While You Were Gone

I wrote this book because I wanted to chronicle our daughter Rose’s life for

her father, who has been faithfully serving and sacrificing for our country. I

wanted to give him a glimpse of what I am blessed with on a daily basis and

give him the key to Rose’s experiences and personality.

This is a unique time in our history; I wanted to document it for Rose as

the world today seems to be hovering on a pinnacle toward major change. I

wonder what the world will look like when Rose herself is experiencing the

first year of life with her children.

I wanted to share this story with the entire Armed Forces - moms and dads

who are left behind and raising children that either have not met their parent

or, if they did, only very briefly. The parents left behind are blessed by a

parental love which is beyond words; however, we are also challenged,

lonely and sometimes angry and frustrated. We are on the battlefield of

parenthood raising the next generation to make their country proud.

Justine Theer

Rose’s Mother