Home From Afghanistan!!!!

CJ's back from Afghanistan...finally! First of all, the young man in uniform above is Kevin, we were all waiting for CJ to arrive. Sunday the 26th of Oct. CJ called and informed us that he was to be back on the base very early in the morning on Tuesday. Kevin was given Tuesday off, so he came out to our campsite and stayed the night with us. We set our alarms for 1:30 AM, based on the info. CJ gave us, and went to bed very early with hopes of getting some shut eye. Fortunately CJ called us at 1:35 AM and informed us that he would be there later than planned...so we went back to bed. :) We ended up heading to the base at 4:30 AM and followed the buses with our Marines into the gate. The buses took the guys to the armory to return their fire arms while we waited in the cold on Victory Field; fortunately we had blankets and sleeping bags to wrap up in while we waited 2 hours on the field for CJ. It was a bit like CJ's homecoming from Iraq except that the crowd was much more quiet. Around 6 AM the police escort came around the corner followed by 5 buses carrying our Marines. We stood proud holding our signs for CJ to see from the fence with pride, excitement, and relief. The buses stopped, doors opened, and 300 Marines filed out. It was very evident that this deployment was much different than Iraq; the crowd was quiet, the guys were quiet, and a few injured Marines sat on chairs in the midst of it all. CJ found us quickly and the first words out of his mouth were, "whew, I'm done!" We made our way to find his belongings and then to his new barracks, which happens to be in the building right next to Kevin's. When we finished getting his things in his room, we made our way back to the trailer for more hugs, food, and naps and then spent the rest of the week relaxing and enjoying our boys. We had to say our good-byes on Sunday evening to both CJ and Kevin as we were heading home Monday morning, this part I hated. It was good in the fact that they won't be alone anymore and will have each other to call on when lonely, but I had a really hard time saying good-bye to both of them...I really don't like this at all. Can you tell? I do have to admit that both of them will be home around Dec. 21!!! And I must give God all the glory for the fact that CJ has been able to be home every Christmas during his enlistment. How often do you hear of that? What now? CJ has a lot of administration things to take care of, he will go back to Golf Co. to make room for new snipers that will be in long enough for another deployment, and then he will be headed to new and exciting things as a civilian in July. Thank you so much for all of your prayer and support for our whole family while CJ was deployed, we are so grateful. As for Kevin...as it stands now, he will be deploying to Iraq in Feb. which means he will be home for Christmas 2 years in a row...and counting we hope.

Busy Summer

I know, I know, I said I would try to be more diligent about posting. The summer is getting away from me and I can hardly keep up. After Kevin returned to Pendelton, we finished up with school and started soccer camp, church camp, ballet, tap, karate...and the list goes on. We are having a wonderful summer. Kevin was able to make a trip home for the 4th of July. He spent only 3 nights at home before heading back to Pendelton where he will graduate on Aug. 7 from school of infantry. He seems to be doing very well and is now liking it. Before the 4th it was a lot of hiking, now he is actually training in his chosen MOS...mortorman! He thought it would be good to do what CJ is doing, that way he would have a heads up on all that is to come as well as have CJ wisdom and counsel.

CJ is still in Afghanistan. June was a very difficult time for him. They lost 9 guys in a matter of 10 days and a couple of those men were very close friends of CJ's. He has been working hard and has been out on a lot of missions in the past couple weeks. The weather is VERY hot and humid; he says that they fight off mosquitoes all the time and sleep under nets to keep from getting eatin' alive. The mail is taking a very long time, 3-4 weeks. His homecoming date is in Nov. sometime, but I'm not counting my chickens before they hatch. Curt and I will be the only ones going this time as the cost is so high with all of us as well as the weather may not be good for driving, thus we will fly. This should be CJ's last deployment, unless he extends or re-enlists. He has talked of both, so we'll see.

Construction is what is going on here at home...in the house and in the home of others. His "father/son" handyman business is going really well. He has been able to get a lot of jobs on his own plus, he is subcontracted by Home Depot and has been kept quite busy with them too. Since Kevin is gone, Nick has picked up where he had to leave off and is learning the trade quite well.

We have a camping trip or two planned as well as VBS in a couple weeks, so I'm not so sure when I will get to post again. Take care!

What a Month!!!!

