A Bit of History

Since Kyle is currently on training maneuvers in Kuwait, and will not be calling with new information, I thought I would take this opportunity to give you a bit of history in answer to the question you might be asking, "Why the Army ... why now?


In August of 2005, Kyle began talking to an Army recruiter. A profound sense of Patriotism has always run strong in him, and to say that he is truly grateful for the privilege of growing up in the free land is a huge understatement. While we were truly concerned, we tried not to step on his heart. So we stayed a quiet as we could and tried to support him as he was growing into manhood.


September of that same year, he met a really sweet girl who stole his heart and, gratefully, his interest in going to war. This relationship lasted over 2 years and gave Kyle an opportunity to do some growing up. But come November of 2007, the itch to serve returned with a vengence and he made the decision to break off the relationship, quit his job and enlist in the Army. From our perspective as parental onlookers, all this happened in about 5 days and was a HUGE life change. For Kyle, however, it was a dream he had embraced years earlier and was now ready to be realized.

So here were the events in our lives for the months of December and January.
- Dec. 9 ... major meeting in preparation for a new ministry at church.
- Dec. 10 ... loan documents signing for our first home ownership in 25 years; final walk through on our home; deliver our family dog to a new home.
- Dec. 11 ... Fly to San Diego in preparation for Brandon & Sarah's wedding.
- Dec. 15 ... Wedding (it was a beautiful wedding and ALL our kids were/are fabulous).
- Dec. 16 ... Wedding clean-up in SD.
- Dec. 17 ... Fly home.
- Dec. 18-20 ... paint much of the interior of our new home.
- Dec. 21-22 ... move in and make preparations for Christmas.
- Dec. 25 ... Family Christmas (a little tearful with the event looning on the horizon).
- Dec. 26-28 ... Out of state guests arrive for a reception in Brandon and Sarah's honor.
- Dec. 29 ... Wedding reception.
- Dec. 30 ... Sunday events at our church.
- Jan. 1-3 ... Family time with guests from out of town.
- Jan. 3 ... Kyle flies out to Basic Combat Training (LOTS of tears).

We have had several conversations about our young soldier's dramatic sense of timing. Despite all the "crisis" of that passage in time, however, we are all proud of Kyle and glad for his willingness to pursue his dream.

So there you have it. To quote a song ... "He's in the Army now."