I Love You Kevin!

Holidays are never fun without the one you love most, but at least it gives you a reason to let your love know how much you really love him!

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To My Favorite Veteran - Veteran's Day 2012

Kevin in Iraq 2008

To my amazing husband.  I am so blessed to call you my eternal companion.  Thank you for your desire to continue serving your country even past the '20' year mark.

I love this picture of Kevin on the Big Island of  Hawaii sometime in the early 90's.

You are truly an example of selflessness.  I know not everyone understands our decisions to be separated and perhaps many see Korea as a place of no significance but we know that is where you are supposed to be.  There has been heartache and happiness in this journey of Military life but I have always been proud to stand beside you and say, yes I am a Soldier's wife.

I know that the sacrifice has been significant on your part.  The loss of friends, the images that will never be erased in your mind of war. 

Visiting the 4th ID Memorial Wall where the names of his friends rest.

This is a very real moment.  I felt like I was intruding by taking the picture but I also feel it captures what my husband is feeling as he visits the memorial with his friend's pictures for the first time.  This is not staged.

I know the separations can be grueling.  At times it's almost too much for me to bear knowing that often you are alone.  I smile through the tears as I remember the times you had to play with our children via webcam (yet grateful at the same time for such technology).

These pictures are from when Kevin was in Iraq in 2006

 
I know that the experiences you have had have not always been pleasant, I know the trials you have had to endure.  I also know that in this life, there are so many blessings that have come to us as a result of being an Army Family.

Welcome Home 2006

You are my favorite Veteran.  I hope you know that I love you and honor you every day.

R&R 2009

I hope you know how proud our boys are of you, how proud they are to say their dad is a Soldier.
 
We may be separated again this year but know that what physical distance creates is a deeper love and appreciation in a bond that few can understand.

Nay- FLW, MO; Kevin - South Korea 2012

I love you, thank you for taking care of our family and the families of our nation.  Happy Veteran's Day.

Your loving wife & eternal companion,

His Smile

Finally, after 15 days I got to "see" my husband again.  He has super slow internet right now but I am still grateful for the poor picture and limited time I got to chat with him on a video chat.  It's amazing how much just seeing his smile comforts me.

Father's Day 2012

I am truly blessed to be married to a man who treats the responsibility of being a father with such sacred tenderness.  It is obvious he loves his boys and that they love him.  I try hard to celebrate the man I call my husband as often as I can but on this day set aside just for fathers, I want him to know how much I love him.  There is no sight more wonderous to me than to see him interacting with our boys.  If it's wrestling with one or leaning back and smiling while another plays the piano, his love is obvious.  I love that our boys show him such affection and reach out to him in so many ways.  Kevin is a righteous example of who I want our boys to be.  He truly does show me love and I know that the boys are learning how to love and treat their future spouses.

Happy Father's Day Kevin, you are a blessing in my life and our boys life.

Korea...

It's not Iraq or Afghanistan but hearing that our Soldier would be leaving us for a year was still pretty devastating news.  We found out unofficially on Friday, minutes before my husband was headed out to a camp out with the boys that he "might" be on orders for Korea.  Having to dwell on that news over the weekend was somewhat disturbing but we know this is the Army and you just go with the flow.  Going in to work today, Kevin had it confirmed that he was indeed on orders and would need to report in just a few short months.  Lots of thoughts initially swirled through our minds as we considered what our options were.  We could decline and be at the mercy of the Army and get sent somewhere else and deploy.  We could decline and drop retirement paperwork and be out in six months or so.  We could apply for command sponsorship and go with him for two years.  None of those options appealed to us.
We have decided that Kevin will go to Korea for 12 months and the boys and I will stay here.  We don't like having our family apart but we have to think about what's best for the family.  Michael and Neil are both doing well in school and with their extra curricular activities that they plan on carrying through to college.  We just can't see tearing them away from those opportunities.  Having Kevin go to Korea for 12 months allows him to come right back here to FLW and allows stabilization for the boys to finish high school.
We sat the boys down and talked to them about this next chapter of our lives.  I would be lying if I didn't admit my heart broke a bit watching my boys reactions.  They love their daddy so much and hate when he's not home.  The kids were emotional and I hate seeing tears in their eyes.
We will be okay, the Lord will provide.  When Kevin was in Iraq and the time came to decide whether to try and leave Fort Hood or not, we prayed and fasted that we could have two years as a family.  By the time Kevin boards a plane to Korea, we will have been blessed with three.  We are so grateful for the past few years we have had as a family.  We have faith in our Heavenly Father and His plan for us.  We know that He will use Kevin as an instrument to serve others in Korea and the boys and I will continue to serve in our community here.  Normally on a tour like this, the Soldier can come home for a mid-tour leave.  We have decided that we will try and go to Korea to visit Kevin and to show Neil where he was born.  The boys are excited about that.

