Hi from Afghanistan

I do not have a cable for my camer to be able to put my pictures on here.  But I have a way to get it done I just need to be back at Dwyer to make it happen.  To catch everyone up I am stationed at Camp Dwyer in southern Afghanistan, I was first stationed at Camp Leatherneck but I was trasfered down to Dwyer to be in charge of the Security Detatchment for the Convoys.  So I left 1st Platoon and headed down here a couple weeks ago.  Right now I am stuck in a tiny COP (combat out post) called Payne.  Its actually a great little place, if I would have known I was going to be down here for a week I would have brought some more stuff with me.  I will be headed back to Dwyer soon enough and be able to get on and fill you all in on some more stuff and get some pictures up.  Sara and the Boys seem to be doing good all things considered, thanks to everyone who has been praying for us and helping Sara out with the day to day.  You all are a great help and real heros.

Last Time

Next weekend is going to be a very sweet unexpected weekend, and a very sad and painful weekend.  I am coming home for a quick weekend, this is not expected and I am not going to be very social, so apologies in advance.  The Marine Corps is giving us a 72.  For those of you how don't know exactly what that means they are giving us 72 hours of liberty, some may think oh a three day weekend how nice, but the Marine Corps is a little more literal than its civilian counterpart a 72 is literally 72 hours from noon on Friday to noon on Monday. A three day weekend it is not but a weekend is better than nothing so I am flying home late Friday and getting back to Camp Pendleton early Monday.  After that it is off to Afghanistan and off to work.

Batman & Thomas adventure II Convoy

Batman and Thomas took off again on an adventure.  This time they went on a convoy to take 3/3 from camp Wilson, out to the 52 area, where there were setting up their forward head quarters.  (this is all notional of course in a training environment)  Anyone who has been to 29 Palms may know that this is a long way.  It took 3 or 4 hours just to get there.  On the way there it was required to take a few breaks, Thomas and Batman got out to stretch their legs and snap a couple pics. As you can kind of see from the back ground the area is kind of austere, I imagine it is a little bit what Afghanistan is going to look like.  The convoy went well, we dropped the grunts off and then headed back to the lovely camp Wilson.

San Diego

Sara was able to come down to San Diego last week and pick me up.  It was a great time, she flew in on Saturday and stayed till Tuesday, then we both flew home (the first time we have flown together).  We stayed at the San Diego Hilton right on the bay, went to Sea World, went out dancing, and toured the USS Midway.  It was a great weekend.  Thanks to Kathy for watching the boys so Sara could come down, it was great of her to take them and let Sara and I have a weekend together alone, and in San Diego no less.
I'll be on leave now till the end of the week and will have to head back to getting ready for Afghanistan.

Batman & Thomas adventure I

The adventure begins when Batman and Thomas come along with me on a trip to Afghanistan. Thomas loves his new digs and Batman swings around the place to check it out.  The squad bay at Camp Pendleton California, Edson Range, makes for an interesting night.  We pulled in for a night before we headed out to 29 Palms.  It was cool to stay at Edson Range again, the last time I was here was in 2000 while I was in boot camp.  The next stop for Batman & Thomas is the K-span at 29 Palms.

The space isn't quite as luxurious as the racks at Edson Range, but it sure beats sleeping out in the cold.  A K-span is basically a modern quansit hut, like in "Heartbreak Ridge" so a tin can on its side and buried halfway in the sand.  We slept on cots and lived out of our sea bags.  Thats it from the front with Batman & Thomas stay tuned for more adventures.

A Long Couple Months

It has been a long couple months in deed.  I have made it through Mojave Viper. A six week training and testing excercise, we did all kinds of good training.  Mojave Viper is located on Marine Corps Base 29 Palms California.  After 29 Palms we moved to Camp Pendleton California to wait for Afghanistan, I have been doing classes and training, getting my gear ready and all of those kinds of things.  This week I get to take some predeployment leave.  I am excited Sara and I are going to spend a weekend in San Diego and then spend a few days back at home. Then after I get back it should only be a couple more weeks before we are off to Afghan land. 

I want to thank everyone back at home.  The ward has been really helpful for Sara, I wish there were a better way for me to thank you all for your support. 

Call for Assistance

I really have no Idea how many people look at this blog, judging by my followers its like three. But I hope there are a few more.  So I am asking for some assistance to help Sara while I am off fighting the good fight in Afghanistan.  Sara is the type who needs to be by herself in order to recharge, with me being gone I am not able to take the kids off her hands and let her get time or space to herself.  I am trying to get a list together of people that Sara can call to help her without feeling like she is asking. (anyone who knows Sara knows she likes to think she can do it all by herself)  So if you could do me a favor and comment on this post which one of the following categories you might be willing to help out in.
1st: regularly scheduled taking the boys; even if for half and hour take the boys so that Sara has time to herself in our house to do house work or watch t.v. or just read a book
2nd: regularly scheduled watching the boys; just coming over and watching the boys so that Sara can go out without having to pack the boys up (we all know what a challenge this can be)
3rd: last minute stand by; this way if something comes up or there is an appointment or Sara is just about to loose it she can call you before she does and you can just take care of the boys and let Sara do her thing.
4th: pre scheduled long term (like overnight): Sara may have Family Readiness meetings and things down in Eugene or Portland or wherever, where she may need someone to watch, or take the boys overnight.

The thing about all of these categories is that Sara is going to feel like she is putting a burden on everyone so please while I am gone just follow through and make her give you the boys because I am sure she will need it. In order for her to stay strong for the boys she is going to need time to lay down and cry, or laugh, or watch old videos.

We have had a lot of support from everyone, we are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family.  I want to thank everyone for all the support they are giving us it is greatly appreciated, may the Lord bless you for your sacrifices in behalf of my little family

Now to lighten the mood a bit here are some more pictures.

Camera Transfer

I am disappointed that I broke my camera, mainly because I am not able to take as many pictures as I would like.  I am also disappointed because that means that I get to inherit Sara's camera, which is of course...yep you guessed it....PINK.  I am desperately looking for a masculine skin to cover up its femininity but no luck yet.  As I cleared out her camera I found a number of good pictures so I thought that I would put some up.

catch up

Well the holidays flew by this year, just like everything else.  We played it "low key"  we stayed home for Christmas, went out to Cathlamet for Christmas Eve, we went to a little get together for new years eve and had the traditional family party for my birthday on the 1st.  Unfortunately my Camera was broken in Virginia so I didn't get any pictures to post from the holidays or my birthday.  A wordy description will be far to long, I will sum up, the boys had a blast at Christmas morning Olson got a "Gun" (cap gun) and Deacon got a Fire truck. Olson liked Christmas so much that he got up early on Sunday so that he could put his toys back under the tree and pretend that Santa had come again.  Christmas Eve we had soup and more cookies than cookie monster. For my birthday both sides of the family came over and shared some yellow cake with chocolate frosting and vanilla ice cream (tradition). 

The Deployment keeps getting closer; Sara and I have gotten a lot of support from our family and friends.  Thanks to all of you, we couldn't do it without you, and keep it up there are going to be many more hard days ahead.