Paul called from Baghdad.
He had quite a trip! After leaving Kuwait on Sunday and falling asleep on the C-17, he woke up in: Kuwait! Sandstorms kept the airplane from descending and so they returned to Kuwait. Paul spent another 24 hrs on Ali-Al-Sarem Airbase and called me from there around 2pm my time. At 7pm he called again, from Baghdad.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Memorial Day
This is for all of our friends, that are "Already Home"
(Get some tissues before klicking the link!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7ixC-LYDGc&mode=related&search=
If you’re reading this…and my mama’s sitting there-Looks like I only got a one-way ticket over here.Sure wish I…could give you one more kiss-War was just a game we played when we were kids.Well, I’m laying down my gun…I’m hanging up my boots-I’m up here with God and we’re both watching over you.So lay me down…in that open field out on the edge of town-And know my soul…is where my mama always prayed they’d ever go…If you’re reading this –I’m already home.If you’re reading this…half way round the world-I won’t be there to see the birth of our little girl.I hope she looks like you…I hope she fights like me-And stands up for the innocent and the weak.I’m laying down my gun…I’m hanging up my boots-Tell dad I don’t regret that I followed in his shoes.So lay me down…in that open field out on the edge of town-And know my soul…is where my mama always prayed they’d ever go…If you’re reading this –I’m already home.If you’re reading this…there’s gonna come a day-When you’ll move on and find someone else and that’s okay.Just remember this…I’m in a better place-Where soldiers live in peace and angels sing amazing grace.So lay me down…in that open field out on the edge of town-And know my soul…is where my mama always prayed they’d ever go…If you’re reading this…If you’re reading this -I’m already home.
(Get some tissues before klicking the link!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7ixC-LYDGc&mode=related&search=
If you’re reading this…and my mama’s sitting there-Looks like I only got a one-way ticket over here.Sure wish I…could give you one more kiss-War was just a game we played when we were kids.Well, I’m laying down my gun…I’m hanging up my boots-I’m up here with God and we’re both watching over you.So lay me down…in that open field out on the edge of town-And know my soul…is where my mama always prayed they’d ever go…If you’re reading this –I’m already home.If you’re reading this…half way round the world-I won’t be there to see the birth of our little girl.I hope she looks like you…I hope she fights like me-And stands up for the innocent and the weak.I’m laying down my gun…I’m hanging up my boots-Tell dad I don’t regret that I followed in his shoes.So lay me down…in that open field out on the edge of town-And know my soul…is where my mama always prayed they’d ever go…If you’re reading this –I’m already home.If you’re reading this…there’s gonna come a day-When you’ll move on and find someone else and that’s okay.Just remember this…I’m in a better place-Where soldiers live in peace and angels sing amazing grace.So lay me down…in that open field out on the edge of town-And know my soul…is where my mama always prayed they’d ever go…If you’re reading this…If you’re reading this -I’m already home.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
3rd Grade, no more!
Christel-Ann is on summer vacation!
She successfully passed the Georgia CRCT Test (a standardized aptitude Test) and will attend 4th Grade after Labor Day. Yes, off from Memorial until Labor Day. But mental loafing is not an option! She will be busy with different camps, service projects and travelling! This first week she will be able to unwind, sleep in, relax. Until Friday: the big day! Her first BIG adventure of the summer. Let me hint this much: she is making a list, I will check it twice, she is leaving on a jetplane. And leave behind a very unhappy sister who has proclaimed this much:" Sissi, you can't go! You will miss me so much, all day long!" And the lil lady told her sister that she will not have time to miss her much because she will be busy with her buddy!
What else is good about "Ferien"? No more polishing the uniform shoes, no more hectic ironing on a Sunday night for enough uniform pieces to last us through the week. No more lunchbag issues for 14 weeks. Yippieeeeeeh!?
