I'm sorry that it took all of June for me to make this entry.Micah did make it home. For 16 glorious days. He looked wonderful, skinny, but wonderful. At the airport, as he walked toward us I literally couldn't breathe. Watching him snatch Alli up into his arms, gratitude washed over my heart. It wasn't until the moment that I could look straight into his eyes, with that smile two inches from my face, did my breath return "Thank you Lord!"
Kenn, Elise, Alexander and I all had wonderful times with him while he was home but none of us had our fill - the countdown for coming home was replaced with the ticking dread that he had to go back. But the looming May 22nd date became so minimized because Micah, on the other hand, made the most of his time here.
He had been masterful for months, planning all that went into asking Alli Byram to marry him. He included all of his family, her family and their friends (who - showing how awesome they all are) kept the secret to the very minute he got down on his knee.
Alli - has been amazing while he's been gone but seeing how strong they are together was a gift. They had time at the beach with her family. Time in Auburn with their friends and time here in Birmingham with us, his Uncle Jeff from VA and his Crazy Aunt Kathy and her husband Jeff from Indianapolis. We had the most wonderful glimpse of how fun and wonderful it is going to be with her in the family.
As most of you know, he is back in Iraq now - with only 8-12 weeks to go until he is home again, this deployment finished. Another countdown. Taking him to the airport and watching him get on the plane was the most agonizing thing I have ever been through. Nothing in my life so far has had this deep of an effect on me. It's impact has not left me. I have dropped him off places, (sleep overs, camp, trips) I have let him go, (baptism, college, boot camp, Iraq) but this was Surrender. Any thread of personal possession, credit, pride I have held in Micah vanished. You spend a child's life saying, "My baby. My boy. My son." Secure, they grow up knowing who they belong to - who loves them. Looking into his eyes that morning I saw a man divinely designed to be able to do a remarkable thing. To bravely leave those he loves, who love him; those which he belongs to and belongs with; those who want to hold him, celebrate him and protect him; courageously he walks past opinions and for the moment, brushes aside political tensions and heads straight into harms way and danger, toward those who for many reasons want to destroy him; he is an American, a soldier and a Christian (literally marked on his body); so to do his duty, protect his family, friends and homeland - he goes to Iraq. This man who held my gaze - came from God's mighty, loving hand . This son - I surrender -
He is amazing!