No matter what, together or apart, The Albrecht Squad will continue to thrive and only get stronger.

I Heart My Kindle!

This entry is a public apology to my loving husband who went out of his way to get me a really nice gift this past Christmas. He really put a lot of thought into my gift and wrote me a really sweet note. I however, was a brat and did not appreciate his gift. He even gave me the option to send it back because he could tell I was clearly not happy. I just couldn't do that though.

Because I enjoy reading, he thought that a Kindle would be an awesome gift, then I could take it with me wherever I went and he even got me the 3G-wifi edition.

I had never been interested in any kind of e-reader. I really enjoy the feeling of a book, the flipping of the page. I don't know, having an e-reader just wasn't an exciting concept for me. As I said before, I was not overly enthused with this gift and I told him. I felt at the time it was a big expense for something I didn't want. I admit I didn't really give it a chance. I downloaded a few books and tried reading them but at first the places I took it with me, were dark and I didn't have a light. That discouraged me because I thought to myself, now I have to buy more accessories! Then when I had it with me once, I went to read it and the battery was dead...yet another excuse not to like it. I left my kindle in it's little case and ignored it for quite a few months.

Well, that all changed the other day. Everyone had been talking about how much they were enjoying the book "The Help"! Some of my friends asked me if I would read it along with them. I decided I needed to read this book and figured I might as well download to the Kindle. I realized immediately how convenient that was! Since then, I have downloaded and read quite a few more books and I have loved the convenience of the kindle. I slip it in my purse and take it with me everywhere. I had it while the boys were at the dentist (they were all cavity free!), at the eye doctor (dang contacts are expensive!) and even at Sonic while waiting for my drink! I love that it's not bulky, that I don't have pages to flip and that I can even have some of the books read to me. I uploaded some of my music to it and can listen to music as I read. And to keep it charged, I just plug it in when I plug in my cell phone at night, too easy!

I feel bad for not having given my Kindle a chance and for being such a brat to my husband. I'm glad he still loves me even when I'm ungrateful.

Baby, I just want to say I love my Kindle and I love you for knowing me better than I know myself.

22 Years of Service

22 years ago today (one day after turning 18) my handsome Soldier enlisted in the North Dakota National Guard. He served in the National Guard for almost two years before going Active Duty Army. I am so grateful he made that decision, had he never left North Dakota our paths would have probably never crossed. Kevin has served his time in uniform honorably and I am proud to be his wife.
Thank you Kevin for your service and the legacy of honor and patriotism you are giving to our boys. I love you.

Mooovin' On Up Over the Hill

Happy Birthday Kevin!! It's the big 40!

Today is Kevin's birthday and I always try to do something "special". Well this weekend I am helping out with a Tell Me a Story project here and the book is about a cow. The group in charge of the program has been advertising by going around in a cow costume. Luckily I am friends with the person who currently has the cow suit so I decided it would be fun to pay Kevin a little visit at the office. We got the best reactions! Kevin laughed so hard. The best part was the other Soldiers in the section looking at us like we were crazy.

Happy birthday Kevin, I hope everyday is as fun as today was!

*Note, that is not me in the costume, that is my friend who loved me enough to wear the costume*



Moo cow could not get in the truck. We were parked in a reserved spot for some high ranking Air Force person. Someone was about to approach us and tell us to move I'm sure but when they saw the large cow they walked away...lol

Army Flashback, circa 1992

Kevin called me this morning asking if I could please look in his "I Love Me" book for a copy of his orders bringing him here to FLW. As I was flipping through it I came across an award that had this picture in it. I love it! He participated in an Army ball while stationed in Hawaii and they gave him an award and a copy of this picture. This was taken in 1992, so he was 21 years old. I love it when I come across little treasure like this from the past. One of the things that I love the most about the Military is the different traditions and the pomp and circumstance behind so many of them.

Father/Son Campout

Last Friday was our Father/Son Campout with our church. Kevin has been looking forward to this for a while now. It's been a few years since he has been able to take the boys (and we have been very grateful to the men who have stepped in and have taken our boys in the past).

Everyone was a little concerned because bad weather was supposed to hit and to be honest it did hit. While I was on the phone with one person, my power actually flickered as thunder and lighting could be heard and seen outside. Some people turned back and went home but not my husband. He knew it would clear up and it did. They had a great time camping. The participated in a flag retirement ceremony which is pretty neat. Our boys have been blessed to be a part of quite a few since joining Scouts and have always felt honored to disperse of our nation's colors in such a reverent manner.

While the boys were out playing in the rain, I went and hung out with some of the women who's husband and sons were out playing in the rain too. We watched a good movie and ate lots of junk. Overall it was a great night for everyone!

