parts of the world...perhaps even somewhere in the United States.
The events of 9/11 have changed our nation forever. In my opinion, the death of Osama Bin Laden has not. Honestly, that man's life became irrelevant to me a long time ago. Maybe we should think of it this way...by the time our special forces surrounded his compound and made sure that the last thing he saw was an American Soldier, he was already a nobody.
While I hope and pray that this is a turning point, we still have men and women deployed. Americans who need our continued support. Please don't forget about them. Please don't let them down. There sacrifice and courage is something that can never be repayed. Keep praying. You better believe this Marine Momma will.
Miss you Luke, & Matt...be safe.
Good To Go,
Proud Marine Mom x2
People were actually cheering in the streets. While my head completely understands that, my heart is a little weighted by it. It makes me think about the extremists who were undoubtedly cheering in the streets as the images of the Twin Towers crumbling to ground were broadcast over and over again all over the world. This man's (coward's) death makes me realize that although this was the revenge that so many people thought would bring closure...it actually seems to have reopened many wounds. The fallen will not come back because of this. The wounded are still wounded. The hero's of our military will not pack up their tents and head home. There is still a war going on. One man does not make the war on terror. He was, in the end, just one man, with only one life to give after having taken thousands. I think back to that December day in 2003 when the U.S. forces captured Saddam Hussein. The world seemed to breath a sigh of relief, but the Iraq war raged on for several more years. In fact, the post-Hussein era were some of the darkest days of that conflict. To think that this post-Bin Laden era might be different could be foolish. While it's a relief that this evil man is no longer capable of harming another family, we must understand that his ideology is still prevalent in some parts of the world...perhaps even somewhere in the United States.
The events of 9/11 have changed our nation forever. In my opinion, the death of Osama Bin Laden has not. Honestly, that man's life became irrelevant to me a long time ago. Maybe we should think of it this way...by the time our special forces surrounded his compound and made sure that the last thing he saw was an American Soldier, he was already a nobody.
While I hope and pray that this is a turning point, we still have men and women deployed. Americans who need our continued support. Please don't forget about them. Please don't let them down. There sacrifice and courage is something that can never be repayed. Keep praying. You better believe this Marine Momma will.
Miss you Luke, & Matt...be safe.
Good To Go,
Proud Marine Mom x2
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Just Come Home
As a parent, you always worry about your kids. When they walk those clumsy first steps, weaving around all the furniture while you keep your hands reached out towards them so that when they do fall, they won't fall too hard. Next they are running all over the place, up the slide the wrong way, jumping off the swing. Then riding bikes, then skateboarding. All of the sudden, they're driving a car! Each new progression has a little more speed, a little more danger, a little more independence. All of these new experiences put them on their way to the place that we as parents are striving to take them....the place where they become "productive members of society".
As the mom of 2 United States Marines, I think we've got the "productive" part accomplished. Since they placed their feet on those yellow footprints on the island, they haven't had much of a chance not to be productive. No time to be lazy. Not many days to sleep in. And all too soon, the phone call came. "Mom, we leave the 15th." He didn't have to say where...I already knew. A whole new set of worries. The news that I've watched religiously since they enlisted has become a little harder watch. I try hard not to read too much into the stories. Avoid looking at the pictures...well, I try. It seems like every mother's nightmare that something will happen to one of their children & they won't be able to get there. That one of my children would be crying out for me & I couldn't get to them. When you have a child in the Military, you do think those thoughts. It's the most counterintuitive thing a mother can be asked to do. I've spent their entire lives making sure they were safe. Not too hot. Not too cold. Looking both ways. Now I've sent him off to a place where it's always too hot. Always too cold. Looking both ways isn't nearly enough because people could be shooting at him! I try desperately to avoid thinking about those posibilities. But when they creep in I can feel the emotion swell right up to my eyes. Then I remind myself that God is in control.
I send packages, cards, & emails trying to always be upbeat, positive & encouraging. I wouldn't want to do anything that might distract from his mission...stay alive & come home. But the worry takes up a little more of my time every day that he's gone. I miss my son. Can't wait to hug him.
