Corporal Anderson!

Proud as a Peacock I am, I am.  My Marine son Jordan is now a Corporal!  He just graduated from Corporal's Course at the top of his class too....proud as a Peacock, I am, I am.

I got a call from him today and it made my heart glad.  I hadn't heard his voice in weeks. Unfortunately it was a call in response to the Red Cross informing him that my Dad, his Grandfather, passed away this past Sunday, Feb. 1st, 2009.  I would have liked to tell him myself, but you have to do it through the Red Cross, so I did.

Despite the reason for his call, it was a gift to hear him say,  "Hi Mom" and "I love you".  The last few days have been harder than any I've ever experienced, so to hear the voice of a son so far away in Iraq was like medicine to my soul.

Thanks Jordan, for helping my hurting heart.

I am SO PROUD OF YOU!

love,

mom

Close One!

I almost did it again...

I was in a meeting and should have turned my cell phone on vibrate, but instead I put the ringer on as low as it would go.  Near the end of the meeting I heard the faint cry of my phone coming from my purse on the floor under the conference table.  If it was at the beginning of the meeting, I never would have answered the phone... but since we were almost done, I reached for my phone and was puzzled by the number on caller I.D.  An urge prompted me to just answer the phone.  

I don't know why we sometimes listen to those promptings and other times disregard them... but it happens as I'm sure you know.  I've kicked myself many times for thinking the urge was not important.  I'm glad to report that this urge and response paid off.

It was LCpl. Anderson!  I quickly excused myself from the meeting and went into a vacant office to talk.  I sat in the dark of that office and listened to my son tell tales of his experience thus far in Iraq.  Oh how good it was to hear his voice even with the cold he has.

The weather has turned cold just like here in Minnesota.  He said in the morning he can see his breath and it reminds him of home.  He has been to other bases to work on communications and enjoys what he does very much.

He gets to work out which makes him very happy.  Jordan has been into health and nutrition for a few years now, and is a living example of what hard work can do to your physique.  

He likes the chow at the Chow Hall too... which he says is approximately 3 football fields in size. Can you imagine the food that gets prepared there on a daily basis?  Holy macaroni and cheese Batman!  He is also glad to report that his roommate is a great guy... nice and neat.  Way to go LCpl. Gonzales! 

Well that is just a little tiny peak into my conversation with my son.

Thank God I answered the phone...

Mucho Grande Blessings,

Military mom

Just to Know...

JUST TO KNOW that he is o.k. makes my heart rejoice... and breath another sigh of relief. I haven't heard his voice, but am thankful for the email that came this morning.  I imagine him sitting at his computer typing his email to me, and it helps me feel like I'm close at heart to a son so far away.

He received his birthday box we sent him for his 22nd birthday, and is enjoying the contents... especially the gourmet mint M&M's.  You never know if and when a box will get delivered, so to know he is enjoying the goodies makes me happy.

Other than saying he is doing good and I don't need to worry, he hasn't mentioned much of his mission or anything else.  Of course that is the way it is, but we always want to know more... right?  I just want to know every little detail like how he is sleeping, is he going to the bathroom okay?  What is the temperature?  Has he been to the PX yet?  Does he get to go outside the base?  Has he been to church?  When does he wake up?  When does he go to sleep?  What does he want me to send in his next box?  Questions, questions, questions....

But for today and for now, I know that he is o.k.  And that has to be enough.  So I thank the Lord for the email... and especially the part that says, "I love you!"

With a happy heart,

Military Mom

P.S.  In the upper right of the blog, I've posted Jordan's mailing address for Iraq.  If you feel inspired to send a friendly "hello", copy the address exactly as you see it there.  All you need is regular postage just like if you were sending it to him in the states. 

In Iraq!

Caller I.D. didn't make sense as the phone rang a second and then a third time... Finally it clicked in to just answer the phone.  How quickly I forgot that military phone calls from a war zone never make sense on caller I.D.  I'm glad I listened to the still small voice and answered the phone.

It was Lcpl. Anderson.  He was calling from Al Asad Airbase just west of Baghdad, Iraq.  I almost didn't recognize my own son.  He was very tired and didn't even know what time it was.  It takes a little getting used to communicating with a delay, but after just a few moments we got in the groove. Not only was he exhausted from working 15 hour days, but imagine the jet lag going from Hawaii to Iraq!  

