Greetings from Bailey's class

As you may recall, Bailey's ENTIRE 4th grade class adopted David and his unit while they are deployed. He has received numerous care packages and says they always have GREAT items in them. (He opens them first to see what he wants, then he shares...guess it pays to be the 1stSgt!) Anyway, these are some pictures of the men and the cards they have received.

Libby tells us that the school is having these pictures developed so the 4th graders can see them and they will add this to the display case at school!

**Libby pointed out...that in one of the pictures a Marine is making bunny ears behind a fellow Devil Dog!! See above.

OMG! Are you kidding me??

Okay friends. I just need a moment to vent. I feel like I rate a rant every once in a while. I mean, I try not to complain a lot about my situation. Because, really, I don't have a reason to complain. I knew when I married David there would always be a possibility he would have to go to war. In fact, I know for certain that he wouldn't have chosen me to be his wife if I weren't completely supportive of his military commitment. With that said, I do my best to keep life at home as normal as possible until he returns. I don't think about how hard my life is right now because I KNOW his life has got to be a bizzilion times worse. At least I sleep in my own house, in my own bed, with my family around me. He doesn't have that luxury. In fact, he doesn't have any luxury at all. AND, out of respect for him, I do not complain about the day to day crap that goes on here because it can't possibly surpass the amount of crap he has to deal with. I mean really, can you imagine being in his boots right now?? I didn't think so...

So here's the rant part:
I am SO TIRED of hearing how life is so hard for people around me. Now for those of you who read this, I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU. I'm talking about the people I hear at the store, or on the radio, or on television. Is their life really that bad? Is it really so awful that their husband went to play golf with his buddy and stayed gone all day Saturday when there was obviously yard work to do? (DO IT YOURSELF-LADY!) I mean, is it really that bad that you had to put gas in your car? And puh-lease...he's gone on a hunting trip and won't be back for a week...REALLY?!? Is that so bad??? Because my husband has been gone since September and isn't coming home for a y-e-a-r. My husband would love to do yard work. And the hunting trip...well, he's hunting all right. He's out there fighting to protect you and your rights. Oh yeah, let's not forget those women who "can't be alone" and find some other warm body to fill their void. COME ON!! He's sacrificing his time, family and life to fight for the blanket of freedom for which you get to sleep under each night while he sleeps with one eye open at all times. He would love to hear the sound of the kids arguing, he would love to have to run to the grocery store to get that one item I told him not to forget and he forgot it anyway.

Yes, I chose this life and I am not about to complain about it. In fact, I would choose it over and over and over again as long as David is in it. You can choose to be a victim or you can choose to be a strong, independent woman. Maybe I owe this all to my parents. They have raised very independent children who respect God and Country. They have always preached to us that you do what is right, and you don't complain about it. (Well Mom and Dad, I'm complaining now...but I mean well. Oh, and thank you!)

SO PLEASE---STOP WHINING!!!

When you lay your head down tonight. Think of what it must be like for our service men and women. I dare you to stop and think of what life must be like for them....

And one more thing...I go to bed alone every night. I know there are no guarantees in life, but the odds against my husband are far worse than yours. So the next time you think your life is so bad, THINK AGAIN LADY! At least you know your husband is safe and sound...no matter where he is...

(Sigh! OK, thanks! I feel much better now...)

Bailey's First Speeding Ticket!

Okay...I know it sounds really strange. But, it's actually awesome news!! Most of you know that Bailey's bonus mom, Libby, also teaches where Bailey and Ashlyn go to school. Here is the message we got via Libby's Shutterfly updates. (I'm too lazy to write my own and since she has already done it...)

Hi! Bailey got his first speeding ticket yesterday....& it was broadcast on our morning video announcements today! Usually in our culture this would not be considered a positive thing, but at Boon it is big stuff! Bailey's speeding ticket was from his speed reading in his Alpha Phonics class (dyslexia therapy). This is his second year in the program & he'll graduate this spring. His growth has truly been phenomenal & he was very excited to show this off to the camera!

Bailey practices speed reading word lists each night, since dyslexics struggle with their visual memory. On the current list, he improved from 58 words per minute to 116 wpm in a week. He got the Speeding Ticket & he was the most improved in the group for that day!

Congrats Bailey! (After graduating from AP classes, I will not be sending excited speeding ticket emails....luckily our driver's license is still 6 years away!)Have a great week!Libby

Sand Storm

I'm not sure if you know or not but there are sand storms in Iraq. Here is what David sees when he looks out his window right now...and I didn't edit the color. This is really what it looks like!!

Prayers Needed

The families of TF Mayhem received a letter from Lt. Col. F.W.Charlonis. Here are a couple of condensed paragraphs of the letter. Please keep these families in you prayers, and please pray for our men and women serving there and for their safe return home to their families and friends. David was able to call me today. It was so sad and so reassuring all at the same time.


Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Families and Friends of TF Mayhem,

"It is with a heavy heart that I write this message to you. Yesterday, we had 2 Marines from Fox Company Killed as the result of enemy action. The vehicle they were operating struck an IED resulting in the death of Corporal Richard J. Nelson and Lance Corporal Dean D. Opicka. Lance Corporal David Doyle was injured in the attack and is recovering at a local Coalition Forces Hospital ."

"The Marines will continue their mission. We will pay our respects to our fallen brothers and like Marines have done in the past, we will complete our mission. We would dishonor the memory of these two warriors if we did not."

Special Thanks

David's dad has been so kind to make sure the yard is kept up while David is gone. While I promise his dad that I can do it, I just didn't have a mower to do it with. The one we had didn't work any longer and David had such short notice before deployment that he wasn't able to get to the hardware store to purchase one. So...since September his dad has done it for me. Mel even had to ask our neighbor to borrow his mower TWICE while his dad was out of town.

Well, after the all the spring like days my yard was looking like a jungle. I knew his dad had his own yard to worry about and the last thing I want for him to do is worry about mine too. So, I asked Chad if I could borrow his mower. I had it all planned out. I would mow while the baby was sleeping and if it took 2 days, then so be it. Chad was kind enough to let me borrow his mower. He even loaded it in the truck for me.

Saturday morning I woke up and thought through my plan. I went to search for the gas cans and noticed a stranger was mowing the grass on the perimeter of my fence. Now, I don't know this man, and I don't think he knows my situation. I think he was so tired of the weeds that he decided to help me out a little. Then, David's dad called and told me he was on his way to tend to the yard. He didn't even come to the door. He just started mowing and weed eating.

Okay, I know this is long and boring, so here is the best part. After he finished all of the yard work, he showed me our new mower!! Yep! He bought us a mower and it works great. I am so thankful. Now I can mow my yard and not have to bother anyone else to do it. And the even better part is...it has an electric start. I can start my push mower with a key!! (Dad, I know you are disappointed, but please know that I can still pull start a mower.) Thanks Mike!!

Farewell Flowers

Anyone that knows me, knows my favorite guilty pleasures. Snickers, Coke, Reeses, and Funyons and of course-my husband (note the American flags!) Obviously my Endo staff knows me all too well!! Thanks Ladies!