I'm not posting too many pictures because there aren't many of our boys alone and I try not to post pics of other people's kids unless I know them really well and know they are okay with it.

That's Daniel in there...somewhere...

Happy Happy Birthday My Love!

Today our Soldier turns 39 and guess what his best gift is? He's home! He hasn't been home for his birthday since 2005! We feel so blessed to have him home for his special day.

I love you baby...wishing you lots of happiness into the next year!

P.S. I think he still looks hot at 39!

CBRN Graduation

Yesterday Kevin graduated from CBRN SLC (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, & Nuclear Senior Leader Course, say that 10 times fast!). It's what the Army used to call Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course (ANCOC, though some will argue the acronym and that bothers me especially when those people are putting out a product about our Army and is inaccurate and doesn't care, but ah, I digress, my apologies!).

Anyway, after 9 weeks of this course, he graduated and we are so proud of him. It was a somewhat difficult course since he had some people in his class that we'll simply classify as "special" but hey we all have "special" people in our lives, right?

So he's done, he has now met all his requirements to keep his current rank and have a shot at the next one. Though his particular job only gets smaller the higher you go and they are getting ready to dump 1200 senior NCO's in the next 12-24 months, so the competition is high to say the least.

Now he's back to his regular unit and the tons of fun that will happen there. Just a few pics from graduation...(note to self* get new camera that takes better pics, lol)

We got there early for good seats...(insert eye roll), so the boys brought their books
CSM Lopez, Chemical Corps Regimental Command Sergeant Major...GREAT talk!
Kevin getting ready to get his "diploma"
Daddy with his boys...they were representing their CBRN gear!
Me and my love!His graduation gift...we got him his own desk nameplate...hope he has a desk to put it on at work!The card sang "Celebration!"

We love you Kevin and are so proud of you!

Fueling for Healing

Kevin and his CBRN SLC classmates were out pumping gas today as a fundraiser. The boys and I decided to go and support him. All proceeds will be going to our Wounded Warriors.

Kevin giving us his spill about why they are pumping gas.Pumping my gas!

A Trip Down Memory Lane

I was having a twitter conversation about how we support one another in our home and it reminded me of how much Kevin includes us in his success as a Soldier. I am always humbled. He made a video last year but it's personal and I'll keep that just for me but this was a note he wrote on Mother's Day 2006 while deployed to Iraq. Here it is just as he wrote it on his MySpace blog.

My Wife, I Love You Baby
Mood: Thankful

I just want to tell you a little about a vey special woman in my life.
We met just over 11 years ago, at Ft Campbell, KY, where we were both stationed at. I used to make her do push ups during Air Assault PT, oh what fun that was. She thought I was egotistical, and I thought she was full of herself. I guess men don't stop thinking of girl's like that, even as a growen up, when they really must like someone.
We used to hang out and then it started to grow from there. We have been through some tough times, but i would not trade one moment of what we have been through for anything. We have been married for 10 yrs now and have 3 handsome boy's.
My wife is amazing, she is my hero, she may have left the Army but the Army has never left her, she is passing on traditions to our children some of which are fading if we do not keep them alive. She takes care of those three beautiful gift's that have been given to us by Our Heavenly Father. My wife is tough as nails, and has a great spirit about her.
She is the Cub Master at our church, and I know that those kid's are going to remmeber the thing's they did together for a long time coming. She is part of the PTO at the boy's school and again there are thing's those kid's are going to remember for a long time. You see she does not want glory or lots of praise she simply thinks about those kid's.
She also is the Family Readiness Group Leader for our Troop, HHT 8th Squadron 10th Cavalry, 4th BDE, 4th ID. To that, she is trying to keep the loved ones left behind while we are in Iraq, informed and answer as many questions as posible. Well this comes with a price, she must also be there when one of the soldier's is injuried or killed. So often it is said, I hope that we never have to deal with that aspect, even though we know it is a reality. On April 28th 2006 2 soldier's from my section, SSG Bryant Herlem and SGT Jose Gomez were killed in action. She has to be there for the families, and be strong and yet still deal with the daily aspect that I am here also, and yet be there for Michael, Neil and Daniel. People tell her that your so strong but yet her heart aches and she wants to cry for those whom we have lost, but still she must be there for the families. I want to be able to be there for her and hold her, so she can say I'm not ok, I feel sad, my heart aches. But I can't hold her.
She must continue on this journey that we are on 7000 miles apart.
I have been Blessed with an Eternal Family, what a gift we have been given. To be able to share the same Beliefs, Values, Trust and Love with someone who still makes my heart flutter when we are together or talking on the phone or chatting online.
Who is this woman? you're saying to yourself. Well, she is a Vetren, a Mother of 5 kid's (including myself, and Gizmo our little Diva dog), my Wife, she is my best friend, my lover but most important My Eternal Companion on this Eternal Journey. I am so proud of her. Now your saying to yourself what is her name? It is Nadine, and all I want to do for her is to hold her and tell her HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, YOU HAVE GIVEN ME THREE OF THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT'S OF ALL. I LOVE YOU BABY, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
Please on this day remember the families of SSG Herlem and SGT Gomez. God Bless You all

