Beanie Babies for Our Troops!

Michael is working on one of his service projects to get to his next rank in Boy Scouts and we need YOUR help. A couple months back Kevin was telling him about a box of Beanie Babies that he received to hand out to the kids in his area. One of Kevin's missions is to go out and meet with the local Iraqi's in the area. The children in the small town they are near have nothing. Michael thought this would be a great way to reach out and show charity.

The organization we are going through is called Beanie Baby Ambassador Program.

As Michael was doing some research, this part in the About Us section stood out to him...

"I grew up in Germany after World War II.The years after the war were not years of plenty in Europe. As children we rarely had chocolates. but whenever NATO troops (American troops in our area) exercised their yearly maneuvers, my sister and I invariably were showered with candies and other rare treats by these camouflaged strangers. Big smiles underlined their kindness. We didn't need language. "

Michael feels that he can support his dad and the Soldiers he serves with by doing this project. If you are interested in donating beanie babies (doesn't have to be Ty brand), leave a message with your contact info (we moderate comments so no one will see it) and we can send you our address. Thanks for your support!

Class of....

2014...tha'ts Michael's Graduation Year..so why in 7th grade are they sending home flyers for middle school rings. Seriously, there is no way I am purchasing a ring for him right now..not even if they have a high school-trade in option. How about I just save my money until high school!!! Oh but you can purchase a Spirit necklace to show your support. Luckily my child knows me so well, he told me he already told his teacher and his friend that I was not going to be buying a ring in middle school. Smart boy!

Interesting Thought for Today

America is not at war. The military is at war. America is at the mall, or watching the movie stars.

I Just Miss Him

I just miss him...there was nothing big that happened, I'm not overly stressed, I just miss the man I love.

I miss his touch, I miss the sound of his laugh..I miss seeing his smile. I miss the way that he runs his fingers through my hair.

Sometimes I can hear my neighbor going into his house and for a sec I think it's Kevin coming in..and then realize it's not.

Writing this doesn't mean I'm falling apart, deeply depressed or anything crazy like that. It simply means I'm missing the man I love so much my heart aches.

Thought for the Day

We might not know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future.

Dec 2005/Jun 2008

December 2005

June 2008

December 2005

June 2008

Mushroom Head

My boys are in need of a haircut...actually it's mostly Daniel. It's weird how I get their hair cut at the same time and it grows out at different paces. And each time it's a different boy who's hair grows faster, lol.

This time it's Daniel..the other boys don't look too bad but Daniel looks like a mushroom, LOL

He smiles like his daddy...*sniff, sniff*

53-57

Item 53. Out the door were Daniel's Heely's. He loved his shoes so much that he literally wore them out. I had a hard time getting rid of these because of how much he loved them. I remember being a kid and coming home and findng one of my favorite things gone because my mom had thrown it out...it was very traumatizing as a child. I let Daniel throw them out, it was hard but he was ok, I mean you can't argue with evidence. We sure got our money's worth with these...

Item 54-57 - 4 hardback books on their way to Iraq! Enjoy "T"

Items 45-52

Passed along 6 t-shirts to a young girl in our ward.

Also got rid of a jean skirt that's zipper was broken. I try to fool myself into thinking I'll get things like that fixed but it never happens, I should be more honest with myself, lol

Also out the door was a very worn out belt that was falling apart.

Still Rated PG...

Still getting knocked for using the word "breast" (Still have no clue where or when, lol) and apparently I used "kill" twice, LOL

I Miss My Lawnboy

One of the chores I detest most is mowing the lawn. Not because it's a man's job or cuz I get sweaty, mainly because we have a difficult front yard. We have this crazy, uneven hill on the side. And despite lots of money spent and time pulling, and mowing with a bag and all that we have these evil, evil weeds that won't go away (mainly cuz our neighbors were gracious enough to mow their lawn WITHOUT a bag on their mower and kindly shared their weed seeds with us). I quit, I don't own this house, I won't spend any more money on beautifying it.

Anyway, yesterday we went out to mow the lawn. I say "we" because I recruited my boys. A lot of people don't understand why I don't make the boys mow the lawn in the first place. Well the very front yard isn't a problem, but I'm not kidding, that side yard is killer and frankly, I'm a control freak. It's hard to push the mower up the hill so the kids start to go crooked and I lose patience. But I was proud of myself, I did let the boys help...I did the hardest part and they took care of the rest. I still need to weedeat because I cannot start our weedeater. Grrrrrrr, it is so frustrating. Apparently I'm not coordinated enough or something. And our edger is terrible, I need to get a new one. Perhaps one night this week I'll send the kids out with some scissors and a butterknife (carefully supervised of course!)

