Reality Take 2

Well, Kelly has been in Iraq for less than two months and already several convoys have been hit by roadside bombs, explosives, etc. The last one I wrote about was a young guy who lost a leg and was injured pretty badly. This last time (on Friday, 8/28) two soldiers were killed and one injured. The two killed were a 19 year old boy (I say "boy" because, in my opinion a 19 yr old is still a boy) and a 38 year old husband and father of one. It seems so senseless. I don't know which is more tragic, a young kid, just starting out, with his whole life ahead of him or a man who leaves behind a wife and son who have to find a way to live their lives without him. I think they are equally tragic, each in their own way. I have such mixed feelings. On the one hand I am thankful that my husband is safe (or as safe as he can be in Iraq), but also feel guilty for feeling that when other families lose the people that they love. None of it makes much sense to me. I just want this to end so Kelly and every other soldier can come home and no other family has to go through this horrible ordeal. If only.... Eight more months. I wonder how many more of these "reality" posts I will write before then...tragic and sad.

My Grandson is Here!

Tuesday, August 18, we took Kelsey to the airport to fly to El Paso to visit Brittany, Nick and Holden. On Tuesday, August 25, Kelsey, Brittany and Holden flew from El Paso to Portland to visit for two weeks. They will be here until Wednesday, September 9.

We picked up Chinese on the way home and stopped at my parent's house and had dinner with them so they could see Britt and the baby.

Wednesday we talked to Kelly on the computer, went to Wal-mart and went grocery shopping.

Thursday we all packed into the Suburban and road tripped it to Lincoln City where we met up with my parents, my sister Joanna, three of her kids, my sister Julie and her husband Dennis and their three girls. We hung out at the beach, the kids swam in the pool at the condo that J&D were staying at and had dinner all together (taking up four tables) at Gallucci's. It was foggy and a little cool but everyone had a great time and came home tired and a little sunburned.

Friday and Saturday we stayed home and recuperated and today (Sunday) we went to church and then visited my grandpa (Holden's great-great grandpa) at the nursing home where he is staying right now. So far we've had a busy time and tomorrow we are off to the mall to do back-to-school shopping!

My Little Miracle

A week and a half ago on Sunday, I got home from church and went out to work in the yard. I had worn my diamond earrings to church and didn't take them off when I came home (like I usually do). My wonderful, thoughtful and sweet husband had bought me a pair of diamond earrings for Christmas when he came home from Afghanistan. I got done working and came in the house to clean up and when I looked in the mirror, one of them was gone! The back was still stuck to my ear but the earring was no where to be found. The girls came out and helped me look all over but we couldn't find it. Ever since then, I have gone out, praying to God to help me find it, looking when the sun is shining (thinking I might see it sparkle). I have been walking around, looking down, literally praying for a miracle. Today we were getting ready to go to the airport and it was about 10 minutes before we left and I thought I would look again, just for the heck of it. I walked down the grass on the side of the house (which I had just mowed yesterday), praying "God, please help me find the earring, if I found it, it would truly be a miracle". Just as I finished saying that (in my head), I looked down and there it was, lying on it's side in the grass that I had just mowed! So, that is the story of my little miracle that God performed for me today and I can't tell you how thankful I am to Him!

Reality

*Warning* this post is not a happy, uplifting one!

Yesterday, (Fri) when I talked to Kelly he told me that he wasn't able to call the day before because there had been a "blackout". When an incident occurs (either someone is wounded or killed) the internet and phones are blocked so no one can get information out before the family has been notified. He told me very basic details about a roadside bomb that hit a convoy from their base. A young (22) Spec 4 had lost a leg in the attack. It was someone that Kelly knew and had introduced me to when I was in Georgia. Sadly, I can't say that I specifically remember him though because he did introduce me to a lot of people. The story about him was on the front page of the Oregonian today telling the details of what happened. He lost a leg, the toes on his other foot and a finger. I knew basically what had happened, but when I saw it in the paper it really made me feel like throwing up. While Kelly was in Afghanistan a guy he knew was killed in an ambush at a checkpoint so I know in my head the realities of what can happen and does happen but this just made it so much more real. I also keep thinking about him only being 22. I guess that can be good and bad. Good in that he is young and healthy and will probably adapt quickly to a prosthetic. Bad in that he is young and healthy and his life is forever changed. I also worry for the other young soldiers. The ones who were with him on the convoy and the ones who just knew him. It's hard enough to deal with when you are older, more mature and experienced but so many of them are SO young. Needless to say, he, his family and all his fellow soldiers will be constantly in my thoughts and prayers for a long while.

Anniversary

26 years ago today...you and me became "we".

You have always been my best friend and the person I want to be with most in the whole world. You have always provided for me and our family and have always made me feel protected, safe, adored, sexy, talented, beautiful and most of all LOVED!

I'm so glad that we've taken this journey together. We've had jobs and no jobs, money and no money, driven crappy cars, lived in interesting places, been on some interesting and scary adventures, made some beautiful babies together and endured long separations (like right now!). But through it all we have been a team, working together to make our marriage and family the best we could make it. Thank you for loving me and being my partner for the past 26 years and many, many more to come!

I'm looking forward to being able to celebrate together next year!

I LOVE YOU!!!

Block Party

Last night was our neighborhood block party. We have had a party for the past maybe 12? years, except the year one of our neighbors died a couple of days before the party. We have only missed a couple times when we scheduled our vacation for the same time.


We live in such a great neighboorhood. We moved here in November of 1984 when I was 8 months pregnant with Lindsay. We had been married for just over a year and this 1200 sq ft, 3 bedroom, 2 bath house seemed huge! We planned to stay for maybe five years and then buy some acreage in the country. Well, that never happened and here we are almost 25 years later!


We have the greatest neighbors. Most of the people on our block (and it's really a double long block) have been here since the neighborhood began. Several of them are the only owners of their homes! When the kids were little it was kind of hard to live in a place where there were really no kids, almost everyone is my parent's age or older. But the benefit is that it is quiet, well kept, safe and most of all, friendly. I am happy to say that I know everyone on our block. Some just slightly and most very well.


When our family grew to seven and we were feeling like sardines in this house that used to seem so big we decided that we either had to move or remodel. We looked for something else but were sad to leave our wonderful neighborhood. So, we decided to remodel. We added a second story to our home and now it is twice the size it was before. We now have a 2400 sq ft home with 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. I feel like we have the best of both worlds, a home we can comfortably live in and we didn't have to leave this wonderful neighborhood and our great neighbors!

Birthday Boy!

Happy Birthday Kelly! How can it be that you are 50 today? 50? When did "middle age" happen? I wish you were here so we could have a great big party to celebrate or go on a great get-away, just the two of us, but...you are spending your birthday in the"sand box" on the other side of the world.

The first birthday of yours that we spent together was your 21st. I remember that you invited me and my family to your parent's house for your birthday dinner. Your mom made cottage cheese dumplings which sounded so strange but were really good. I don't think that I have ever had them since. Maybe I will ask her for the recipe and make them when you come home.

It seems like you've spent more of your birthdays since then away from home than here to celebrate. I think most of the time you were at either AT or drill for your birthday and our anniversary and yet I don't ever remember you complaining about it (I know that I would have!)

So, on this day that you celebrate a half-century (!) of life, know that I appreciate the wonderful person that you are, I miss you, and most of all that I love you so much!

My world is a better place because you are in it! I love you and Happy Birthday!