Imagine the six most content people in the world right now…four kids smiling from ear-to-ear, yelling for their dad’s attention, a mother that finally has some reinforcement and an enormous weight lifted off of her shoulders with the security of her partner out of a war zone, and a father relieved to be home but [...]
Tonight is the LAST NIGHT of Tim’s deployment. It is hard to believe, yet an AMAZING feeling that we made it…sometimes crawling, sometimes skipping, sometimes dancing, sometimes hanging on by a string…but we made it. It was a long year for me, especially when I catalog the milestones each child reached during Tim’s [...]
If you don’t recognize this sculpture (or the thousands of variations of it…including the U.S. postage stamp) then you have likely been living under a rock (especially if you are from Indiana). It was created in 1976 by the notable and famous pop artist, Robert Indiana. But I hate to offend anyone so [...]
I have not felt compelled nor comfortable speaking for anyone but myself during this deployment. We all have varying religious and political beliefs, we raise our children differently, and we might not even have the same interests. However, I am confident about one thing…that the wives of all the soldiers coming home are getting [...]
One of our friends, David Clements, sent this article to me tonight. I have no idea how he found it but I was grateful to read it. CLICK HERE TO READ IT ON TASK FORCE MARNE. It was great to not only to see a picture of Tim (I am so excited to [...]
I know Tim is out of Iraq based on a text message I received late last night. I am not sure if he and the troops have left Kuwait, however. My guess is that they are headed to Ft. Hood, Texas by now…but we just don’t know much. I appreciate everyone keeping them [...]
It is quite lengthy but this video on C-SPAN focuses on the mission of Tim’s unit while in Iraq. I was struck by a few things: 1) It really is brown there. I think these guys will be overzealous to come home to a ‘Field of Green’. 2) I was interested to [...]
This article in the Indianapolis Star is a great representation of how a simple gesture or a little thing can mean an awful lot to someone else. Click on the link below to read it.
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Ever since Tim left from his two-week visit, both girls exuberantly yell out “Daddy” to every man we run across. It has been at the grocery store, the park, and even walking down our street.
While we were at the park this evening, I sensed a woman giving me a strange look after [...]
We just completed our final combat mission, flying our aircraft out of theatre.
We conducted a multi-ship mission, where all of the aircraft go together. The aircraft departed in three waves (military calls them a serial, or flight) towards Kuwait.
I piloted the last aircraft, of the third wave.
I purposely positioned myself in the last aircraft for two [...]
I am fired up…and not in an excited, happy way!
I took my dad up on his offer to go to dinner tonight. I figured if he was up for it with four young children, then I might as well be too. We picked a new spot in town, Red Robin. I had [...]
Tim sent me a copy of the note attached below. It happens to be from the daughter of one of our closest friends. I love the sheer honesty and sweetness of children.
As I was lacing my sneakers for a run the other day, Gage asked me (as always) if I would [...]
As we near the end of our combat tour, I wanted to take a moment and “smell the roses” (or desert dust, burn-pit pollution, aircraft engine exhaust and aviation fuel - in our case). Yesterday, a few of our soldiers were able to get away for a few hours in the early morning before sunrise.
It [...]
We had a peaceful evening…we built forts, setup a surgery center, watched Mr. Mom (one of our all-time favorites), and made magic rocks. Everyone seemed happy…getting along relatively well…not much drama. But toward the end of night, Briggs started falling apart.
He said to me with tears burning his eyes, “You have [...]