Why I Am a Proud Wife

The reasons are many but I am proud of my husband because he’s a great man. He’s honorable, humble, supportive, loving, kind, firm when needed and that’s all before he steps into the uniform and lives the life of a Soldier. He is charitable. He has never shirked responsibility in any spectrum of his life. He takes his role as a Freedom Defender very seriously. I admire that he always watches out for everyone.

Vintage Kevin

I found this picture of Kevin in a drawer with random pictures. In almost 14 years of marriage, I have never come across this. I love IT. It looks vintage and I guess for some, it is, LOL. It was taken sometime in 92-93ish, or around there. He was stationed in Hawaii at the time and pretty much lived in the field with his Infantry company. Just looking at it makes me happy.

I Love Him

I love him. Today, January 16, 2010, my love has been home for 7 months. The longest we have lived together consecutively in over a decade. For real, that's not an exaggeration. During the past 5 years, we always had a deployment looming over us, never were we at a point where we weren't counting towards something. It's refreshing...kind of. Technically Kevin is on standby for Haiti. Or rather, his unit is. But because he is in a school he is required to attend, we're not sure if he would be pulled or not. Regardless, his bags are packed "just in case".

When he first came home and told me he was on standby, my heart kind of deflated. I admit it, it's selfish and there is no excuse but I'm human and the reality is, I'm not ready to send my husband ANYWHERE. Right now the school he is attending keeps him gone all day starting at 0420 until 1800 or so (that's 6:00 pm for my civilian friends). I miss him...yes, I've turned into "that" wife.

But anyway, I love him. I love his smile, his eyes, his touch...everything about him. I'm glad to have him to snuggle up to at night or to laugh at when I catch him doing a silly dance when he thinks no one is looking.

I love that he humors me in so many aspects of my craziness. He lets me take pictures of him sleeping, or nearly having a heart attack touching foam. I know he loves me because today he was being silly and as I was watching him and he caught me, he said "too bad you don't have your camera, you could take a picture". I love him because I know he meant that.

I am blessed, never in my life did I think that I could ever find someone to love me unconditionally. I got that and so much more.

I love you Kevin, with all my heart beyond that. I don't always feel deserving of your love, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Superman Has Kryptonite...

Kevin hates packing foam...of any type...it's quite interesting.

Over 14 years ago when we were doing baby shopping for our baby to be Michael (has it been 14 years? *sob* where does the time go?), we were walking through the baby aisle at Walmart and I handed Kevin one of those foam pads you can put in a baby bath. Kevin immediately freaked out (it really was not one of his finest moments). At first I had no clue what his problem was, he made this weird sound and had a hard time catching his breath. He threw the foam pad down and walked away. He told me that he could NOT stand the way it feels, it literally sucks the life out of him. I just stood there in disbelief that something could cause such a reaction. I know I should feel bad for him that it causes him such distress but for anyone who knows me, I find great humor in this (bad, I know). So of course over the past 14 years, I have always giggled if he is suddenly attacked by the "enemy" in packages of any type. I've even been known to purposely send care packages to him in Iraq with a little extra careful packaging (maybe even giggled a bit thinking about reaction when he opened it..okay..okay..I know..so bad). We do get a good chuckle out of it.

The other day we got a box to send our TV back in for repair and of course in it was the "enemy"!

Kevin had to don protectionThis is not exaggeration folks..it sucks the life out of himHe was trying to catch his breath..Okay...this is exaggeration...I was on the floor too, laughing so hard (that wasn't exaggeration)!
"I'm fading...."
Luckily my husband has a good sense of humor...most of the time...I may have laughed a little too hard that night because he decided to pay me back for snapping pictures of him and his battle with the foam.

I cannot, absolutely cannot stand to hear someone being sick or even hear the sound of someone making the fake vomit sound. It drives me crazy and makes me feel instantly sick. Kevin is usually my protector when it comes to this fact but I guess he thought paybacks would be fun, so he grabbed the camera and transformed into "the vomit man" and started making the grossest sound..ugh

So to be fair...this is my reaction ...

Yes..this is real emotion folks...I was about to start crying..or maybe I was crying...I'll never confess!At least my hair looks good!

Just Because I Love Him

Today I snapped random pics of my husband taking some online training just because. I'm sure it wasn't as much fun for him as it was for me but luckily he loves me for all my craziness.