I really miss my husband today...and so does our lawn!

Our buddy who was upset we moved the basketball hoop. Ugly little fella, isn't he?
Neil mowing the little slope
Edging man
Michael is so determined!
Yeah, Daniel's not much help...he just likes to look the part!

Quirky Issues Part 2

Ok, I thought of a couple more...if you have no clue what I am talking about, please refer to this entry here.

Why is it so hard for people to walk a few extra (between 5-20 feet) to cross at a pedestrian crosswalk? Especially at my boys school. I swear I almost hit some person everyday because they pop out of nowhere. It drives me insane because the there are 3 crosswalks all close together, this is NOT hard...good grief lazy people!! You deserve to be run over for being stupid! What are you teaching your kids!!!

Fundraising at my door!! I do not want to send you to France, I do not need those Girl Scout Cookies, no, I do not need any overpriced magazines that I will never get anyway, I do not want to support your band kid and I can mow my own lawn thanks!! Oh, and no, I won't buy meat out of the back of your trashy truck!! I should not have to post a sign (has anyone noticed you can't just buy a No Soliciting sign anywhere?) to keep people off my porch begging for money. If I see you at Walmart, 9 times out of 10 I will purchase something or at least give you a couple bucks...maybe. About two weeks ago a lady knocked on my door at 8:30 p.m...come on now! She was selling homemade cookies so her daughter could go to some kind of camp. Are you kidding me? Don't think I'm heartless, I donate to lots of charities, I have many friends (real and online) that I try to support if I have the means if something is wrong with their kids or they are trying to raise awareness. But don't knock on my door. I refuse to send my kids peddling for any type of fundraiser. I don't mind it in a public setting as long as you're not pushy but please not in my private residence. (If you're a friend and your kid is selling something, you can always ask..don't knock on my door though, if you're selling something I'm interested in, I just might buy something...maybe, lol)

Going off of that one, I want to support our city but I don't want the Police Supporters or Firemen Supporters calling my house every 6 months asking me to donate to get a cool decal for my vehicle. I have one already, it's called a Yellow Ribbon and it shows my support for my husband! I especially like it when they call and I tell them nicely, I am not interested and they go on and say..you know ma'am, they protect your city...well yeah, why don't you send me some money since my husband protects our entire country and the freedom that goes with it...I'll expect my check in the mail! Don't get me wrong, I appreciate all that they do...they rank right up there with our Soldiers but I don't need some snotty person on the other line getting smart with me. I love when they stand in the streets collecting money in their fireman boots or buckets, I always throw money in there.

Ok, that's it for now...stay tuned there might be a part 3 someday!!!

"Am I Asking Too Much?"

*Please read the title of this blog entry outload with a very pleading voice*

For a few split seconds over the past few weeks I find myself in doubt about whether I'm asking too much of the world as far as my expectations go in this life. We all have...expectations that is. I'm just wondering if mine are a bit too high. I do understand there are reasonable and completely unrealistic expectations out there. I really do not think I fall into the latter category though when I come across different situations, I start to wonder.

Example: Tonight I headed to our Walmart in the neighboring city. I admire this city with how supportive they are of their schools, so much that if we were to stay here (which we are NOT) I would seriously consider moving there to send Michael to that high school. It's Dawgs this and Dawgs that, pretty cool. Well tonight the Band was there doing a rock-a-thon to raise money to go to Disney. Pretty cool, I wanted to do that in high school. So I hustle inside and do my shopping and as I walk out, I start to head in the direction of the bake sale to offer my donation. I remember being a band kid with big dreams, I'm all about supporting that dream (just please don't knock on my door and ask me too..that's a whole other blog entry, lol). Well as I'm walking over there, one of the band kids approaches me and goes into his spill about the rock-a-thon and I say, yup, I'm about to go and donate, I have a few dollars in my hand. He looks at my cart and says...looks like you can afford more than two dollars! Excuse me? If I EVER found out one of my children said that to someone, it would be UGLY! I just looked at him and said, well, you may be right, but what I do know is that I am now going to keep my money (which was more than $2 btw) and go on my merry way. If he had said it in a joking way, I would have let it slide but he was serious as he was checking out my grocery cart. What nerve!

