The last week or so has been a roller coaster of emotions around here. But the emotions we've felt are absolutely nothing compared to what the Wagstaff family is feeling.
Last Tuesday morning, Will was notified that he was to be the CAO - another Army acronym... of course - Casualty Assistance Officer for Matthew Wagstaff's parents who live in Orem. Matthew was killed in Afghanistan on the 21st and Will has had the privilege to be with his parents and support them in anything that they need. Travel to and from the airport, visits to mortuaries, funeral arrangements, answering questions...anything and everything...and I've been more than happy to lose a little of Will's time around our house so that the Wagstaff's can feel supported.
When I think about it, my heart just sinks. I can't get out of my head how close my family could have come to needing a CAO. Will cringes when he thinks about the helicopter missions he went on in the old, very old, very very old and horribly maintained helicopters that the Afghani's flew. No one is exempt. And no matter how hard and often we pray in our home and ask that the soldiers are kept safe...life still teaches really hard lessons.
So many things in this life are so trivial. They don't matter. It's hard to have patience with people and their temper tantrums (me included) about things that don't matter. I realize the line at Walmart can be very long and annoying, and finding the perfect fabric for curtains and pillows is frustrating, and losing all your songs somewhere on itunes can make one hysterical, but does it REALLY matter?
Life lessons like this really teach me what matters, and what doesn't.
One of the things the family asked of Will was to take pictures of the Veteran's cemetery at Camp Williams so that Matthew Wagstaff's wife could get an idea of what the cemetery looked like.
So many things in this life are so trivial. They don't matter. It's hard to have patience with people and their temper tantrums (me included) about things that don't matter. I realize the line at Walmart can be very long and annoying, and finding the perfect fabric for curtains and pillows is frustrating, and losing all your songs somewhere on itunes can make one hysterical, but does it REALLY matter?
Life lessons like this really teach me what matters, and what doesn't.
One of the things the family asked of Will was to take pictures of the Veteran's cemetery at Camp Williams so that Matthew Wagstaff's wife could get an idea of what the cemetery looked like.
So Will took me on a date to the cemetery so I could take pictures for him to give to the family.
This is where the burial of Matthew Wagstaff will be tomorrow. I'll be there to support Will as he continues his job and ultimately, the Wagstaff family...with my umbrella as it is supposed to be horrible wet, windy weather.
But wet, wind blown hair REALLY doesn't matter, does it?
But wet, wind blown hair REALLY doesn't matter, does it?
1 comment:
Scott has a dear friend who killed himself last week. It really does pop the bubble of importance our heads are in to lose someone tragically.
I am so grateful for Will and his service not only to the Wagstaff family but to our country and the Afghan people. He is a good man.
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