Off the Grid

For these days of Phase three training, Sara is surely in the refining stages of being a Basically trained Marine.


What a journey this has been for me as Dad... I have gone from anxious and concerned and growing pride... to more relaxed, confident, thankful, and SO proud.  My life has been puntcuated by letters in a mailbox, late night/early morning blogging, and letter writing to/from/about a young lady turned recruit earning the title of a United States Marine.


Sara has shown she not only has what it takes to make it through the toughest Basic Training of any military service on the planet, but that she is passionate for the challenge and has been able to keep her "head in the game".

The tenor of her letters has changed...   There is a new appropriate distance that must come from a self confident motivated mind... not a professional distance... I can't put my finger on it to put it into words ...yet, lol!  What is really important to her seems to be rising to the surface... or maybe...  I dunno... still thinking on that.  I think I like it... this transition to adult.

As much as I enjoy writing here, I am "off the grid" so to speak at Fort A.P. Hill Virginia ... there is a ton of history here as I look around...

100th Anniversary of Scouting in the U.S.A. Jamboree

So ... no updates on Sara's training schedule, activities, etc. for at least till the second week of August.

As we wind down this 'little adventure' and it transitions to the adventure of life ahead, the need for me to process her departure through research and writing diminishes.  My recruit has helped this Dad grow in many ways, for which I am thankful.  For my precious older daughters, Amanda Marie and Rebecca Anne, the transition away from home took place over many years in college -- a slow process -- whereas this three month stint of mental transition might be, in some form or fashion, like an addict going off some drug cold turkey.  With only second and third hand information on that, I risk missing the mark drastically on that.  I have a good imagination I suppose... ha!
I will continue to write.  Perhaps some parent will find this blog in doing their own research in the future... looking for some way to gain control over emotion with information... the links will have expired and the flash and pop of the technology will be old, but the heart of the growth and the challenge of the change will still be alive... and the words will still be pregnant with love for a daughter who made a choice radically different than expected.... which... quite honestly ... is true to her very nature and part of the reason why she is loved.

Thank you Sara, for this journey.  I have become more.


For the praise of His glory.