What's sad is I run into so many kids who just don't have manners, who are rude and disrespectful. I am not saying my kids are perfect, because they are far from it, but I did teach them manners. I come across kids who talk me to like I owe them something. I ask kids things and get backtalk and snide comments in return. I do realize this is different parenting styles, but when did teaching respect go out the window?

I've been on playgrounds or other public places and told my kids it's time to go or not to do something and had kids I've never met, ask me WHY? Hey kid, last time I checked, I was the adult and I don't owe kids an explanation. I remember I was helping out at school and I told Neil to come over to me and this other kid was like, why, he doesn't have to do this, blah, blah, blah. Uhm, yeah, he does, he belongs to me and I'm the boss. There are just things that I expect and honestly don't expect. I don't expect to be questioned when I tell my kids to do something. I do expect them to follow my requests. All three of my kids are of the age that they understand when I tell them, sit there. I get that they are still young enough that there will be times that I will have to teach them...life is about learning, but there are things that they have been taught and I expect them to put what they know into action.

I wondered the other night if maybe I'm expecting too much...but really I don't think I am. We were in the grocery store the other night and two different people commented on how nice and respectful my boys were. Yay! I guess I must be doing something right!!!

There are so many other areas I could go into about expectation, but here's the thing, I'm not asking the world...heck, I'm not asking to end the war and send my husband back to us. I'm asking for a please or thank you every now and again. Maybe, someone to hold the door open when they see you struggling. How about just brief eye contact when I'm talking to you instead of being glued to the gameboy in your hand. Are we past the days of manners and etiquette?

Maybe, just maybe, I am asking too much.

100 Things Challenge Update

Items 17-24 : 7 pairs of pants that the boys either outgrew or chewed through (seriously you should have seen the holes) *I swear I just went through all their clothes, I have no clue how I overlooked these.

Items 25-26: Two pairs of shoes Neil outgrew that were lurking in his shoe closet

Items 27-28: Two very worn out book bags

Item 29: I will only count this as one item - but a very LARGE stack of old homework Neil had hiding in his cabinet

Items 30-38: DVD's we don't watch, they are being shipped to my mother

Items 39-44: 6 People Magazines I was saving for what?!?! I have no idea.

I need to try and take pics but when I decide it has to go, it has to go or it'll stay in my house!!

Keeping Them In Line!!!

Tired

I'm tired. I sleep but I guess it's not restful sleep. I never sleep for a lot of hours, but that's the norm for me. I'm just tired. I keep going, I can't stop but I'm tired. I hate being tired!

Maybe I'm bored, but honestly if you look at my calendar, who has time to be bored?!? And I love everything that I'm involved in (maybe I don't like everyone I'm involved with, but I like the activities).

Yesterday, a girl who doesn't know me, told me I needed to grow a backbone. Hmmmm, really? Me???? I'll take that into consideration.

As of today we have 363 days to go until Kevin comes home!! Woohoo! Only about 179 before he may get to come home for his little 18 day break. Gosh, that is so far away...blah!

I'm tired.

.....

And I miss my love♥

Quirky Issues

Everyone has quirky little things about them. Some are pretty low key kind of things and others are what I like to call red button issues. I admit that there are things that I have strong opinions on that others don't understand or aren't issues to them and vice versa.

Today in one of my forums I belong to online, a woman posted a thread about voting for her child on some photo site. I don't vote, not for anyone. I think it's tacky, I hate the whole voting thing. Ironically enough Kevin nominated me for Military Spouse of the Year and can you guess how the winner chosen? Yup voting, so I think it's safe to say I won't be bearing that title but it's enough that he thinks I'm worthy of such a title. But anyway that wasn't the point of this paragraph. So the lady posted on that thread and I simply closed it out. Well, on that forum we have mailboxes where people can post personal messages to one another. This evening I checked my mailbox and saw a message from the same lady, she had posted in everyone's box a message about voting for her kid. To me that is even more tacky that just posting it on the general board. I don't tell people not to post it, I just close out that thread and move on, but to post in in my mailbox after you already posted it on the general board is just tacky. I wrote her back in her box and told her that I got her little note and I would not be voting because I don't vote for anyone. She wrote me back and told me I was selfish and just ranted at me. Well that certainly isn't going to get a vote for your kid!! So that is one of my little things that bug me.