Him and some fellow Marines went to Iraq earlier than the rest of the Battalion because of being Data Network Specialists.  They've been working hard to get things set up before the rest of the Marines arrive. He is anxiously awaiting their arrival as they won't be given living quarters until the whole Battalion is there.  So for now the early arrivals are sleeping in tents on cots.  It might not seem like much, but its better than sleeping in the sand with a ruck sack for a pillow... at least thats what I think.  Up on a cot is way better than on the sand... where crawly things can find you... like the HUGE CAMEL SPIDERS that are notorious in the deserts of Iraq. (Google Camel Spiders and you'll understand what I mean!)

I guess Jordan experienced his first sandstorm a few days ago.  He said the sand blocks the sun, so it didn't get as hot as it normally does on a clear day. (anywhere from 100º–115º during the day)  I imagine its just the beginning of many interesting experiences he will have over the next several months.  I hope to share his adventures, challenges and prayer requests with you.  He thought it was cool that I would blog about his deployment, so I hope you will leave comments for him here.  He said he will check up on us from time to time... when he has the time.  So say Hello to him when you get a chance.  I'm sure it will be fun for him to read.

Thats all for now.

blessings abundantly,

Military mom

I Love the Military!

As you can see here, this is why I love the Military!  These are my two sons.  BOTH of them serve in the armed forces.  Brandon (R), my Army National Guard son, is finally home from his first deployment to Iraq.  Now my Marine son, Jordan (L), is leaving (9/18/08) on his first deployment which is also to Iraq.

I thought that because I've already been through a deployment, that the second one wouldn't be as hard as the first....WRONGO!  A friend of mine has endured her sons second tour of duty and said that the second was almost harder than the first.  I guess it just doesn't matter.  As long as your child goes into a war zone, it will never be easy.  How could I have even thought it might be easier?  Where is my kleenex....

At least I now know what to expect... kind of...  Lots of wondering and waiting... waiting and wondering... and lots of praying in between all the waiting and wondering!  Oh and never leaving your cell phone out of site or sound.  Lord knows missing a call can take your breath away and keep you sleepless.

If your interested in Jordan's deployment, stay tuned to my blog.  I will make updates as soon as I know anything.  So feel free to leave a comment or two, say a prayer or two, or just peek in every now and again.

Thanks for being there!

Blessings Abundantly~

Proud Military Mom

Been Awhile.....

Greetings to anyone who is out there reading this.

I think there was one or two of you....possibly.

It has been a whirlwind since I last posted.  My oldest son, a Sergeant in the Minnesota Army National Guard, came home from Iraq, but due to a non-combat-related-injury, has been down at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  We are hoping to have his safe homecoming July 2nd as he will return all the way home from his deployment.  Because of his injury, he has been gone for over a year. It has been a long haul, but we are blessed that he is alive and well.  

My youngest son, a Lance Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps,  has graduated from Marine Corps Basic Training, Marine Combat Training and his MOS Schooling and is now stationed in Hawaii with a pending deployment to Iraq in September of this year.  This has all occurred within the year that my oldest son was deployed.  

So here we are preparing for another deployment.  All I can say for the moment is how proud I am of my boys.  I never could've imagined I'd raise both of my sons who would be willing to server our country in the Military.  THANK YOU BRANDON & JORDAN!  You two are my HEROS!

God Bless the U.S.A!

Attention Military Wives!

THANK YOU!

Those words seems kind of simple, but words are containers for power and it is my expression of gratitude to you... yes you.  I want you all to know how much it means to me that you have been there supporting your husbands who serve our country.

Your husbands have been out there in the trenches trying to stay focused on the task at hand... serving our country in whatever way the military asks them to.

Since he stepped out to serve our country, you have been here trying to keep the family canoe from going in circles... sometimes paddling desperately to keep finances from swirling out of control, or maybe paddling to keep the canoe from tipping over as you go over the rapids of emotions that seems to come unexpectedly.  Some of you are trying to paddle the canoe and their are children who are rocking it to the point where you're sure it'll go over.  Yet others may be struggling with illness and barely have the strength to paddle.

Whatever your story is, I want you to know that I appreciate all you have had to go through.  I cannot imagine what it has been like for you... just as you cannot imagine what it has been like for me as a military mom.  We both have a story.  We both have emotions.  We both need each other to support one another through our journey as military wives and mothers.  I want you to know that you are not alone.  I am here... I can be an ear... I can say a prayer... and I do.

And hopefully sooner than later he will climb back into the family canoe.  And as you make some adjustments in the paddling, (and you will need to make adjustments), I pray that you both can paddle on into the future God has planned for you.  I pray that you can ride the rapids of life together and make it to calm waters.  I pray that God in Heaven will bless you abundantly for the sacrifices you BOTH have made to serve our country.

Thank you.

With much Love,

from a military mom

P.S.  Thank you Sarah Joy.  You are an amazing military wife and I am grateful for your love and support to our soldier.