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

Just checking in

Hello all,

  Its me again saying hello from the sandbox. Time is moving ahead quickly as I will pass 90 days in country on May 12, true I still a have a ways to go but I am staying as busy as I can and that helps. My day consists of work from 730am -430pm and then I spend an hour in the gym and then its time to skype and start any homework that I may have.  I have been attending Ashford University online and I have already completed 3 credit hours and working on another 3 now.  The military pays the entire cost of my classes so while you are stuck out here might as well be productive.

We had a fairly large sand storm this month and I have attached some photos to show how it looked:

Normal sunny day

Sand Storm

I ran my second 5K run this week and even though I finished in good time, some old guy ran past me, and when that happens you never really quite recover. Overall it was fun and you get a t-shirt each time you complete one.

Nice Shirt

November FWD Group 5k Run (the guy in the packer shirt is awesome)




Special thanks to all the folks that have sent care packages while I have been deployed:
Lindsay Cloer
Mom & Dad
Karen Cole
Jimmy & Kristen Turner (best neighbors on the planet, thanks for all you do)
Heather Williams from Landmark Church of God
Toni Dennison
Kim Rheingrover Pruitt
Laura McHargue and the HR Lunch Bunch
Renee Gragg

Your care packages have not only been enjoyed by me, but many others on post here as well. Thank you for everything.

Lots of Love

Hello all,

As I am completing my 3rd month of deployment, I look back and all I can say is that I have been blessed!

     I am devoting this blog to all the friends and family that has sent care packages to me since I left on Jan 2nd.

Over all there has been a total of 10 packages. The lady in the mail room knows me by name as much I am over signing for my boxes, I remember one Saturday afternoon I picked up 4 at one time and trying to carry them back to my PCB was a challange, perhaps I should have used a forklift.

Ok so here we go, and these are in perticulair order:

Thank you JPS Statesville for send the Girl Scout Cookies and the dust masks which have came in handy with the several sand storms we have had so far.

Thanks Mom and Dad for the goodies and cards and T-shirts.

Thanks also to Toni Dennison for all the awesome St Pattys Day items, the green fortune cookies were awesome.