Another thing that bugs me in forums like that are people who do a poll on what to name their kid. I don't understand this. It's your decision. Can you imagine telling your kid someday, oh I named you Joe cuz some girl in my group online told me that was a good name!

Quirky issue #3. The cell phone. (This is especially for "D" who wondered why I hadn't blogged about it). My cell phone number is sacred to me. I have a cell phone for the sole purpose of emergencies and so that my husband can contact me. I don't need it to chitchat with people at any given time. If you reach me on my cell then that probably means that I'm out and about and don't really have the time to chat with you in the first place. Don't get me wrong, there are people who have my cell phone number and if they call me, fine, most of them are close friends and will understand if I can't chat. So yeah, it's not cool if my cell # is just given out, if I give you my cell number that means I want you to have it, if I don't, well that's just life. I've had people see me pull out my cell phone and say oooooooooh, gimme your cell number. My response is, no. I don't need everyone in the world having access to me at any given moment, call my home number and leave a message, I'll get back to you when I can. This also applies to my email and my messengers, different people get different addresses. I'm just weird about things like that.

Quirky issue #4. Condiments on my hot dog. I didn't think this was weird but apparently it is. I like my mustard and ketchup on my bun first, underneath the hot dog. To me this makes sense, put it on there so it's not as messy and not as likely to make a big mess while trying to eat. That's logical, right?

Quirky issue #5, people who walk on the grass, especially an an Army Post. Oooooooooh it drives me insane. It was drilled in my head at basic training, AIT and at my first duty station, you do NOT walk in the grass. I cannot change that and so when I'm on post and I see Soldiers walking on the grass it kills me. I even told a Major yesterday while I was out with LaNita that he walked on the grass and it was wrong, lol. I can't help it, old habits die hard!

I thought I had one more issue (I'm sure I have a lot more!) but that is it for now. So if you feel so inclined to share your quirkly issues post them on your blog and leave me a comment saying you did!!

♥9/11/2008♥

I have so many mixed emotions on this day. For days, weeks and even a few months after, our nation rallied together. Flags were hard to find and it seemed we almost had peace for a while. Slowly over time all that begin to fade. I know moving on is part of the grieving process and for those who aren't still fighting the war in a personal way, 9/11 isn't always as personal.My family is not likely to forget what happened that day. For the 4th straight year in a row our Soldier is gone, the second 9/11 he is spending in Iraq. On 9/11/01, he was gone as well, away from us. Being apart on that day was a small hint to us of what the future would bring to us as a family.

Last night I sat my three boys down (12, 10 and 7) and I explained to them what this day meant. I thought about keeping them home. I acknowledge Patriot Day, really I do, but I don't want my children who are too young to remember the actual attacks to stand around a flag pole on their school grounds waving flags like it's a 4th of July Parade and singing "It's a Grand Old Flag", I don't use the term anniversary because that implies a need for a celebration and today isn't about a celebration. Today is about remembering those who were lost (the innocent), those who sacrificed (the firemen, police, volunteers and the passengers of Flight 93) and those who have since worn the uniform that bears US before any branch they serve in the military.

Many say that 9/11 and the current war in Iraq (part of the Global War on Terrorism) are not connected. To me, it very much is and while I won't go into that argument, I will just say this. That day as I was comforting my children and pondering what life was going to be like, I knew our role as a military just changed. As a result my husand has served in Iraq twice. Last night I was again comforting my children as we talked about that day and their dad being gone and in harm's way.

I am proud to be an Army family. And while we endure hardship and pain at times going through separations, like I told my boys, I couldn't be prouder than this mission we are currently on. To know my husband is a part of less than 1% defending our nation's freedom, to be part of the mission that is working so hard to ensure that another 9/11 doesn't happen here, I can't even put into words.

Recently I received some photos that another Soldier had taken of Kevin "working" in Iraq. In one picture there is a little boy, the way he is looking at Kevin, well you just have to think that there is hope and goodness in what we are doing. Even if you don't agree we should be there or whatever, you can't look at that picture and not at least think for a moment that we are providing hope for Iraq's future.

Today to honor the many who have sacrificed and the many who continue, especially our Soldiers who are currently deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, LaNita and I are going to donate blood. It's our small contribution to say thank you.

