Will He Make It?

My daughter's wedding was in two weeks and I still had no idea if my son would make it. He was in Iraq for the second time and due to come home any day. He wasn't quite sure when. He told me from the beginning he would probably not be there but a mother is allowed to dream.

Their father was never involved in their lives. I was hoping to be the one to give my daughter away but she still had no idea of who she wanted. My late husband was more a father to her than anyone but he was gone. It was a rough decision for her. I think we were all wishing against all odds.

I was able to email him back and forth. There were some extremely bad situations over there before he came home. It was great for both of us to be able to communicate. He used his phone calls for his wife and children which was very understandable.

I always emailed him telling him how I dreamed of him in his uniform walking his sister down the aisle. For a long time it was just the three of us. My son used to call us the three musketeers. To tell you the truth I never would have made it without them. They gave me something to strive for. They were my strength and I am so proud of the two people they have become.

The Thursday before the wedding was my last day of work. Jessica's rehearsal and dinner were Friday evening and the wedding was on Saturday. We had a busy weekend ahead.

When I arrived my husband was already home. He said to go listen to the answering machine. There was a message on there I'd better listen to. He made me kind of nervous the way he brought it up.

I went over to the machine and played the messages. One was "Mom, we are on our way and almost there." It was my son. They arrived shortly after with a very excited mom running out and hugging the hec out of him. When everyone was done with hugs and kisses I looked at him and asked "Did you bring your uniform?" He just smiled at me and nodded his head.

The wedding day came and the procession moved on. Then played the song as I looked down the aisle. There stood my son and daughter. My children, the two best things that ever happened to me. The one dream I had coming true. I cried tears of joy and still do as I look at my most favorite picture in the world. My dream. A mother's dream. Thank you God.