Proud Dad

So it's been ages since I have posted to this blog. Life is way too busy. But I just have to post about my son Josh. This is his Senior year and after a tumultuous Junior year we have seen Josh mature by leaps and bounds. A teenager who quarrelled with us incessantly about "living in the moment" when we tried to discuss his need to be preparing for the future came to us a few months ago with a big dream for the future. He wanted to be a U.S. Marine.

We visited the recruiter and learned about the Delayed Entry Program and Josh is signed up and ready to go. He is focused and committed like I've never known a kid his age to be. Needless to say, I couldn't be prouder.

Just one problem, and it is heartbreaking. During our first meeting with the recruiter the issue of Josh's asthma came up. I soon found out this could be a major hurdle in his ambitions to become a Marine. We met with his doctor and he passed a pulmonary function test with flying colors. We had high hopes that this would be the end of it.

Well, Sunday night Josh went up to Milwaukee for his physical and ASVAB at MEPS. The ASVAB went well and he exceeded his score on the practice test he took at the recruiter's office. But the asthma issue reared its ugly head again. The doctors want to see more medical records.

Josh is worried, and we are worried for him. He will be sorely disappointed if he cannot pursue this dream and as a parent that is a hard thing to watch. We are, of course praying that all goes well. But, from everything I am reading this asthma issue is a big one for aspiring enlistees. Best case scenario, all goes well and after graduation we will see our boy go off to boot camp and three months later we will see a Marine emerge at a graduation ceremony in San Diego. Worst case scenario, we do our best to teach him that disappointment can build character and that God has other plans - and that his plans are good.

In the meantime, we pray that Josh can pursue this noble passion that he has to serve his country. Then we will start praying for his safety once he has obtained that goal.