What A Difference A Year Makes

Tonight, my son is sleeping, safe and sound in his own bedroom, and will rise early and go to work. I am more grateful to God and all the Angels and Saints in Heaven for that simple fact.

One year ago today, Haiti was hit by a devasting earthquake. The next thing I knew, my son's ship, the USS Carl Vinson, was being named on national television by the President of the United States. At that time, I was not in a good place emotionally, physically, or mentally. I was unemployed, out of hope, and beginning to think my life was over. Then I find out my only son is heading for ground zero where people are fighting and killing over food and water. Let's just say, it did nothing to help my situation at the time. As much as I wanted to keep watching the news, I couldn't. It was too terrifying.

I cried. I cried a lot. I didn't know what to do, and the worst part was not being able to hear his voice or know if he was ok. My prayers went up all the time, "Please God, just keep him safe. Please. He's my one and only. Please, please, please."

Those days were dark and full of dread. If it wasn't for QH, I would have stayed in that darkness, or worse. Instead, I fought my way out, and back up into the light. I couldn't give up. I've worked my ass off to make it this far, and some days it can be a struggle, but I am glad to look back at this year and see I am here, I'm ok, and more importantly, God answered my prayers and brought my son home safe and sound. I'm so proud of what he did there, of the people he helped and that he was able to continue on and go to South America and end up in San Diego, California. He crossed the equator twice on that deployment and saw a huge part of the world I've never seen, and all before his 21st birthday.

To all who have family in the military, for those in the military, I thank you for your service and for all you did a year ago for the people of Haiti. And thank you for all you continue to do right now to keep us all free and safe and to help out those in need. I'm very proud to be a Navy Mom.

And I pray your loved ones are home soon, safe and sound, sleeping in their own beds.

This Is My Son

It's been a little over a week since my last post. I've been through a lot since then, and I won't get into the details here, but I feel now the worst has past me.

Everyday I look online to find articles about my son and his ship, the USS Carl Vinson. Here is the lastest link that tells what those fine young men on that crew have been up to during their time in Haiti assisting in Operation Unified Response. It's coming straight from the Department of Defense website.

Here's the link: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=57691

I cannot tell you how proud I am of my son and those fine young men and women who are serving onboard all our American vessels in the Carribean giving assistance to those hurt and starving. To those critics who are out there saying the Americans are "taking over" and are knocking the job we are doing, I say, "Shut the hell up!" WE were there to help secure and organize a place that was thrown into utter anarchy, and I don't see anything about YOUR contributions to the people of Haiti.

I am proud to be an American Citizen, and most of all, I'm proud to be the mother of a fine Navy sailor named Alexander Thomas Crawford serving aboard the USS Carl Vinson.

I will keep everyone posted on Alex and how he is doing as we hear from him. Our only communication right now is via email, so I hear from him every couple of days or so. He's been keeping very busy, doing his job on the ship and off, so I'm thrilled when I see his name in my email inbox.

Thanks most to all of you who have sent prayers, good thoughts, blessings and well wishes to us and to my son. His Dad and I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

Until next time...

ADDITIONAL NOTE: The USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) can also be found on Facebook and on Twitter. Give those fine young men and women a boost and drop them a nice, positive, encouraging comment or two. I'm sure they will gladly appreciate it after all the long hours and hard work they are all putting in. :)