It seems like I just blogged about his return a few days ago, but my brother-in-law is heading back to Iraq again. I'm not going to write some sad and depressing blog entry right now. That does not help anything and I don't want any of our family to cry when they read this.... So, instead.. I'm going to tell you a little story from 2 weeks ago when they were here in Arkansas.
Tony and I were in the gym working out and talking about Iraq. A gentleman in the gym heard us talking and approached Tony to ask a question. The gentleman asked, "Should we be over there or should we go home" and Tony said... "Yes, we should definitely be there" and went on to talk more about the progress that is being made over there. That seals any opinion I have about the war in Iraq.
If a man that has served 2 tours in Iraq can fully back the war and say we are making a difference in the Middle East, then how in world can we be against it? How can we say that the war is not "worth it", if he is leaving his wife for 15 months for a war he believes in? How can we say that we need to bring all of our troops home when he leaves his three beautiful daughters at home, for something HE believes in? How can any of us make any comment about the war until we go over there and serve ourselves? We can't...
He does not enjoy going to Iraq, but he knows that we (or they) are making a difference.
Please keep Sgt. Tony Bollin, his wife, and my three beautiful nieces in your prayers. Tonight and the next few days are going to be hard for all of us, but especially for them. I ask that you genuinely pause from your day, stop what you are doing, and pray for all of the families in the military that sacrifice so much for the good of the world.
Tony and I were in the gym working out and talking about Iraq. A gentleman in the gym heard us talking and approached Tony to ask a question. The gentleman asked, "Should we be over there or should we go home" and Tony said... "Yes, we should definitely be there" and went on to talk more about the progress that is being made over there. That seals any opinion I have about the war in Iraq.
If a man that has served 2 tours in Iraq can fully back the war and say we are making a difference in the Middle East, then how in world can we be against it? How can we say that the war is not "worth it", if he is leaving his wife for 15 months for a war he believes in? How can we say that we need to bring all of our troops home when he leaves his three beautiful daughters at home, for something HE believes in? How can any of us make any comment about the war until we go over there and serve ourselves? We can't...
He does not enjoy going to Iraq, but he knows that we (or they) are making a difference.
Please keep Sgt. Tony Bollin, his wife, and my three beautiful nieces in your prayers. Tonight and the next few days are going to be hard for all of us, but especially for them. I ask that you genuinely pause from your day, stop what you are doing, and pray for all of the families in the military that sacrifice so much for the good of the world.
I suppose this is a good time to direct your attention to the disclaimer at the bottom of page.
Have a great night,
Ryan
Have a great night,
Ryan
8 comments:
I wish I could come up with some profoundly encouraging words to help your family deal with this easier. I don't have them. Just know that it's things like this post that reveal your character and remind us why we trust and love you. :-)
I'll be praying. God is on the throne Ryan, he's "always watching".
You know we are crying, and have been the closer, the time gets, the more we cry. Crying because of the risk that is being placed on this mans life and his well being. Crying because his wife of 10years is saying goodbye one more time. Crying because his 3 little girls will be without their Daddy for the next 15 monthes. Crying because they are 2500 miles away from family.
The soldiers are strong, they are trained for the combat they are about to face. There is no training for wives, or children. These are the strong, the warriors, trying to maintain at home. If you want to talk to a real woman, talk to a woman whose husband has been deployed. One that can't call her husband on a thought. One that can't stop watching the news even though every war word is horrifying. One that has a baby with her best friend or a deulah at her side. A woman whose heart stops if there is an unexpected knock at the door.
Pray for Tony and his safety, please pray for Ami and those precious little girls whose real life hero left last night. Pray for all the soldiers and all the real warriors left at home to maintain.
God bless him and his/your family! It is becuase of his attitude that we are free to do whatever in this great nation. I personally Thank Him for his service.
Thank you, Ryan for your wonderful thoughts and prayers. Thank you, to all the folks that will read this blog and say a prayer for my family. Whether a person supports the war or they should support the soldiers. Also, don't forget that these soldiers are leaving their families so "they" don't have to.
~Ami
Yes, we will include Sgt. Bollin and his family, as well as all the service members representing our country, in our daily prayers. A man willing to commit to 3 tours of duty in war is indeed a man to be proud of. Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us.
Your brother in law and all those who are fighting for our country will always be in our thoughts and prayers.
I received this email the other day thought it should be passed on to as many people as possible:
One of my sons serves in the military. He is still stateside, here in California . He called me yesterday to let me know how warm and welcoming people were to him and his troops everywhere he goes, telling me how people shake their hands and thank them for being willing to serve and fight for not only our own freedoms, but so that others may have them also.
But he also told me about an incident in the grocery store he stopped at yesterday on his
way home from the base. He said that ahead of several people in front of him stood a woman dressed in a burkha.
He said when she got to the cashier she loudly remarked about the U.S. flag lapel pin the cashier wore on her smock. The cashier reached up and touched the pin, and said proudly, 'Yes, I always wear it and probably always will.'
The woman in the burkha then asked the cashier when she was going to stop bombing her countrymen, explaining that she was Iraqi.
A gentleman standing behind my son stepped
forward.
Putting his arm around my son's shoulders and nodding towards my son, he said in a calm and gentle voice to the Iraqi woman:
'Lady, hundreds of thousands of men and women like this young man have fought and died so that YOU could stand here, in MY country and accuse a check-out cashier of bombing YOUR countrymen. It is my belief that had you been this outspoken in YOUR own country, we wouldn't need to be there today. But, hey, if you have now learned how to speak out so loudly and clearly, I'll gladly buy you a ticket and pay your way back to Iraq so you can straighten out the mess in YOUR country that you are obviously here in MY country to avoid.
Everyone within hearing distance
cheered!
I cheer the man at the bottom of this page. America wake up!! We need more people like this to speak up
AMEN, AMEN, and AMEN!!!!! God bless the many Americans who give of their lives each and every day. And God bless those people who remind others why they are over there. Thank you both!
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