Pray for our troops

So, I don't tend to get all mushy about the troops because it's really hard to be that way and not think of Chuck all the time.  I used to watch war movies all the time and they never bothered me until I got married.  Plus, I know so many other wives that are married to enlisted guys (or even officers) who've been deployed multiple times and I see how brave they are and what a mess I am just thinking about it.  I don't even have the right!  My friend Amanda is amazing.  You might as well call her Amazingda!  THREE kids, had the third one while Dan was deployed.  I can't even imagine going through a fraction of what she's been through over the last few years.
Well, I was driving on post today for Delaney's 4 month check-up and not once, but twice I drove by troops that were marching with ruck sacks, full kevlar and guns on the side of the highway.  For those of you that don't know military lingo, they're not actually MARCHING, they're just walking, but with 30 pound backpacks (or more), helmets and bullet proof vests and AK-47s.  That's not the thing that stuck out to me, even though I've never run into that.  That thing that stuck out to me, and I'm getting a teary and my nose is itching just thinking about it, is that I saw some of those "men" and they were just BOYS.  Seriously, boys.  I'm 31.  It seems like not that long ago I graduated high school and sometimes I still feel not that far removed from good ole Mizzou.  I think it's weird that I consider 18 year olds boys.  But really, that's what they are.  They looked so young, some of their faces are still in my minds.  I think of where they are in life, probably living in Barracks, no where close to any family.  Some of us probably paid good money to do that, live in a dorm as far away from our parents as possible.  But we all had student loans or our parents supporting us.  They get $1000 a month and they live with a TON of smelly boys, even though 3rd floor Hudson Hall had some of the smelliest boys I've ever smelled.  Their faces looked as smooth as a baby's, no glasses because their eyes aren't old enough to have needed them, barely look like they need to shave...boys.  If you think about tonight, or even while you're reading this, just talk to God about those boys you don't know (or maybe you do) and ask that they be protected.  I think those faces will be with me a long time.