What a great thing Carter did. Happy Belated B'day Carter. What great pic's of your son Brian, looks like he knows how to make his mom smile. I appreciate all he has given up, which allows us to live life with freedom. Your family and Brian will be in my prayers and keep us posted how he is doing.

Your son is so handsome and I will be praying for his safety while in Iraq! Isn't technology a wonderful thing...in that you can see him on your computer and talk with him on cell phones? Please tell him thanks from me, for helping keep America safe! I have the utmost respect for men in uniforms...bless their hearts! Also, bless little Carter's heart...what a sweetie! Happy belated birthday, Carter! I'm glad you have Carter and YT to help you through this time your son is away! *HUGGGGG*

That was very touching to read. Happy Belated Birthday, Carter. What an awesome dog you are. Your son is very handsome and you must be bursting with pride. God bless him and bring him safely home.

Thanks Cindy, Connie, and Erin!

While I think what Carter did was awesome, I really think it was a fluke. Either way, I'm happy that he woke me up when he did. I won't kid myself that he is/could be a service dog. He's just a "smart" dog that I love!

Thanks for the kind comments about Brian!

:)

Lisa, just wanted you to know I just prayed for Brian. I prayed that God would speed our work in Iraq and impede that of the enemy.

Cynthia:

Thanks sooo much. We can only hope that the insurgent attacks will lessen. That is my son's mission - to train the Iraqis in how to control their borders so the insurgents can't get in. The majority of the Iraqis want change. It is those that deserve the right to freedom and safety.

These are photos that were posted in 2003 or 2004 by a Marine that was in Iraq. This is what drives our military to do what they do over there! http://www.pbase.com/nclinh/iraq_desert&page=all

THose pictures on that site are very moving! I'm sorry I missed this thread yesterday!
Happy Belated bday Carter! What a great thing he did for you. I am amazed at our little dogs everyday!
I will pray for your son! And yes, he is very good looking!

Wow thats great! I cant imagine the worry you have with a son in the war.
I will add him to my prayer list, and a big birthday wish for Carter!! :)

Thanks ya'll!

Yes, those photos are very moving. My aunt sent me that link via my mom. It was at a time that I really needed to see some of the positive images of the work our military is doing. All we see on TV are the bad things -- all the things that make you worry.

I appreciate all the prayers for Brian and the birthday wishes for Carter!

Lisa

Lisa, thanks so much for sharing the link with us. It makes me so proud to see pictures like those. Thank God for the good work that they are doing over there!!

Lisa, You and your family are in my prayers.. You son is really special, I can tell in your words just how proud you really are!! HUGS to you and him...

Carter, happy late birthday, Lexi sends lots of hugs and kisses... :luvu:

Happy Birthday Carter! Praying and thinking about your son too.

Hope you had a great birthday!

That's what I was thinking when I looked at the pictures. It's nice to see the positive for once. The last picture with the little girl could be in a magazine. The picture of the sunset in the puddle really caught my eye. I guess it's because it is something usually considered bad turned beautiful. Kind of like what the soldiers are attempting to do over there. Corny, I know, but that's what I thought when I looked at it.

Wow!! Those photos are amazing! Thanks for sharing with us!

I just saw that link too - What an amazing way to keep in touch with families...That is so cool and what a BUNCH of great photos - it was awesome to see them with all the children -

I watched only the first 1/2 of one of the Operation Homecoming shows and had to stop. I was streaming tears. The stories are very moving and emotional and its just not something I can take right now. I'm sure a year from now, I will feel totally different.

I have a photographer friend that photographed the commissioning ceremony for a National Guard unit that went to Iraq. She volunteered her time and presented every one of the 150 members with a large print (10x20 at the smallest) of their company and a CD slideshow set to music of all the images she captured that day. I probably couldn't watch Heather's slideshow right now either.

It does do my heart good seeing the photos posted on that pbase account though. It is quite uplifting.

I'm grateful for technology as it pertains to the ease of which we can communicate with our loved ones all the way on the other side of the world. It was something I appreciated even before Brian left for Iraq. He was in Okinawa for 2 years and chat was my greatest comfort!

I'm also grateful that Carter woke me up on the 4th of July so I could see my son! Those moments are precious to me and makes many other things sooo trivial.

Again -- the support of all my true friends here is very heartwarming to me!

What a wonderful story to share with us all..
I can not even imagine what it must be like having a son so far from home.. I get worried when I dont hear from him and he is here in my town..
What a handsome young man.. I will pray for his continued safety..
Blessing's be upon you all..

It is very special that Carter is your very own Independence Day BABY BOY!

Happy Birthday Carter!

Oh Lisa, that is such a heart warming story. Give Cooper and big Happy Birthday Hug for me. Keep us posted on your son.

I'll be sure to post an update on Brian once I hear from him. I've been home for two days waiting for the phone to ring.

Thanks so much for your heartfelt sentiments! They are greatly appreciated!!

Lisa

Thank you very much! We'll take all the prayers we can gather!

Lisa

Happy birthday Carter. Your son is very handsome. You must be so proud of him. I am. I proud of everyone who is trying to save our freedom.

Thank you very much for all of your comments! My boys, both fur- and skin-boys, are very special to me. I am a very proud mom and wonder every day how I got to be so lucky to have raised such a devoted and loyal child. Brian has given up two years (so far) of his young adulthood in order to serve his country. I'm beaming with pride!

Thanks again!

We are all praying for him and the others to come back safely! I cannot wait to see the end of this war! You have a beautiful family!

Thanks!

Brian was supposed to be in my stepson's wedding next week. My son-in-law is standing in his place. I'm trying to make a life size cutout of Brian before the wedding to take with us. We plan on taking a group photo with the cutout with a poster of support for him and will mail the image to him. My future step daughter-in-law even wants to take a photo for the money dance with him to send! I'll have to post a photo of the family after the wedding.

Our work in Iraq & Afghanistan can't be finished too soon for me! I'm sure everyone else feels the same way.

Thanks for your kind words!!

Lisa

UPDATE:

My son was online early this morning -- 1 AM or something like that -- he made it safely to his next location! I was sooo excited to hear from him! He will be at this location until September. They are busy constructing sleeping quarters -- and the food in the Iraqi chow hall sucks! ;)

Isn't the net AWESOME ? that's soooo great Lisa - I'm so happy for both you AND your son - Tell him next time he has a bunch of women mooning over his pictures !

I forgot to tell him that but when I hear from him next, I'll be sure to remember!!