2 months and a dime..

Hello all,

It’s a been a while since I last posted and of course a lot has a happened so sit back grab a coke and a smile as I catch everyone up to speed.

Two months and ten days left to complete on this tour, and its homeward bound, and just in time to join my family on a beach trip over the Thanksgiving holiday.  September has arrived and where friends and family are celebrating the last holiday of summer back home life here at Camp AJ is fairly quiet, although I can tell that it seems to be cooling down, as opposed to 120+ degrees is only around 100 or so, and even that feels awesome.  As I am mentally preparing to re-deploy back home I just want to say a million thanks to all who have sent packages, letters, cards, emails, and of course many thanks to all who have supported Lindsay back home with lawn care, meals and simply just spending time with her during this deployment.

Of course I am really proud of how well Lindsay has handled all the affiars back home, from keeping the cars maintained to managing bills and still finding time to spend on her photography, I am sure its been tough at times but she has done so well.

I have started counting the time I have left here by the number of Mongolian BBq’s until I depart. Each staturday they serve mongolian and its the best meal that you get during the week.

 

So the number is 10. Ten more bbqs and its homeward bound.

So when I left I had in my head several tasks that I wanted to accomplish while I was here: Support the mission/done 2. Complete online college courses/ done 3. Improve my health and fitness/done  4. Get promoted to 2^nd class/done. That been said I can board that plane in a couple months with a since of accomplishment.

Some folks have asked questions about the local wildlife here at Camp AJ, which is quite limited from what I have seen. I really believed that if Kuwait had a zoo it only be a single room with a lizard,

 

Spiny tailed lizard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 a snake

Horned Viper (not seen any here yet)

 

 

, a scorpion

Fat tailed scorpion(not seen any here yet)

 

, and of course a camel spider

Camel Spiders (not seen any yet)

 

 and a un-happy looking camel,

 

, and maybe a fish that their polluted oceans have not killed yet. Yep its sad.

 As an extra duty set aside from my duties at N7, I often the get the opportunity to help design graphics for a coin, event,  or even a shirt. Camp AJ has monthly 5K run events open to anyone on post and of course the best part of that is that you get a free shirt when you complete it, which usually becomes your weekly wardrobe after you have accumulated enough shirts. Anyway I wanted to design a shirt for one of the 5k runs and was allowed to design for the Air Force Birthday scheduled in Sept. here is the design I submitted for the run.

Thats it for now I will post more later,

 

To be continued...

under 100

So David and I are under 100 days! Can you believe it! June and July have just flown by! I have definitely not been without things to do! I went to the beach, had many many photo shoots, shot a couple of weddings, editing photos for hours on end, went to a few weddings, and spent time with family.

When David left January 2, 2012 it seemed like a daunting amount of time apart. This time apart has been hard and I have had a few moments of weakness. (you would cry too if you had a husband like my BOOTS) My Neighbor Kristen told me that at her wedding the pastor said that their wedding day is the day the would love one another the least. Those words have never felt more true! I am so much more in love with David now. This year apart made me love and learn new things about him and what makes our relationship so great. I can’t even imagine how much more I am going to love him come November!

People ask me all the time, how often do I get to talk to David and how do we spend “quality time” together. We are so blessed because he is stationed in a place with WIFI. We talk on an app called messagenet, where we can call and text for free. Being a million miles apart and only getting to communicate via video chatting can be challenging, there is only so much to talk about. We are much more in tuned to sharing details of our days. Although the details may seem silly and boring, it’s just good to hear the others voice. We have movie skype date nites. I share my screen with him and we have TV show we watch together each week, and we have watched tons of movies together. It’s nice we can still hear and see each others reactions to what ever is going on in the show. The picture posted is how David and I see each other.

I also would like to say that I am sooo thankful for all of you who have sent care packages to David. They are such a nice reminder of home for him!

Signing off,

The Wife

Concert & a Care Package..

Hello all,

I hope that everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. This weekend was my first holiday exposure on deployment.

Lindsay, was at the beach with friends so I had more free time to myself as we would usually be on skype hanging out, talking or watching a movie during the weekends.
But I found other activities to keep me busy, for starters the USO put on concert for Kellie Pickler which I decided to attend and I was glad I did it was a really good show, She played for about two hours Saturday night, and afterward you could meet her and get an autograph which I didn't do the lines were just to long for me.