We have had the most incredible month ever. CJ has called home many times and is doing well. He is still in Qandahar, Afghanistan and will be for a few more weeks. The rest of the battalion has moved out and is working, however CJ's platoon is still waiting for specifics on their mission. I would just prefer that they don't get a mission and he stays inside the wire where it's safer. Anyway, he sounds great and is really thinking hard about what he wants to do when he gets out...July '09!!!

We attended Kevin's graduation on May 8 and 9, and what a joy and privilege it was. He looked amazing in his dress blues and stood tall and proud. It was a bitter sweet for me as Mom a couple times as I sat there and watched the ceremony; to me it was wonderful to see boot camp come to an end, but I'm not really ready for what is to come. I know that Kevin's faith in Christ is strong and that he is confident that this is where he has been called.

Kevin came home with us for 10 days and caught up on some much needed sleep and food. On Friday night (3 days before heading back) he and I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning talking. I asked if he was ready to head back and he said, "I know this may sound horrible, but I can't wait to go back. I love and miss the training so much." To be honest, this was music to my ears. It would've been so hard putting him back on that plane if he had said just the opposite. As much as I wish he didn't have to go, I am so happy that he is where God has called him.

I'll try to be a little more diligent about posting, once life gets back to normal...whatever that is.

Until then...In God I trust,
Valerie

Phone Call Number Three!!!

Kevin called tonight with great news...he has been named Series Honor Man. He will go before another board tomorrow, and if he passes he will be named Company Honor Man, the highest honor one can achieve in boot camp. To God be the glory for the great things he has done! Kevin assured us that he had bronchitis, not pneumonia like they thought, his pink eye is gone, and he just needs to find his voice again. We are thrilled at all this news, and praise God for his protection and success in Kevin's life. Oh, I just can't wait to see him in less than 3 weeks!

Patiently Waiting

Let's see...it's been 4 days since CJ left for Afghanistan and we continue to pray that he arrived safely. It's been 4 days since we received a letter from Kevin informing us that the pneumonia had returned, and we continue to pray for his healing and hope that he is moving forward with his training. 4 days, that's it! It feels like it's been a month or more. This waiting stuff is no fun! When we hear from either one of the boys, we will let you all know how they're doing.

Until then...

The Dreaded Day

CJ hasn't been allowed to give out his deployment date until this week. Today is Thursday and he'll be on his way to Afghanistan by 7 tomorrow morning. We don't have an address to send letters, he won't be able to receive packages, and there are no phones where he will be based...needless to say, I'm not liking this at all. He will periodically pass through bases with phones and will get to call home, we just won't know when or how often. He sounded good, just kept reminding me that this deployment is going to be very different that Iraq...in many ways. He told me not to worry, like that will happen, and told me that he loved me many times. I wish I could say that I'm OK, but truthfully I'm not. This is really hard and I wish it weren't so, but at the same time I know that God is in control and He is where my strength comes from. I will post more as I hear, until then please join me in praying for CJ's safe return.

Rough Couple of Weeks

I know it's been a long time since I've posted...but it's been a hard couple of weeks. CJ has been out on the range and communication with him has been very minimal. Kevin you know is at boot camp and we can't have any communication with him except by letter. A little over a week ago, Kevin wrote to inform us that he was seriously ill. He had pneumonia in both lungs and was put on bed rest. We had to wait out several days wondering if we were going to get a phone call letting us know that he had to be rolled back to another platoon making his graduation date much later. So far, no phone call. We are praising the Lord for answered prayer! We believe Kevin is back with his original platoon and training hard.

In two days, Curt and I will be making our way to Twentynine Palms, California to see CJ. He will be deploying to Afghanistan sometime early April for approximately 1 year. We are so looking forward to seeing him, on the other hand, not so happy about saying good-bye. This should be CJ's last deployment, he is scheduled to be done serving in the Marine Corps July 2009. He and Curt have some dirt bike riding planned while we're in California; I plan to do some reading, journaling, scrapbooking, and enjoy some much needed quiet time alone.

My Mom will be staying here with all the kids while we're away...keep her in your prayers! ;) We will be gone over Easter which means she will be coloring eggs, fixing little girl's hair, and getting everyone to church on time (or at least close to it).

Curt and I are so blessed to have this time away together...it's been almost 13 years since we went anywhere alone.

I'll fill you in on our time with CJ when we return. Hopefully my computer will allow me to post some pictures, it's been acting up lately.