Good To Go,
Proud Marine Mom X2
As the mom of 2 United States Marines, I think we've got the "productive" part accomplished. Since they placed their feet on those yellow footprints on the island, they haven't had much of a chance not to be productive. No time to be lazy. Not many days to sleep in. And all too soon, the phone call came. "Mom, we leave the 15th." He didn't have to say where...I already knew. A whole new set of worries. The news that I've watched religiously since they enlisted has become a little harder watch. I try hard not to read too much into the stories. Avoid looking at the pictures...well, I try. It seems like every mother's nightmare that something will happen to one of their children & they won't be able to get there. That one of my children would be crying out for me & I couldn't get to them. When you have a child in the Military, you do think those thoughts. It's the most counterintuitive thing a mother can be asked to do. I've spent their entire lives making sure they were safe. Not too hot. Not too cold. Looking both ways. Now I've sent him off to a place where it's always too hot. Always too cold. Looking both ways isn't nearly enough because people could be shooting at him! I try desperately to avoid thinking about those posibilities. But when they creep in I can feel the emotion swell right up to my eyes. Then I remind myself that God is in control.
I send packages, cards, & emails trying to always be upbeat, positive & encouraging. I wouldn't want to do anything that might distract from his mission...stay alive & come home. But the worry takes up a little more of my time every day that he's gone. I miss my son. Can't wait to hug him.
Good To Go,
Proud Marine Mom X2
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Pity Party Table For One!
It's taken me a while to be able to write this one. I started thinking about it a few weeks ago when we said goodbye to Luke at the airport on January 5th. I was so proud of myself the last couple times we took him to the airport. Knowing he was only going back to Camp Lejeune was making it a little easier to watch him go through that security gate. I know he would be texting me every couple days & calling about once a week to tell me stories of how his life on base was going. But this time was different. This leave was different. This was his "pre-deployment" leave. This leave was nearly 3 weeks long because good ol' Uncle Sam was nice enough to give us extra time with our little boy before he would send him to the other side of the world for an entire year.
I found myself staring at him as he napped on the couch. Turning down the tv anytime he was in the room so that I wouldn't miss a single word that he decided to say. Watching him as he & his brother acted out funny stories of their lives as devil dogs. Revisiting all the subtle facial expressions of this young man that I've grown to recognize & seen grow with him every since he really was my little boy. I really didn't want to miss a thing. And we were so blessed that Matthew got to come home for Christmas too. Our whole family together for the first time in 10 months was such a blessing. To see my 3 children teasing & wrestling with each other was without a doubt all the Christmas present that my husband & I needed. Our hearts were full, our cups overflowing.
Then the time came. We had taken Matt to the airport a few days earlier. Not completely earth shattering for me because I knew he was headed back to sunny California...a place he has grown to love. I know the hardest part of his departure for him was the realization that his little brother would be taking off for "country" soon, & they may not see each other for quite some time. The boys are always "tough", but Momma can tell that this is a bit of weight for both of them. Now, we were at the airport for the third time this week (inside story)and about to walk away from our middle child (by 2 minutes) knowing where his Marine destiny was about to take him. I tried to keep the emotions that were welling up inside me under control. The last thing I wanted for him was to walk away from us knowing that I was so upset, thus upsetting him more, thus upsetting me more...a vicious circle! I saw him stiffen up a bit to shield himself from the hurt that I couldn't disguise. He & his brother are tough guys. And their toughness has served them well, & will continue to do so through the difficult times ahead of them. I used what little energy I had to suck it up as much as I could...for his sake. Then we didn't take our eyes off him as he walked to get in line at the security gate. We watched him empty his pockets, take his shoes off & his belt. Go through the scanner without a hitch. Put everything back in his pockets. Put his shoes & belt back on, & turn the corner toward the next chapter of his destiny as a United States Marine.
