Welcome Home Eden

Do you know what has been hitting me the hardest since we first got to see Edan Alexander come home?

It's inconceivable to process that he was in captivity for 583 days. Has had no contact with his family since October 7, 2023. Think of all the things that have happened since that infamous day.

We don't even know yet, and likely will never know the full extent of what he experienced, what was done to him, what he saw, what he felt. Things that no human should.

But what stuck out for me when seeing Edan reunite with his family was how YOUNG he is.

My God, he's a boy. He's only now 21, which means he was 19 when he was captured as a soldier.

All those pivotal years, just taken from him.

And I've been thinking about it non-stop since I saw their hug.

The way he smiles bashfully and all who greeted him on the Israeli side. The way he energetically greeted his people, with hugs and a bright smile.

His eyes have been haunting me since October 7.

They peered out from every bus stop, every corner, every social media post, every poster.

And there he was- pale but alive, a young man being brought back into the world. His grandmother said to him when they reunited, "Edan, you're a hero!"

I was driving through a checkpoint today, and I looked and the men and women soldiers who were checking every car, and I whispered to my husband, "Omg, they are babies."

So many of the people who protect our country are so young. Our heroes.

So fresh, right at the beginning of their lives.

As my 15-year-old said in the car, "Yeah, they probably barely just took their bagruot."

When they put their pencils down, they put on their uniforms and protect us.

But we need to protect them too.

I'm sorry, Edan, that it took so long to get to you.

There are still so many who are waiting.

But I pray that your whole life is in front of you and you live it fully and with much much joy.