Adopt-A-Soldier

Thank You so much to all of you who donated to our Adopt A Soldier fund. This is just a reminder that we really need your help. We have a end of June cut off so we can get all the supplies before the soldiers start coming home a few weeks later. Feel free to share this info with your friends. We need to raise over $3000 (and were not even half way there yet) to be able to provide some basic comfort items for these guys and gals. Again, to those of you who have donated THANK YOU SO MUCH. Below is a copy of the email I sent out to family and friends. We really need your help. Becky!!

Hello Everybody! We just hit the 1 yr mark of our soldiers being in Iraq. We are so excited to be starting the countdown to redeployment (coming home). We are starting to plan our Welcome Home festivties. Part of that is taking care of the single soldiers. Did you know the first 24-48 hours the only items a single soldier has are the ones they carried with them? It takes 6 weeks + to get the rest of their belongings that that they had in Iraq (they are shipped back on a boat), or to be able to access storage. Have you been wondering what you can do to support a soldier? For as little as $15 you can put a smile on the face of a hero!This $15 will go towards sheets, toiletries & goodies for the single soldiers barracks. Those last few days before they come home, we, the family members, go and make the bed's and get the barracks ready for the return. For those single soldiers, returning from deployment doesn't necessarily mean going home, it means returning to an empty barrack at Fort Hood. If you would like to Adopt a single soldier, you may do so by pay pal (http://www.railgunnerfamily.com/220/index.html), mail a check to the unit, or mail a check to me. If you have any questions, please ask. This would also be a great time to have kids draw pictures, write letters we could place in the barracks. This is such an exciting time for the soldiers and the families. Thank you for all the letters, emails, care packages and prayers in behalf of all of the soldiers.
Becky!!
www.41stfiresbrigade.comwww.hood.army.mil/41stfires

Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band rock The Hood

Saturday night I was so lucky to attend a concert held here at Fort Hood sponsored by the USO. Gary Sinise, star is CSI-NY & Forrest Gump does amazing work with the USO supporting our troops. He has a band that he plays in and they do free concerts for the troops and their families. I was really lucky to be able to attend with some great friends (who's husbands are also currently deployed). I was also lucky enough to have a friend babysit 3 of my 4 kids. Addie found a little friend to hang and dance with during the concert. It was an amazing experience the energy there was crazy. The only thing that could've made it any better was if Nate was here. Sorry to all of you that thought they were getting crank phone calls, it was just me, Denise & Janie teasing you with the music. Single GirlsHe came down the aisle right in front of us.

Too bad he got swarmed by a group of deploying soldiers. Look at that ice cream cone.Addie & her boyfriend dancing to the music.What can I say? Gary Sinise Rocks

The Comanding General of Fort Hood

Rick Lynch & his wife Sarah

Military Spouse Appreciation Day!!

The Quiet Hero by Kathleen Mills

She wakes very early, he's leaving today, she will stand tall and proud as he's walking away.

He glances back warmly at his children and his wife,

knowing they will bravely carry on with their life.

Her strength and her courage only one understands,

he is walking away with her heart in his hands.

For he knows that without it he would be lost,

but they both know freedom comes at a cost.

She walks away holding her children so close,

swallowing tears for the one she loves the most.

This quiet hero does not walk into war,

she Soldiers alone behind her front door.

She will move through her life, the wind at her back,

determined to keep her family on track.

Her tears fall in silence as she lies in her bed,

her fear is right there, but nothing is said.

She will ask that no medals be pinned on her chest,

her husband's safe return her only request.

Few understand her commitment, her life;

She is the quiet hero, the brave Soldier's wife.

I was lucky enough to attend a Military Spouse Appreciation Day program on friday with a bunch of great Military Spouses. What an examplel they are to me. It was empowering to be in a room full of women from all ages and all lengths of time of military service-from a few months to 20+ years. These women are the true hero's. Plus, the energy in a room full of women when you feed them fruit & chocolate, free bracelets, and goodie bags is out of this world. Too bad they can't bottle that and sell it. What a fun morning.

Jan Bethancourt-the author of "Be Empowered-Eat chocolate" spoke to us. She was great. Her little stories remind you of how lucky you are.

