Friday, September 17, 2010

Happy Birthday Jon

Many of you know that this last week I was leisurely enjoying some wonderful grand kid time out in Tennessee.  I have to say that my trip was wonderful and although I spent a good 6 days there it went by so quickly that it was definitely not long enough.  700 miles is too far away for a grandma and her grand kids...

Yet today I would like to take this moment to wish a very Happy Birthday to my son in law Jon.  He is currently serving his country in Afghanistan and thus is away from his family. 

 
During my visit his absence was very evident in all of the days activities.  However I enjoyed the manner in which my daughter has tried to help the children to deal with this. 

On the kitchen table are two jars filled with Hershey hugs and kisses.  Around each jar hangs a sign which reads Hugs and Kisses from Daddy.  The idea is  any time (preferably once a day) when the kids fill a bit blue due to their dads absence they can go to the jar and grab a hug or kiss from him.  Not only does it make them feel better it also taste really good.  Hershey has come out with so many different flavors these days that the assortment is endless.  Each time their tiny hands go into the jar they pull out something different.  I loved this idea as well as the kids did.

Another idea was a small army doll with a place on the face to put a photo of the desired soldier who is gone.  Of course on their dollies is a picture of their daddy.  Each evening before they go to bed they kiss their daddy doll goodnight and snuggle up with him. 

I can only imagine the thoughts that race through their little minds these days knowing that their father is in Afghanistan.  My granddaughter had spoken at times in regards to his adventures.  She does not know exactly what he is doing yet some of the stories she relays to me that are told to her from her classmates makes me want to cry. 

When we were young we did not have the instant access to all the going ons of the war.  Life was still simplistic and we had to wait for the censored report that was allowed on TV as well as the posted letter from our loved ones if and when we received them.  Today a simple click of the button can get you info instantly via the Internet as well as an email posted letter. 

Today Jon celebrates his birthday, away from home and his family.  I am sure that they are thinking of him and possibly even spoken with him today.  Still I hope that his day was a good one.  That at least for a brief moment he was able to escape into a minute of time where he was with them if not in person at least in spirit. 

Happy Birthday Jon!  You serve our country proud as well as my daughter and my grand kids... Take care and be safe.

15 comments:

Merry ME said...

Happy Birthday Jon.
Thank you for your dedication and service to this country.
May God watch over you and keep you safe.

mxtodis123 said...

Happy Birthday, Jon...and thanks for your service.
Mary

Teresa said...

What a touching happy birthday! I'm certainly sending my happy birthday and good wishes for his safety. It sounds like your daughter is doing a good job of helping the little ones with his absence.

Autumn said...

Your post made me cry. I hope your son in law comes home safe and your daughter and grandchildren stay strong through these troubled times. My husband was on the convoys through Iraq and a few of the other countries so I understand what your daughter is going through. I will keep your family in my prayers

Alice in Wonderland said...

What a great idea!
Hoping that Jon has a very happy and safe birthday!

Blessings.

Anonymous said...

Hello there, I came across your blog just by surfing the web tonight, but I really feel like I had to read this post & was sent here. My Birthday was on Sept 4th & at 4.43am was woken by a 7.1 earthquake in my home town of Christchurch New Zealand. I could not believe that I was in such a huge disaster. My birthday was a day of no power, water, sewage, phone etc but all my family was alive & safe with me. Now 2 weeks later I'm feeling sorry for myself, maybe it is lack of sleep with 699 aftershocks or just plain shock setting in but my lost birthday was part of it. Finding your blog & reading about Jon made me sit up as I realised that I had the best birthday .My husband & two beautiful children were with me & safe & all together. My extended family were safe & our homes were liveable. I hope never to lose sight of what life is about again. Blessed be & I hope your Jon is home with his family soon where he belongs.
Thank you. I will add you to my favourites list so I dont lose you in cyber space.
Ness.

Dede said...

Seven hundred miles is a long way. The grand kids look great! Kudos to your daughter for the things that she has done to help them with their daddy not being there! Happy Birthday Jon! Thank you for all that you do and continue to do for our freedoms!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

(((HUGS)))

brandi said...

~warm wishes and brightest blessings upon you Jon on this day and always...with great respect and honor...we all celebrate and thank you!

yes, too many miles are between you and your little l♥ves...but so happy you were able to have time spent with them...your daughter sounds like a wonderful mother...l♥ve the hugs and kisses jar...such a simple and sweet way to bring their daddy to them... much l♥ve and light upon you adn yours~

Wandering Willow said...

Happy Birthday Jon! May he have a wonderfully safe birthday! And head home quickly and safe! I love the ideas your daughter has done! We also did the daddy dolls when my husband was deployed last year. The hugs and kiss jar is an amazing idea!

AkasaWolfSong said...

Such a poignant reminder to all of us to be grateful for each breath.

Your Grands and Daughter are hero's in this situation too Janie, and I can see what a Wonderful Mother your Daughter is as she leads her Children into the understanding of what is happening.

So with all honor and respect, I hope you have the greatest Birthday Jon and Thank You from a Grandmother who thinks you are a Hero just by being in Afghanistan Fighting for Freedom!!

Blessings to You Janie for sharing this part of your family with us...it is very heartwarming to me that you got to spend time with your Sweet Babes!

VintageSage said...

Awwww...what a wonderful dad to serve for our country and great ways mom is making the kids feel comfortable. How creative!! Happy birthday, Jon and thank you for serving on behalf of all of us!!

Wendy.B said...

What a beautiful sentiment with the hugs and kisses in a jar for the children.. My heart goes out to you and your daughter, and of course the little ones.. I know what it is like having a partner/husband thousands of miles away doing his duty on those occasions like birthdays and holidays when we wished they were home.. Bright Blessings and protection to him and may he come home safe to you all soon...

Wendy said...

Jon, may you and your family celebrate all of your birthdays together throughout the years with much happiness and laughter!

Rob the Gardener said...

Hi Janie,

Well if there ever is a time to actually 'celebrate' the day of birth of any child one has, it is for instance in the circumstances of where Jon is.

I am so glad you spent all that time there, greats pics.

Love
Rob

Bogaman said...

I'll be saying a prayer for Jon. X.