Package for Joel

Last week the mail lady brought a package to the door. It was kind of a beat up worn looking box that had gone through security inspections. The return address was IRAQ and it was addressed to JOEL! I thought to myself, "What in the world?" Then we realized that it was from Carl's Dad. Carl is Joel's good friend a couple doors down. He is a year older than Joel. His dad has been serving in Iraq since January or February. Joel and Carl play together often. It has become pretty regular event to have Carl come play at our house for an hour or two, and then they will go play at Carl's house for a while. They have a great time together. It has been really good for both of them. Carl's dad has been seeing pictures of them playing together on their family blog that they use to keep in touch while he is deployed. He sent Joel an Iraq hat. He said that the Iraqi police wear the same hat! He sent some candy from Iraq and also a little Spider-man walkie talkie set for Carl and Joel to play with together. I thought that it was so nice.

We live about 20 miles away from Camp Lejeune so we get to know a lot of military families. I love that aspect of living here. We have met the nicest families. Most of them are intelligent, hard working, strong families. They have lived many places and don't plan to spend the rest of their lives in what I sometimes call the "redneck South". They see the importance of education. The majority of our ward is military. With a handful of families that are not. Our little town that we are in is probably half military and half that are not. It makes where we live very unique because it is a small town with all the southern charm that you can imagine, but it also has a mix of families that are educated and have lived in places all over the world. Before I moved hear I had this idea in my head that all military people were those reckless, tattooed, jarheads that would make their way down to Wilmington or Carolina Beach to hit the bars. I have found that this was a terrible misconception. That was only a little slice that I saw in the past. Many of them are doctors, attorneys, builders, or many other professionals that the military needs to function. I have been most impressed with the amazing strength of the military wives. They are amazing women. I have watched them be the strong steady backbone of the family while their husband is serving overseas. I have become good friends with many of them. They are practical, down to earth women with strong values and a desire to raise good kids and have strong families. I have found that even if they are not the same religion as I am, that we really have a lot in common and that I am a better person for knowing them.

The hard part of this is that they always move away after a certain amount of time. We have lived here a little over two years now. We have said good bye to a few of our close friends this summer. I am starting to see that it will always be that way. The last few years we have been the ones to move and leave friends behind. I am not sure that I like being on this side of the moving.