Saying Goodbye...

We were able to go with Zach to Montgomery for his departure today. He had to be down there last night so guess what my fabulous in-laws did??? Got us a hotel room in the same hotel that Zach was staying in!!! So we went to dinner and Zach got to spend the night in the room with the three of us!!! It was fabulous!

Below is what I wrote this morning...

Wednesday November 5th 5:49am:

I am sitting here in the bed waiting on everyone to get dressed so we can go over to MEPS to wait with Zach. He is already over there; he had to be on the shuttle over there at 5:00am. He was able to stay in our hotel room last night since we are in the same hotel that he is in. So we were able to snuggle for one last night. It is going to be odd to go home and sleep in our bed by myself tonight. That is not something that I am looking forward to.

I am also not looking forward to saying goodbye. It is going to be so hard to watch him get on that bus and drive away without me by his side. And it is going to be even harder to get in the car and drive back to Birmingham without him.

When he gets to Fort Benning he should be able to call and let me know that he is there. After that phone call I don’t know when I will hear his voice again.

You know when you were a child and you were sick or hurt all you wanted was your mom? That is how I am today… I wish she was here with me today… she couldn’t be off today because she couldn’t find a sub. I have Kathy and Larry here but for me it is like when you were sick as a child, I just want my mom!

I have no internet access so I have to save this and upload it later. I brought my camera, I can’t guarantee how many pictures I will take if I take any at all, but if I do I will load those too…

Keep us in your prayers; it is going to be a long, hard day for the Self family!

Wednesday November 5th 2:59pm:

I am home now just sitting here taking everything in. Zach left for Fort Benning around 12:30 and has already arrived there. He called me about 2:30 from one of the other guy's cell phones (he didn't take his since they aren't allowed to have them at Basic). He said they weren't actually there but they would be in a matter of minutes and we would call me when they let him.

It has been a VERY emotional day and I would classify this as one of the hardest days of my life... right up there with the day I found out I had skin cancer.

There were only 4 guys going to Fort Benning from Montgomery today so they were in a mini-van.

I can't believe he is gone... I have cried a lot this afternoon and yet I am so proud at the same time!

Please keep us in your prayers! Thank you!