To us and many like us 9/11 isn't something we are likely to forget. God Bless America and those who preserve her Freedom.

♥Never Forget - SFC Bryant Herlem, SGT Jose Gomez, SGT Brandon Teeters, SGT Jeremy King, CPT James Funkhouser♥

I know you want my autograph!

Remember last week when I posted about Joe Galloway? Well here is an article from the Post newspaper that came out today.

‘A Hell of a Journey’: Joe Galloway releases new book from the battlefields of Ia DrangBy Pfc. Phillip Turner, 1st Cav. Div. PAO

Joe Galloway, co-author of the New York Times Best Seller “We Were Soldiers Once… and Young” (1992), visited Soldiers and Families Sept. 3 at Fort Hood’s Clear Creek Post Exchange to sign his new book “We are Soldiers Still … A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam.”


Galloway had an attentive ear while he signed books.“This was really cool,” said Nadine Albrecht, wife of Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Albrecht, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “It was nice to come here and have (Galloway) sign our books, and he spoke with my husband on the phone from Iraq, so it was very special,” she added.Galloway has been considered by many at the forefront of war correspondence for more than 20 years.In his newest book written with longtime friend Hal Moore, Galloway revisits the Valley of Ia Drang, and the battlefields that claimed the lives of so many brave young men of the U.S. Army and The Peoples Army of Vietnam.


For Galloway, one of the most touching and remarkable parts of ‘We are Soldiers Still’ is the relationship the men who were once enemies take on as they walk the valley’s haunting battlefields.“This was a hell of a journey, on so many levels.” Galloway said. “To be able to stand there on that ground with the guys we did our everloving best to kill, and they us; and find thirty years later, that maybe we had more in common with our old enemies than any Soldier has with any civilian, of this or any other country.”“We were on the bus with these guys day after day, and the longer we talked to them … it just was fascinating; to be able to roll out your maps and take out your journal, and say ‘Why did you do that? Why didn’t you do this? Do you know that the entire rear of our perimeter was wide open that first day?’“The chance to dive into your enemies mind, into his plans, into his commands is remarkable, and is a great deal of the story we tell (in We are Soldiers Still),” he said.

Flashing Red & Blue Lights

Living on post we have the Military Police Bike Patrol. I have often found myself chuckling at the concept that people would get pulled over by cops on a bike. Many of my friends have heard me chuckle and roll my eyes. Well, as of last night, that mentality has ended!

I was dropping off a girl in our battalion at her house after a meeting. She lives in a housing community I rarely visit (like the last time I was there was over 18 months ago, maybe the last time Kevin was deployed). I think it's odd that each housing area has different speed limits. So as we are sitting in the car chatting it up a bit, three MP's ride by on their bikes. I have a good chuckle and say, "I just don't understand that". "T" chuckles as well and says, "me either". Ok, so I'm not alone in my thinking.

We bid our farewells and I head out on my merry way. As I'm driving around their little loop and I'm getting up to speed to shift gears, I realize, hmmm 19 mph might be a bit fast, so I immediately slow down. (Mind you, it's 20-25 and even 30 in some parts of our housing area). But I am in a loopy kind of area, so I slow down. As I go around the bend, there are the three little MP's (ok, one was not so little), I don't think anything of it, as I was at 19 mph for about 22 seconds. I continue on my way and in my rearview mirror I see little red and blue lights. I'm in disbelief! Am I really being pulled over by cops on bikes!!! I kind of chuckle and I exclaim to the boys that I cannot believe this.

The one cop pedals up to my window and starts his line of questioning,
"Ma'am, do you live here?" - uhm, no
"What are you doing here?" - dropping off a friend at her house
"Where do you live?" - in another housing area
"Did you see the kids playing?" - ok, this is seriously where I wanted to say, well yeah and it's 8:30 p.m. on a school night and they should be in house in bed or getting ready for bed, but I just say, yeah.
I didn't respond more because I really found his line of questioning rather odd. At this point, I wanted to say, just give me the ticket and let me go (really, I was afraid I was going to start cracking up, I mean I got pulled over by a guy on a bike!!!)
He goes on to say, "you have kids, that should make you think." Hoooooooold on a sec...yes, I was going faster than the 15 mph for a split second and yes I do know it only takes that long, but I realized it before anyone had to flash a light. At this point, I'm annoyed and so I say to him.."Why is it that the safety of the kids in this village more important that those in the village I live because our speed limits range from 20-35 mph and really, very few people follow that!" He just looked at me and told me to slow down and have a good night. I smiled and said, maybe some of your friends could come control our housing area, maybe around the time school gets out and kids are almost being run over!!