I'm not ashamed to say that the remainder of my day consisted entirely of pulling the cover that he had used while he was home up over my head, on the couch he had napped on. I was exhausted. Pinned up emotions will do that to you. They demand a greater supply of energy that I just didn't have to give. All I knew was that my son would soon be across the globe from his home. It was so much scarier watching him walk away this time. There is just so much unrest where he's headed. A entirely different world than the one that we are blessed to live in. I decided to give myself one day for a pity party...I thought I'd earned it.
Now it's time to dig deep in the faith that my life is rooted in. Where the promise of my God tells me that all things are possible through Christ who gives me my strength...and my children their strength as well. The God that may take us through the fire, but not without refining us into the diamonds He knows we can be. I pray every single day for each of my children. And I choose to believe that God has his arms around them, keeping them safe like only He can.
Today, I received a post on my Facebook from one of Luke's Marine brothers (now my adopted son). It read: dear mama stauber lol i just want you to no ol luke boy is ok!!they teach us how to be safe and to keep everybody else safe also.....he has a good head on his shoulders and will come home to you safe...........getting more tats hahaha lots of love.....puckett It made me smile. Thanks Puckett...Momma Stauber loves you too.
Good To Go,
Proud Marine Momma x2
I found myself staring at him as he napped on the couch. Turning down the tv anytime he was in the room so that I wouldn't miss a single word that he decided to say. Watching him as he & his brother acted out funny stories of their lives as devil dogs. Revisiting all the subtle facial expressions of this young man that I've grown to recognize & seen grow with him every since he really was my little boy. I really didn't want to miss a thing. And we were so blessed that Matthew got to come home for Christmas too. Our whole family together for the first time in 10 months was such a blessing. To see my 3 children teasing & wrestling with each other was without a doubt all the Christmas present that my husband & I needed. Our hearts were full, our cups overflowing.
Then the time came. We had taken Matt to the airport a few days earlier. Not completely earth shattering for me because I knew he was headed back to sunny California...a place he has grown to love. I know the hardest part of his departure for him was the realization that his little brother would be taking off for "country" soon, & they may not see each other for quite some time. The boys are always "tough", but Momma can tell that this is a bit of weight for both of them. Now, we were at the airport for the third time this week (inside story)and about to walk away from our middle child (by 2 minutes) knowing where his Marine destiny was about to take him. I tried to keep the emotions that were welling up inside me under control. The last thing I wanted for him was to walk away from us knowing that I was so upset, thus upsetting him more, thus upsetting me more...a vicious circle! I saw him stiffen up a bit to shield himself from the hurt that I couldn't disguise. He & his brother are tough guys. And their toughness has served them well, & will continue to do so through the difficult times ahead of them. I used what little energy I had to suck it up as much as I could...for his sake. Then we didn't take our eyes off him as he walked to get in line at the security gate. We watched him empty his pockets, take his shoes off & his belt. Go through the scanner without a hitch. Put everything back in his pockets. Put his shoes & belt back on, & turn the corner toward the next chapter of his destiny as a United States Marine.
I'm not ashamed to say that the remainder of my day consisted entirely of pulling the cover that he had used while he was home up over my head, on the couch he had napped on. I was exhausted. Pinned up emotions will do that to you. They demand a greater supply of energy that I just didn't have to give. All I knew was that my son would soon be across the globe from his home. It was so much scarier watching him walk away this time. There is just so much unrest where he's headed. A entirely different world than the one that we are blessed to live in. I decided to give myself one day for a pity party...I thought I'd earned it.
Now it's time to dig deep in the faith that my life is rooted in. Where the promise of my God tells me that all things are possible through Christ who gives me my strength...and my children their strength as well. The God that may take us through the fire, but not without refining us into the diamonds He knows we can be. I pray every single day for each of my children. And I choose to believe that God has his arms around them, keeping them safe like only He can.
Today, I received a post on my Facebook from one of Luke's Marine brothers (now my adopted son). It read: dear mama stauber lol i just want you to no ol luke boy is ok!!they teach us how to be safe and to keep everybody else safe also.....he has a good head on his shoulders and will come home to you safe...........getting more tats hahaha lots of love.....puckett It made me smile. Thanks Puckett...Momma Stauber loves you too.
Good To Go,
Proud Marine Momma x2
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