Central Kentucky News-Journal -
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Published on: 9/19/2004
Last Visited: 9/20/2004
Stephanie Allen, 24, and James Frisby, 22, are both members of Kentucky's Heavy Equipment Transport National Guard Unit, 2123rd Transportation Company, stationed in Richmond.
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"You learn to hand things over to the Lord and trust him," Frisby, who is pastor of Freedom Baptist Church, said.
As Christian parents, they believe their children belong to God.
"They're not ours.They belong to him."
Still, Frisby says he must reconcile himself daily for the worst-case scenario.
"He's my only son.
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James was called to serve in November 2003.His sister, whose son Kaden was just 2 months old at the time, was also called.However, the baby was too young for her to serve, according to military protocol.
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Frisby finds comfort in knowing that his children are able to see one another each day.Being in the same unit, they are always aware of each other's missions and can keep their parents informed via e-mail.
However, James was there for several months before his sister's arrival.
"I think it was better, for him, when his sister got there," Frisby said.
The Frisbys have been regularly sending care packages to their children.Among some of the items they've included are devotionals and peanut butter.But temperatures in excess of 100 degrees melted the bindings on the devotionals and the Frisbys stopped sending those.
James made a specific request for his parents to send "Jif" peanut butter.Apparently, his father said, the soldiers are served Peter Pan in the dessert.
"In our home, Peter Pan is not allowed," Frisby said with a laugh."When he saw the Jif, he said it was all he could do to keep from spreading it all over himself."
Frisby says that Stephanie and James are "two of the three gifts" that God gave them.Frisby says that Stephanie and James are "two of the three gifts" that God gave them.
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James came home for two weeks during Easter.It was during that time that a man from his unit was killed.
Frisby says their church prays for his family and, for that, he is thankful.
He said that his children's unit has taken on mortar fire and when that happens the soldiers fire back.But nobody else in the unit has been hit, he said.
"Either God has made them [the Iraqis] poor shots ..."
Frisby and his family try to pay little attention to what the media says about the war.
"I don't trust our news media to tell the truth."
According to his son, "It is not as awful as the news media portrays it."
However, Frisby admits that parents who have lost children in the war would probably not agree with him.
The Frisbys' children are scheduled to come home around the first of the year.However, if new orders come, their time could be extended by as much as 200 days.
For now, the Frisbys pray together daily for their children.And though Frisby is proud of his son and daughter, he admits, "We'd rather have them both home."
"It's simply trusting the Lord with my kids.
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