Yeah, can you believe I got pulled over by cops on bikes, LOL. Ok so maybe the mentality hasn't ended.

Update on Patty

So if my faithful blog readers will recall, I've had some issues with Patty's friend/mother/aunt/Stalker calling my house. Well I thought after being so nice and informing this person that Patty does not live here and would she kindly stop calling my house, the calls would stop. Of course this was not the case. She has since called three more times. Her number comes up on our Caller ID (wonderful little invention that is!). I considered posting the number here on my blog and seeing if any of my dear blogger friends could spare a moment to call her and see if she knew where Patty was. But being the nice, kind person that I am, I pushed that thought aside. Instead, I came home yesterday, checked my voicemail, heard the standard "Patty, Patty, you there Patty!?!" I found the number on my Caller ID and hit redial. When the lady answered I simply said, "Hi! I was just calling to see if you found Patty yet?" The lady replies, sounding a bit puzzled, "what, Patty doesn't live here." I kind of chuckle and say, "yeah, she doesn't live here either, so please stop calling me!" She hung up...I think..maybe..dare I hope that I will not hear from Patty's Stalker anymore??

Writer's Cramp!

The boys are into their third week of school and I am SICK of the paperwork I have to sign!!! Seriously at the end of the school year, we had to sign out all the registration forms, you would think they would be good three months later. At this point, with three boys, I'm not even sure what I'm signing anymore..I may have signed my kidney away for all I know!!!

This morning I was filling out paperwork for Michael's band class, I had to sign a sheet giving my permission for him to be drug tested. Hmmmmmmm, band class, I knew it was required for Sports but band?!?! And anyway, aren't most musicians better when they are high?!?! Just Kidding!!!!!

I guess my time in the Army prepared me for the Public School system, in the Army you have to sign 20 copies of one document to order a sock!! Anyway, thought I'd share my grief with you all.

Update From Iraq September 10, 2008

Update from Iraq!

Well this last week we had a visitor at our Camp. It was Matt Roloff from the TLC program "Little People Big World". The family and I love their program. It was exciting to see him and hear him speak (I will get to that in a minute).

I had told Nadine that I was going to see him and try to get some pics, well what I did not tell her until later was it just so happens that I had by chance brought their book with me to read while I was here in Iraq. Well I had it signed while he was here for Nadine. Cool HUH? I think so.

Mr. Rollof had been contacted awhile ago, around April or so. He had been told that there were some little people around our Camp and that they wanted to help out with getting the Iraqi Doctors much needed training in procedures for surgeries that needed to be done for them and for future patients. At first he said, so what does this have to do with me? He then really thought about it and started the ball rolling to try to get things to happen. Lots of politics and logistics involved. He had everything set back in June to go but got delayed in Kuwait (big surprise for those of us who have been there). Because of the delay the Doctor they had with them had to go back to another surgery he had pushed back already. So Matt pushed on anyways. He was amazed at what we do over here and the stories of so much good being done by the Soldiers, contradictory to the what the media shows. He was blown away by the kindness shown by so many.

He had a few snags again beforehand but got everything here. The team performed 6 surgeries. Also showing the Iraqi Doctors these procedures. All the children are on there way to a full recovery.

Matt had told us that at first TLC did not want to let him go (legal stuff contracts you know). He told them he was going to pay his own way regardless and use the CODA foundation he is a board member of to help out with other expenses. TLC came around and made the right decision to come along and document this ordeal. They are going to air this in one of the new episodes this season. Maybe I will be on. Ya right. He told us that they really let the show do all of the self advertising itself (word of mouth and all) this time they have put a lot into this episode in advertising and all. I would like to think that TLC did this for the right reasons because I think that they have some of the best programs, just ask Nadine.

I thought it was very cool and all. I got my pic and book signed. I was also just a few feet from him during all of this.

