{"id":2076,"date":"2011-11-11T01:00:35","date_gmt":"2011-11-11T06:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=2076"},"modified":"2011-11-10T22:36:24","modified_gmt":"2011-11-11T03:36:24","slug":"when-they-grow-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/11\/when-they-grow-up.html","title":{"rendered":"When they grow up"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tomorrow I’ll spend the last day with my grandson and his fiancee before he goes back to Alaska where he is stationed. \u00a0\"\"<\/a>This was his pre-deployment vacation and I’m so honored that he wanted to spend it here with me. \u00a0Early in December, he will leave for Afghanistan. \u00a0They are both 20 and I can’t imagine their facing 10 months of separation under these conditions.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>We live two blocks from the ocean and he has been able to surf and fish and walk the beach. \u00a0Most of his life he has lived in Hawaii. \u00a0Surfing has been an important part of his early and teenage years. \u00a0The waves have been remarkably good. \u00a0Learning on Hawaiian surf, our Florida waves are fun rather than a challenge. \u00a0I’ve thanked the Lord every day that he has had some good surf days for his vacation.<\/p>\n

Today is Veteran’s Day and we, as a nation, will remember and pray for the men and women who have served our nation in the military. \u00a0As I do every day, I will spend time praying for my grandson and asking God’s protection for him. \u00a0It seems strange that the young boy who let me wipe his nose and wrap him in my arms to keep him warm \u00a0has become a man. \u00a0He will now be protecting me.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The ticking of our life clock never slows. \u00a0It only stops. \u00a0I’m honored to be able to experience this pleasant time with my grandson. \u00a0A couple of days ago, he wrapped his arms around me to keep me warm as darkness fell and we walked together.<\/p>\n

From a grateful grandmother and friend, thank you, Son, for serving in the Army. \u00a0Be safe. \u00a0Be brave and return home. \u00a0My love and prayers go with you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tomorrow I’ll spend the last day with my grandson and his fiancee before he goes back to Alaska where he is stationed. \u00a0This was his pre-deployment vacation and I’m so honored that he wanted to spend it here with me. \u00a0Early in December, he will leave for Afghanistan. \u00a0They are both 20 and I can’t…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,287,186,49,215,85,326],"tags":[21,688,699,715,701,57,6,700,734],"class_list":["post-2076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-faith","category-faiths","category-hope","category-inspiration","category-love","category-prayer-2","category-veterans-day","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-faith","tag-hope","tag-inspiration","tag-prayer","tag-simple-scriptural-truths","tag-spirituality","tag-veterans-day"],"yoast_head":"\nWhen they grow up - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/11\/when-they-grow-up.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"When they grow up - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tomorrow I’ll spend the last day with my grandson and his fiancee before he goes back to Alaska where he is stationed. \u00a0This was his pre-deployment vacation and I’m so honored that he wanted to spend it here with me. \u00a0Early in December, he will leave for Afghanistan. \u00a0They are both 20 and I can’t…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/11\/when-they-grow-up.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2011-11-11T06:00:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2011-11-11T03:36:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/files\/2011\/11\/sebastian-150x150.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Linda G. 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