It was nice to hear from Mrs. Sarah Lynch (General Lynch's wife) and hear a little about her life as a military spouse and see that she has gone through the same things that other spouses go through. (20 moves in 26 years? )

I also want to aknowledge the Gold Star Families, especially the spouses. They are the true hero's to me. This past year a sweet friend at church lost her husband while he was in Iraq. I admit I didn't know her very well but wish I could've gotten to know her better. She is the true hero to me. I have heard so many examples of how it was his time to go, but, that doesn't lessen the fact that she must go on, raising 4 little kids without him. What an inspiration to us all.

R&R April 2009

R&R-rest and relaxation

We had a great 18 days with Nate. It went by too quick but we are glad to be counting down the weeks, or trash days as our friends say. We are happy to report Nate arrived back at the FOB with no troubles. Funny how they can get them to Iraq with no trouble, quick, no stops, but coming home is another story.

We did so much fun stuff, and also lot's of hanging around and relaxing. The kids were mad because I didn't let them stay home the whole time, like some of our neighbors got to do. We did pull them out a few days.

We went to the Great Wolf Lodge near Dallas. It was a blast, I would love to go with a 3rd adult to watch Addie and Alison so that I could've gone on some slides with Nate. I think we will probably go there again.

Grandma Becky (Nate's mom) came from Twin Falls and stayed with the kids so that Nate and I could go to San Antonio. We stayed right on the riverwalk, visited the Alamo, which is where Nate's Grandma Foster met his Grandpa to get married, but the times got messed up and she had to sleep on a bench all night alone, they did meet up because they know have 17 kids. We also visited Fort Sam Houston which is where Nate went to OBC (officer basic course) and where we hope to go next for a Emergency/trauma medical residency. They have a really neat medical museum with lot's of old medical equipment, but we got there about 3 min. before they closed. Luckily some others had gone in right before us so we got to look around for a few moments. I really liked San Antonio.

Our sweet little Natalie got baptized. At our church the kids get baptized when they are 8 and Natalie has been waiting patiently since christmas. We told her she could get baptized them when Grandpa & Grandma were here but she wanted to wait til daddy was home. We tried to get a nice family picture, but, well , you know how that goes.......

We miss daddy so much, it was hard the night before to see Sam crying, not being able to sleep because he didn't want Dad to leave. But, we are also so proud of what he is doing. We are also so proud of all the other men and women who serve our country and their countries. Nate has alot of multi national troops at the FOB that he interacts with. What a sacrifice they are all making.

Daddy's Home

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Pictures courtesy of Aunt Colleen
and
Dana of www.photosoftheheart.org

RUMORS

I have been told so many times not to believe anything anyone tells you in the Army. Nate has always been on a 15 month tour, but there has been lot's of talk of coming home at 12 months. I guess the rumors have gotten pretty bad because the Brigade Commander, Col. Francey actually sent out a letter stating that they are not coming home in June (which would be 12 months). I went to a really good VTC with the Battallion command team and Lt. Col. Bush did a good job of talking about reasons and also about their mission and what is going on there in Wasit Province. There is alot of really good work going on and the soldiers are doing an amazing job. I guess I'm not too upset, of course I wanted them to come home in June, especially since other units have been getting sent home early, but I still have leave to look forward too (he leaves to come home in 5 days). It does make planning for summer vacation hard, since there is a possiblity they could come home during the summer (look-here I go already more rumors-but those were Lt. Col Bush's words). So, keep praying for all the troops and don't believe everything (or anything, hee hee) you hear on the news. Everytime Natalie hears Obama she comes running to me, "Mom the soldiers are coming home early, Obama said so"

WHEN MOM'S SICK

When mom's sick-kids get to eat pizza rolls, strawberries and root beer floats for dinner
When mom's sick-Addie learns to color on the walls
When mom's sick-the kids get to watch movies and play computer all day long (I have Barbie Diamond Castle memorized)
When mom's sick-nobody has to get dressed, take bath's, comb their hair, or anything
When mom's sick-the house is a disaster and nobody does their chores

When mom get's better-everybody better watch out, there will be alot of work to do (approximately 2 weeks til daddy comes home)