She successfully passed the Georgia CRCT Test (a standardized aptitude Test) and will attend 4th Grade after Labor Day. Yes, off from Memorial until Labor Day. But mental loafing is not an option! She will be busy with different camps, service projects and travelling! This first week she will be able to unwind, sleep in, relax. Until Friday: the big day! Her first BIG adventure of the summer. Let me hint this much: she is making a list, I will check it twice, she is leaving on a jetplane. And leave behind a very unhappy sister who has proclaimed this much:" Sissi, you can't go! You will miss me so much, all day long!" And the lil lady told her sister that she will not have time to miss her much because she will be busy with her buddy!
What else is good about "Ferien"? No more polishing the uniform shoes, no more hectic ironing on a Sunday night for enough uniform pieces to last us through the week. No more lunchbag issues for 14 weeks. Yippieeeeeeh!?
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Our tree
I have a tree, a big tree (about 13ft) on my front lawn. It was given to me/us by a good friend (winke, winke Kira!) and picking it up from her house and bringing it to ours was not exactly a walk in the park. But now the tree can not just sit there. Today I started to dig a hole. It needs to be 3 foot wide and 2 foot deep. Did I mention that I have solid clay instead of dirt in my backyard? No? Well, I do! Both Girls helped me, but after getting blisters on my hands I stopped. Tomorrow I will continue and by this week-end I will have a fine Maple tree in my backyard.
I added a counter to the blog, maybe by the week-end I will be able to put links into the text and/or add pictures???
For now I am tired and will not play with it anymore.
I added a counter to the blog, maybe by the week-end I will be able to put links into the text and/or add pictures???
For now I am tired and will not play with it anymore.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Honor Day
Today was "Honor Day" at Jacob G. Smith Elementary School. Christel-Ann received several awards.
Proud moments! She is really exceptional. Just a few months ago she moved from Germany, switched schools. Entered 3rd Grade. What a different "game" 3rd Grade is or better was, only 3 days left! She mastered Latin. Students at JGS start learning Latin in Kindergarten and she cought up within the schoolyear. She made new friends and grew so much.
Growing up. Growing fast.
Proud moments! She is really exceptional. Just a few months ago she moved from Germany, switched schools. Entered 3rd Grade. What a different "game" 3rd Grade is or better was, only 3 days left! She mastered Latin. Students at JGS start learning Latin in Kindergarten and she cought up within the schoolyear. She made new friends and grew so much.
Growing up. Growing fast.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Update on Paul
You may start mailing "stuff" his way!
I do get to talk to him more often than I thought, about every other day. He calls at unusual hours (for him) but that is mainly due to the lines in front of the phones!
He is doing well, the temperatures are down and humidity up, he prefers the heat!
Paul is in charge of moving everyone (his company has about 370 soldiers) forward and once that mission is accomplished, he will move himself. I have a rough idea when but do not know how. We rarely ever talk about details of his work and it would have me be a nervous wreck knowing that he or any one of his soldiers is driving through Iraq again. So let's just imagine that they fly, not convoy.
I do get to talk to him more often than I thought, about every other day. He calls at unusual hours (for him) but that is mainly due to the lines in front of the phones!
He is doing well, the temperatures are down and humidity up, he prefers the heat!
Paul is in charge of moving everyone (his company has about 370 soldiers) forward and once that mission is accomplished, he will move himself. I have a rough idea when but do not know how. We rarely ever talk about details of his work and it would have me be a nervous wreck knowing that he or any one of his soldiers is driving through Iraq again. So let's just imagine that they fly, not convoy.
Armed Forces Day
That was yesterday! And to honor and appreciate the military (or what is left of it, here in Savannah) the local minor league baseball team (Sand Gnats) provided free admission to military ID card holders. Now you know me, I don't know a single rule of this great American pastime. I had no idea what the score was or why, but we had a good time. Christel-Ann had one of her best friends with her and Sophia came to our house to spend the night. The giggeling continued until well after midnight!
Friday, May 11, 2007
Kuwait via Ireland
Paul has left home and arrived "in theatre". He sent a note with his whereabouts and had me thinking he was on a drinking trip with his friends! The subject line read: Hello from Ireland!