I was able to film some short videos but they are quite large and I cannot load them on this blog or facebook, I will have to share those when I return. Although the show was filmed it may be on youtube.

The weekend ended with a fairly large care package that was sent from Lindsay Cloer, Joann, & Arnie Bensen.

As you can see from this photo I was truly blessed. Yes that is an entire batch of Joann's Chocolate Chip Cookies which now we can say world famous. The folks in my department loved them! Lets not forget the Carmel Bars which was also included in the package. I can wait to cut into it and let folks sample that goodness. I am glad now that I did 4000 sit-ups because I am about to gain a few extra pounds! As you can see Arnie included a book for me to read Seal of God about a navy seal that later in life works in the ministry. Looks like a really great book! Of course Lindsay sent me all my favorite snacks as well as local Farmers Market pork rinds and kettle corn which folks love here. I gave away three bags before I left work. Thank you Joann for the cookies and Carmel bars they were amazing! Thank you all for your high calorie, well thought-out care package. It will be enjoyed by many.

Too be continued...

Life goes on...

Hello all,

Its me again blogging from the sandbox. As the temperatures climb higher the days seems to pass faster, or maybe its just that you are walking faster to reach the next air conditioned tent, yeah maybe that's it.

Either way I am doing fine and staying as busy as I can. I just completed work on two coins and soon I will be working on another set. For those who don't know what coins are they are decorated metal coins that are handed out to anyone as a "job well done" token. Its nice to get them awarded to you from folks in leadership roles. So far I am been given three, which are the only three in my ten years in the reserves. Anyway I had the privilege to help design the command coin for NavelSG FWD November, and this coin represents the folks in ESS,  Wave 1 and also Wave 2. So far we have 180+ pre-ordered and they should be here late June. I will attach images of them when they arrive.

Even though my primary job here is supporting N/10 Safety, I also have been allowed to complete graphic design related assignments which I enjoy.

Below is picture of me at KNB, which is one of the sites I visit often.

I have no idea what ship that is behind me!

Some of you have been asking about Middle Eastern food and if I had tried any, well I can now say yes I have. Each base has its own unique restaurants that you can eat from, and at KNB you can order an item called a Shawirma which looks like a burrito. Hands down this is the best thing I have eaten since I have been in Kuwait. Its a roast chicken with diced tomatoes and other chopped vegetables wrapped up in flour shell. Its quite good.

Some of you may have seen my Mothers day shout out that I recorded and posted on facebook, but I would now to once again to thank the many of you that have supported Lindsay and myself while I have been away. Our neighbors Jimmy and Kristen have been awesome, in that they have blessed Lindsay with many meals as well Jimmy has taken care of the yard which I appreciate greatly. Also thanks to my Mom & Dad for the many trips to Winston to help and keep Lindsay company. And I am thankful for everyone that have sent me packages filled with goodies from home. I cant say thank you enough times. A special thanks goes out to JPS my employer for all their care packages and messages from co-workers.

I am grateful for the technology that allows me to keep in touch with Lindsay.  She is very creative in the way she uses skype for us to watch movies together on the weekends which becomes our long distance date night. Even being 6889 miles apart, we still attend Church together. Lindsay is an amazing lady and I am honored to have her as my wife and I cant wait to return home to her soon!

Too be continued.... 



Friendship that goes Above & Beyond

David and I are so blessed to have so many people that have encouraged, prayed and loved on us, but I have been especially thankful for the Turners! They are my next door neighbors/friends/family. I love this family sooo much. Kristen sends me weekly menus and lets me know I can eat anytime. They help me with my dogs and Jimmy mows my yard. I love just going over and hanging out with them! I love little Grace their daughter as if she was one of my own nieces. They are the embodiment of Christ love, they do it out of love and service. When I think of them I think of this passage!

Matthew 25:32-40

Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

  

Thank you Kristen Jimmy and Grace! Your love for David and I and our pack of dogs is amazing! I am so truly blessed by you. I thank God Every time I think of you! I am thankful he allowed you guys a few more years with us here in this sweet culdasac. I am thankful for your follow through... many say they will do this or that and never follow through. You promised David you guys would help and watch out for me and the doggies and you have. We are so blessed! There are not enough words to express how thankful I am to have them in my life. This friendship is so precious and a gift from above!

