I miss my daddy.
I wish he could come home.
My daddy is in a country called Iraq. He is there because he wants to help keep America safe from bad people who want to hurt her and her people. He went away last year when I was six. I'm now seven, and I am the man of the house.
It is hard because there are many things that daddy does that I can't do, like pay the bills, go to work, or fix things. I am still a little kid. Instead, mommy does the big stuff. I just go to school and try to behave myself and take care of my family.
Besides me, there's my mommy, and my little brothers Tad and Toby. They're four and two. I don't know if they miss daddy like I do, but I am sure they wonder where he is sometimes. Boy, I know I miss my daddy; my daddy is lots of fun!
Before he went to Iraq, daddy would play with us boys. He'd play football, toss us in the air, and play tickle-games to make us laugh. Now mommy does that, and it's not the same.
Sometimes, I watch the news on tv and see the bad things going on in Iraq. I worry that daddy will get killed or hurt. The other day I saw a story on the news about a man who lost his legs by a bomb. He's now in a hospital learning how to walk on fake legs and crutches. I don't want that to happen to my daddy; I don' t know what I would do if that would happen to him!! I'd probably cry my eyes out!
Usually, though, when the news is on, mommy tells me to play or mind my brothers. I don't mind doing that. I'd rather play with Tad and Toby or play some games than to watch tv. There's lots of bad things on tv that kids don't even need to see!
On Sundays, we go to church. At church, I go to Sunday school; that's where we learn about God and Jesus. While there, I pray to God to help keep my daddy safe. He must be listening because sometimes daddy writes to us or sends us pictures on the computer, and that always makes me happy.
Well, I gotta go. Mommy is calling. I will write in here again; until then, this is Timmy saying bye! Keep praying for my daddy! He can really use all the prayers he can get! Thanks!
~Timmy O'Rourke, aged seven. :(