But within hours I received a phonecall from Kuwait.
The installation has changed quite a bit (incl a name change) since he was there in 2003. Now there is a Starbucks and a Subway available to the soldiers. I on the other hand packed up Paul's coffemaker and am storing it in the Garage. To those coffe addicts planning to visit with us: I can get it out, but do not even have coffee filters or coffee at the house please plan on giving me plenty of notice.
I am planning on putting pictures on this blog and adding some more features, but need to make sure I am doing it right first! So bear with me and enjoy reading in the meantime.
But within hours I received a phonecall from Kuwait.
The installation has changed quite a bit (incl a name change) since he was there in 2003. Now there is a Starbucks and a Subway available to the soldiers. I on the other hand packed up Paul's coffemaker and am storing it in the Garage. To those coffe addicts planning to visit with us: I can get it out, but do not even have coffee filters or coffee at the house please plan on giving me plenty of notice.
I am planning on putting pictures on this blog and adding some more features, but need to make sure I am doing it right first! So bear with me and enjoy reading in the meantime.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
RAIN!!!!!
Finally!
After weeks of drought, wildfires careening out of control here in Georgia, it is raining! Sometime during the night it started.
We spend Saturday "as usual". It was the first Saturday of the month and we took the Girls to Home Depot for their Children's workshop. They do have some really fun projects. This month the Girls assembled a Herb garden. The "Y" had their annual Kids health day and Louischen's teacher handed out snow cones. I was americanized another little bit. Had my first one. My last, too. After that we went back to our house to finish up the last projects (yes, we've been saying that and yet always doing more). After I stained the stairs last week, we put up lattice for my roses to grow on and Paul made a door, in case of a plumbing emergency we can still acces the main vent without tearing down my roses. All of the bricks are layed and now all that we have left to do is clean up the mess. But I have a feeling that I will be doing that once Paul is gone.
Today we are going to church and afterwards we are taking family pictures. Christel-Ann and Paul are finishing her final science project on endangered species (she picked the Galapagos turtle).
Our Company has started to deploy, about half of the guys are gone by the end of today, our friend Mike is leaving today.
After weeks of drought, wildfires careening out of control here in Georgia, it is raining! Sometime during the night it started.
We spend Saturday "as usual". It was the first Saturday of the month and we took the Girls to Home Depot for their Children's workshop. They do have some really fun projects. This month the Girls assembled a Herb garden. The "Y" had their annual Kids health day and Louischen's teacher handed out snow cones. I was americanized another little bit. Had my first one. My last, too. After that we went back to our house to finish up the last projects (yes, we've been saying that and yet always doing more). After I stained the stairs last week, we put up lattice for my roses to grow on and Paul made a door, in case of a plumbing emergency we can still acces the main vent without tearing down my roses. All of the bricks are layed and now all that we have left to do is clean up the mess. But I have a feeling that I will be doing that once Paul is gone.
Today we are going to church and afterwards we are taking family pictures. Christel-Ann and Paul are finishing her final science project on endangered species (she picked the Galapagos turtle).
Our Company has started to deploy, about half of the guys are gone by the end of today, our friend Mike is leaving today.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Until Mission Accomplished....
...the name for my Blog.
Why "Until Mission Accomplished"?
Because this Blog is to keep family and friends up to date on any unclassified information that pertains to "the mission" and our life on the homefront.
Paul's orders officially read 18 months but we are hoping to be back together in 15 months or less. But there is always the slight chance that orders will be amended and instead of coming home after 12, 15 or 18 months the length of the deployment will be "until mission accomplished".
Why "Until Mission Accomplished"?
Because this Blog is to keep family and friends up to date on any unclassified information that pertains to "the mission" and our life on the homefront.
Paul's orders officially read 18 months but we are hoping to be back together in 15 months or less. But there is always the slight chance that orders will be amended and instead of coming home after 12, 15 or 18 months the length of the deployment will be "until mission accomplished".
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