Day 99 Week 14

St Paul said despair is the enemy of hope. Very wise words indeed, trouble is how to control the destructive nature of desperation from taking over everything in its midst.

Feel tearful again. Don't know why. Admittedly finding weather frustrating and knocked a bit by big re-entry into human race lasting no more than two days, and it could be in my imagination but the house does seem to be becoming smaller every day, but just feel sad. And to cap it all it's snowing again.

Had a call from C and the elation of conversation exhumed the moment the call ends. He's fine (thank God), he's busy, the ANA he's working with now are awesome - apparently the last lot were not of the same calibre as these, he would like some tablets that you put in water and they give you energy, some pringles, some chocolate and cigarettes. They're still a split platoon but should be amalgamated in the coming weeks dv and they're still living out in the countryside. He's not allowed to go into detail about what they're actually doing (obviously really) and he can't confirm the date of his leave over the telephone. Keep up the good work please Lord.

Then my dear friend sent me the uplifting story of the dog that C company 3 Rifles has adopted. He's a black Labrador and the troops have made him their own and he never leaves their side. Fire fighting doesn't daunt him and he runs between the bullets, wagging his tail, boosting the moral of all around. Problem is because of the massive increase in the number of IEDs there's a danger he could become the victim of an explosion so they're trying to find a new, safe home for him. Dogs and dynamite, what a juxtaposition.

Then saw that a journalist was killed and those who knew him spoke highly of his integrity. He leaves a wife and three young children behind.

H back skiing in the Alps, this time at the Naval Ski Championships - goodness knows how he wangled himself into that. R with her boyfriend at his mother's birthday party. And I just want to curl up into a ball and have my missing baby home safe.

More prayers and requests for protection.

Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x