Signing off,

The Wife

for-granted

So David and I really didn't have any idea what to expect during this deployment. The love David has for me has been very apparent. When your apart like this you have to be much more intentional with your time. David calls me and texts me about 4-5 times a day. The time difference hasn't been too much of a challenge. Its great because I get to talk to him when he gets up before he starts his day, During my lunch hour, and before he goes to bed and also when I go to bed. We Skype on the weekends, we usually watch a movies Saturday morning and We often will watch Charles Stanley Sunday Mornings for Church. Even from a thousands of miles away we get to worship and spiritually grow together. So all in all David and I are doing really well.

David has been given a lot of responsibility and his artistic talents are becoming very well known over there. He has plenty to keep him busy. He also can not express enough how much he appreciates all the love you all have been sending. The lady at the Post Office can not believe all the packages and mail he gets. 

Having your Husband so far away does make you appreciate them a lot more. Like when I am at the last minute getting the trash to the street in the rain, trying to figure out how to change the air filter, jumping a car battery etc... All in all I miss HIM the most, David and I love the little stuff in the life. Just laughing at our selves and our comical little life, Sunday naps, sitting outside, his goodbye kiss in the mornings and goodnite kiss, hearing the garage door open and getting giddy because I know it's him. I love the fact that we have been married 5 years and I still feel that way about him. I suppose that's when you realize it is a bond that only Christ could have blessed and put together. I asked David one time how he could get up so easily in the mornings...(I hate getting up), He looked at me and said with out any hesitation, "All I do is look over at you sleeping, and know it's my job to care and provide for you, so I get up." Today take a moment thank your husband or your parents! This day to day event happens everyday, and how often do you thank them for it? I may not get flowers, stuff, vacations(he does do many of these though) or things like that everyday but my husbands love and attitude he has towards me is more than enough. It's easy in life to say things like "I deserve this, or I need this." But really we don't deserve any of it and all we really need is Christ. I am thankful for this time that I have this year to really rely on Christ and spend time in His word. The intimacy I am having with my Lord has been just the sweetest and precious time I have ever known. Just a reminder to all... don't take anything or anyone in your life for-granted, we need to stop complaining and focusing on the few things they do wrong and concentrate on all the things they do right! This year I lost a very good friend... and then David left in January, God has shown me through this to appreciate and make the most of the time I have with people. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. 

So here's to 5 more months...and the day I get to wrap my arms around his neck!

Signing off!

The Wife

A Mother's Love

 I have been really reflecting on the woman I call "My Mom." Let me tell you I am sure being my mom was not any easy task... but GOD truly knew she was up for the challenge. Being adopted you often wonder about the love that this person who CHOSE to be your mom. I am so blessed that God literally chose her for me! I know I don't tell her enough how amazing she is. She, over the years has loved me with a fierce love. Funny it never matters how old I get I always need her. I am so thankful that she was and still is a prayng parent. I am sure she has spent countless hours praying over her children. It pains me to think of the times I said or did things that I know were not honoring or pleasing to her. The sacrificial love that My Mom has is well... God Given. She has this amazing way of making people feel important like they matter. She spreads the love of Christ to all those that meet her. She is Kind, Thankful, Gracious, Humble, Sacrificial, a Counselor, a prayer warrior, a friend, an encourager, baker of the best Chocolate Chip Cookies, she loves God and loves others! The list could go on and on.

She has taught me through her example and life what it means to be a daughter, wife and friend. I watch how she cares for my precious Grand mother. I hope that one day I will care for her the way she does for my g-mom. She is an amazing wife, just ask my Dad. : ) I know that David would thank her... she is what has helped shape me to be a Godly wife for him.

This year I am especially thankful for her, as having David gone, she has been such a great support and encouragement to me!

Thank You MOM!! I love you more than I can even put in to words!

A Mother's Love (featuring Mark Masri) by Jim Brickman Thank you for watching over me All of the sleepless nights you lay awake Thank you for knowing when to hold me close when to let me go Thank you for every stepping stone And for the path that always leads me home I thank you for the time you took to see the heart inside of me You gave me the roots to start this life and then you gave me wings to fly and I learned to dream because you believed in me There's no power like it on this earth No treasure equal to its worth The gift of a mother's love Thank you for every sunlit day That filled the corners of my memory Thank you for every selfless unsung deed I know you did for me Thank you for giving me the choice To search my soul till I could find my voice And I thank you for teaching me To be strong enough to bend You gave me the roots to start this life And then you gave me wings to fly And I learned to dream Because you believed in me There's no power like it on this earth No treasure equal to its worth The gift of a mother's love I thank God for a mother's love