There is a lot of good to be done in this country and I know that a lot of people say there is also a lot of good to be done in our own one too. I know that but I guess that I look at it like this; I can't always be there for Nadine and the boys to help out with all they do back home for the community and all. So while I am over here I can still set a good example of how to serve others. And yes, I know all to well that some of these people here do not like us and even want to kill us but I guess this is the sacrifice that will be done for this cause and I'm not talking politics I talking for mankind,the one that really matters in the end. While my wife sets the example on the homefront, and me here, both of us doing what our Heavenly Father wants us to do to show our children the right thing.

So for all of you out there who try everyday to make a difference, keep it up don't ever stop. You will be surprised at what you get back.

I love you Nadine, Michael, Neil, Daniel and Sapper.


-Kevin

Good Blog Visitor Flow

So I've had an interesting flow of visitors lately...it's always interesting to see how people come across our blog.

Our biggest flow of traffic lately has come as a result of someone posting the link to my Kevin & Matt entry. Just wanted to return the favor and link to their little forum where they are completely engrossed on chatting about the Roloff family. Click here to read their interesting comments about Matt's visit to Iraq.

Hope the person who found our blog by typing in "what to pack deployment tuff box" got a packing list!

For the person who googled "soldiers show love" I just wanna say...they SURE do!

For "deathwish duster" person..yeah..that's a bit disturbing, LOL

"Army deployment rotation" seems to be a popular search that brings people to our site.

One search was "nascar support gold star", which describes my friend LaNita...kind of got a giggle out of that one.

Searches for "4th BCT" are popular too, hope they understand the significance and great history of our brigade.

"Army Wife" brings a lot of folks as well, not really a no brainer there, lol

It's interesting how people find their way to our site, some are disturbing and some just crack me up.

I'm bored, I should type in some interesting words and see where google takes me!!

Kevin & Matt

Today Kevin got to meet a celebrity in Iraq. Maybe some people know him, maybe a lot don't. We happen to watch his TV show Little People, Big World. The whole family used to sit and watch it on Monday nights, we find it interesting. Well Matt Roloff was in Iraq today, he's over there helping Iraqi families who have dwarfism in their families. I can't say I know all the details cuz I don't but Kevin said it was pretty cool. They were told footage from this visit will be part of the season premiere of the show, so we'll see (hard to believe that, but you never know), maybe Kevin will be on TV!

Here are a couple pics, Kevin says he has video footage but couldn't send it due to their internet connection. The first pic was very clear, and the pic of Kevin and Matt, not so good. Kevin said he ran into a guy he served with on the trail at Knox...went on to mention what a great guy, what a great Soldier he was. Sorry to say he's not a great photographer!!

Anyone know Patty?

So the past couple weeks I keep getting these phone calls for Patty. The phone will ring and I will answer it and the person on the other line says "Where's Patty?". I've tried to be nice, really I have. I will say nicely, "I think you have the wrong number, there is no Patty here." The person will hang up. If I'm not home when they try to call, I get this message, "Patty, PATTY! You there Patty?". Ok, if you have called our home #, you can hear Kevin and my voice, not Patty's! Perhaps who ever is calling for her believes we are holding her hostage...

So today, the same number comes up and I answer, same standard request on the other line, "Where's Patty?". To which I reply, "I have no idea where Patty is, but I do know this...she's not HERE!" I go on to say, "Ma'am, I have repeatedly told you that there is no Patty at this number, so can you please STOP calling my house!" She hangs up. I know this isn't the end, I'm sure she'll call back.

So if any of you know Patty, can you please let her know I'm getting phone calls for her.

Yapper Sapper

I am tired.

The reason I am tired is because my dog has issues. I don't know what her issues are and frankly it annoys me. Ok, let me back up, Sapper is a great dog, we love her, she's a bit spoiled and really she's not that bad.

But last night something got into her and about 1230 a.m. she started barking. At first I ignored her because I was started to fall into a sweet slumber but she continued to yap away. I told her to hush a few times and tried to burrow again into my pillows to drift off to dreamland. Her barks continued to get louder and more persistent. Grrrrrrr, now she had me wondering if someone was hanging outside our house or even inside our house (you know how the imagination starts to get going). Finally I admit defeat and get up, flip all the lights on as I make my way downstairs. I flip on the outside lights to look out the windows and don't see anything. I walk all through the house, nothing. After a while I notice that Sapper isn't following me anymore. I turn all the lights off, go upstairs and I realize she has decided she is now tired and has crawled in bed with Neil.

