Every last day of the month, Fort Stewart conducts a test of the emergency warning system.
It starts with a honking noise that makes Piper scream in fear. (Seriously, when Grant wants to upset her, he starts saying "This is a test..." and making a siren noise.)
Then it goes to a big voice announcing "This is a test. This is a test of the Fort Stewart emergency warning system. This is only a test. This is only a test."
And then the air horn goes off for like 45 seconds.
And then the big voice comes back and says "This was a test. This was a test of the Fort Stewart emergency warning system. This was only a test. This has been a test. This has been a test. This has been a test. This concludes the test." (I'm not making ANY of that up. It goes exactly like that. So seriously redundant it makes me want to scream.)
My small children cling to me petrified. God help me and them if I've accidentally laid them down for a nap earlier than I should have because this will RIP THEM FROM THEIR SLEEP. AND IT GOES ON FOREVER.
So yesterday when the siren went off we all sat in Nashie's rocking chair. I snuggled him close and stroked Piper's hair and we sang a song until it was over.
And I couldn't help but think about the Momma's that are rocking their babies as air raid sirens go off in whatever land they're living in, praying until it's over. If there even are any sirens. Maybe the windows just start shaking up on impact and the moms just run full tilt toward their children. How do you help in this case? I don't even know. I couldn't help but think that THIS IS WHY Syrians are cramming themselves into tiny boats and feeling under cloak of darkness. I read a quote once that went something like "You don't put your babies on a boat in the middle of the night unless what you're leaving behind is scarier than being on a raft, in the middle of the ocean, in the middle of the night." Oh but no way should they be allowed in the land of milk and honey. Ohhhhh no. No, no. *MAGNIFICENTLY OBNOXIOUS EYE ROLL*
So I sat with my kids and I snuggled them while they whimpered each time the siren blew, and I cried too. And I prayed for those momma's and their babies. The world is scary. I'm so grateful to be raising my kids in a safe place with plenty of food and water and safety and freedom.
We take so very much for granted.