It's a good thing she's so cute!

Joe Galloway

Today at the PX there was a book signing for the book We are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam . Joseph Galloway was the one there to sign the book. If you have never heard of the movie We Were Soldiers, you should go out and rent it...better yet, go to the library and check out the book We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young: IA Drang - the Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam. This is one of my favorite military history books and the movie is also one of my fave war movies.

Over 12 years ago, when we were stationed at Fort Campbell, KY LTG (Ret) Moore went to the PX there and signed the first book. When I found out that they were coming to sign their second book, I knew I had to be there (and luckily since I wrote down the wrong date on the class yesterday..see previous entry, I was able to go). Sadly, the advertising sucked because it made it sound like they would both be there when in actuality it was just Joe Galloway. But that was ok. If you don't know who he is, google his name. Just to give you a brief summary, Mr. Galloway served as a combat correspondent during Vietnam and spent more time in combat situations than a lot of Soldiers. His pictures have been seen all over the world. He still writes today and sometimes you can catch his articles in the Stars and Stripes (and other places I can't remember).

Anyway, there I was at the PX waiting in line just like many others. Kevin called me while I was in line and was extremely annoyed by the lady in front of me, he said she was talking so loud, he thought she was on the phone with him, lol. I wanted to assure him that she was as loud as her hair and outfit were but I was polite, lol.

When it was my turn in line, I set the phone down on the table and handed Mr. Galloway my books to sign. He looked at my phone and I mentioned that it was my husband calling from Iraq. He quickly picked it up saying.."Kev, this is Joe Galloway, how are you doing? He continued to chat with him for 2-3 minutes. I was so overwhelmed with emotion that he would be so kind to take a few minutes to make Kevin's day like that. As he finished signing our books, he looked up at me and said, make sure you tell him I send him my best wishes and to be safe. I shook his hand and went on my way.

Joe Galloway talking to Kevin
Listening to Kevin tell me how cool that was.
Mr. Galloway sending "best wishes" to Kevin

ScAtTeRbRaInEd

I have no idea what is wrong with me lately but I am so scatterebrained. I forget things I would normally never forget. Usually I'm the girl who doesn't need a calendar because I can remember everything. Really my schedule is not as busy as it has been before, I really have slowed down. I don't know what the deal is but it is frustrating me. I put down a class wrong on my calendar and missed it today meaning that someone had to cover down for me. I HATE that, that is so not me. I need to get back on track...maybe more exercise, vitamins, more caffeine, I have no idea, lol but something!

I hate feeling this way!!!

I ♥ Technology

So for the first time since Kevin has left, I got to see him on webcam. It has taken a while to get the whole internet in his room set up, but finally it's up!!! It was so nice to see his name go bold on my yahoo messenger box!! Yay! I acknowledge that we are ever so blessed to have this great technology. And yes it's a bit more pricey than I'd like it to be, but it's a luxury that I feel is worth it to us. To think back at what the families endured in previous wars where letters were scarce and the time between them was months, and sometimes years, I am very humbled and grateful to be in the position we are.

It was great to see my love, to see him move, smile, and be silly. Even though he has sent lots of pics so far (yes, my sweet baby learned since last time!), there is just something different about seeing them "live". There was a lot of time we just sat and looked at each other's webcams, no words being typed. It was fabulous!!

He had the headset on so his roommate wouldn't be disturbed with the beep of when I sent a message
He said this was his "who is that sexy dude" pose

Stretching

Finally got our cam set up..

Not so flattering pose
He looks good, I look like I'm being interviewed but my face is being blurred to protect the innocent!
So tired...
I have no clue what he was doing, silly man
Yes, I think I love you!!

Items 11-16

Yesterday while folding laundry I tossed a pair of very worn out jeans that I have had for probably 6 years and a very stained shirt of Daniel's. Neil and Daniel also decided this week would be a good time to outgrow their church shoes, so bye bye to three pair of shoes (2 pairs for Neil and one pair for Daniel). Sadly two items will creep back in the house as those are things that need to be replaced but I am proud of myself for getting them out of the house instead of shoving them in the back of the closet.

Oh and bye bye to another water bottle that I noticed was cracked on the lip.

Later tonight or tomorrow I'll be attacking the extra bedroom, I could probably hit my hundred mark in that room alone...maybe, I'm quite attached to all the junk in there!