ctm

I am really surprised at how slowly these last few days have seemed to pass despite our lists of things to accomplish.  But my attempts to stop time by stealing batteries and unplugging all of our clocks still won't stop Eric from shipping out in just a couple of days.  And at this point he really needs to go because otherwise we won't know if he was a good teacher or not in ways of the manly, smelly house chores that I fervently avoid when he is home.  My home tour concluded today with information on the furnace filter, water shut-off valves, and a demo on how to actually start and use the weedeater thus hopefully averting anymore minor concussions. (sidenote:  Eric did ask me this afternoon if he should cut that pointy thing off of the garage.  But I told him that I have hit it twice with my head and I ought to know that it is there by now....and yes, I did give myself a minor concussion with the incident that occurred a couple of weeks ago.)

During the past month while Eric was gone we were able to text in the evenings before bed.  And we did test out our skype capabilities a couple of times.  We are told the delay with the video calling is quite delayed but we should be able to call using skype fairly easily.  It is very difficult to not get stressed and emotional during such a stressful and emotional time.  So we worked very hard over the last few months preparing and I don't think much time passed without making plans and talking about the next twelve months.  So while he was training we tried to make our texting fun and not stressful.  Texting verbage often involves shortened words or simply letters like ttyl or lol.  Eric sent me a text with the letters, ctm, at the end.  I'm pretty tuned in but I was unfamiliar with what that meant.  So I finally bit and asked,  "What's ctm?"   He replied, "Well, I don't usually lol...'cause I don't laugh out loud so I don't text it but I do often times ctm....chuckle to myself".   And that actually made me lol!

We have had some pretty awesome support over the last few months while preparing and I want to say some thank yous that are on my mind right now...I know I will have many, many more through the year and will remember even more kindnesses shown our family.

 * To our Christ Renews brothers and sisters who have been amazing support:  You were the first ones to learn of Eric and Brady's deployment and have stood by us in friendhip and prayers.  You totally shocked us with a gift of a laptop for Eric to take with.  I cannot tell you how much that will help us communicate.  Not every soldier is so fortunate to have their own.

* To my awesome girlfriends who already have lunch scheduled for Friday:  Thank you for holding my hand, watching my back, and always making me laugh! 

* To our neighbor Jason Johnston:  You blessed my husband immensely by filling the external memory with movies but esp. with all of the music.  The music was such a surprise to him and brought tears to his eyes.

* To all my family and friends:  Thank you for your unending expressions of love and support.  I hope I only get to call you through the year for no particular reason at all.

Tonight we celebrated Eric's birthday a couple of days early.  We gave him a gift-certificate for a year free of doing dishes!  I tried one more time to stop the clock by passing food counterclockwise.... and I hope you all are experiencing a little cty at the moment...chuckle to yourself. 

Love,
Monica

Prayer Requests:
1) Please pray for the sending ceremony Thursday which is also Eric's birthday.
2) I still need to purchase a lawn mower. But praise for my neighbor Yvonne who has been so kind to let us use hers in the meantime.
3) Pray Eric gets everything packed like he wants. 
4) And please pray that there isn't even one thing that we've forgotten so we can move on to getting Brady ready and shipped. 

Joshua 10:13b  The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down for about a full day.  (see..time stopped in the Old Testament...it could happen today!  :) )

Cell Phones for Soldiers

Eric received one of these phone cards in a care package he received.  Check it out for an easy way to donate and find a home for old cell phones in need of a home.

More information to follow soon with addresses.

Love,
Monica

http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/

One more hello, one more big goodbye

This past weekend was wonderful with Eric home on leave.  And, as usual, time did not stop for even a second.  But I am thankful that he didn't have to be back for formation until 10am this Monday morning.  It allowed us to have one really fun evening at the movies with Logan, Laramy, and Ayden and it extended his Father's Day.  I am looking forward to picking him up on Friday for one more hello.

We spent the weekend having nothing planned which Eric really needed.  It is also highly recommended during these last few days with family.  His days have been scheduled up and long.  Saturday morning he asked me to take him out to Pammel Park so he could hike back.  I dropped him off and went home so Ayden and I could ride our bikes out to meet him.  Ayden and I met him around the egg farm and he was doing well.  We finished our ride and he arrived home a few minutes after us.  Yes, he has already dropped some weight so I can't imagine what a year is going to bring for him. 

Saturday evening we had a really nice time grilling with Brenden, Sarah, Logan, Laramy, and Ayden.  We had a storm wrestle its way through Winterset Friday morning so Brenden, Sarah, and Eric and I went for a ride to see the damage after dinner.  And then we all picked up sticks in the yard from the storm and planted some plants and a bush that I got Eric for Father's Day. 

Sunday brought mass and a lazy, nappy afternoon. We decided to make some memories and go see Toy Story 3 in 3D. Eric, Ayden, and Laramy hadn't seen a 3D movie yet. We chose to go to the 3D and HD theater. It was a great movie and we all enjoyed it. I know I am particularly emotionally vulnerable but I think I would have gotten teary at the end even if Eric wasn't deploying in light of how the story line parallels my life right now with Logan.

We are missing Brady and Jayme.  Brady has been gone since June 4th at annual training.  He is currently in Minnesota and will return towards the end of the month before Eric leaves.  I am looking forward to spending time with them in July before Brady deploys August 5th. 

Our last week together will be very quiet.  I am thankful for families who have done this before us and can give us guidance on how to prepare. We think we have everything done we could get done.  But I am sure I will find things.  For now, I am trying to be faithful until I have to say one more big goodbye.

Prayer Requests:
1) Pray I find the money, time, and knowledge to purchase the right mower. 
2) Pray for the kids.  This is very difficult for them and I know they don't necessarily know how to show their emotions. 
3) Pray for Brady and Jayme as they face deployment.
4) Pray we all handle the sending ceremony and saying goodbye one last time with as much emotional grace we can find.

Hebrews 12: 1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 Love,
Monica

Early Morning Agri-business report featuring the 734th

This video ran early Wednesday morning...no Eric but nice to watch. 

Love,
Monica


http://www.whotv.com/videobeta/72e19490-f9e8-475e-9ac3-9d03f47be598/News/Morning-Agribusiness-Report-6-9-10-

Facebook page

The 734th Agri-Business Development team has a Facebook page if you are interested and would like to see what they are doing.  I haven't looked at all of the pictures but I spotted Eric in a few of them.

Love,
Monica



http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/734th-Agri-Business-Development-Team-Iowa-National-Guard-Dirt-Warriors/133244123357719

Work, eat, sleep, play, struggle, never give up and live for the downhill!

The Catalpa trees were in full bloom yesterday. The smell was intoxicating while I worked my daily miles on my bike.  Every time I rode past and smelled the sweet smell, I was reminded I only know what a Catalpa tree is because of my husband.  He has such a love and excitement for trees that I have never seen in another person.  I have teased him often.  But yesterday I just felt a love and warmth for him and a thankfulness for the knowledge I have gained just from knowing him.  A hike in the woods, a drive, or a simple walk down the street with Eric and his love for trees and nature becomes incredibly evident.  He sees things that most of us would simply pass by.  If you ever get a chance for a hike in the woods with him, take it.  I know I will never pass another opportunity as I have done in the past.

Eric and I celebrated our 24th anniversary yesterday, June 7th.  We were fortunate to be able to spend a couple of hours together on Sunday evening.  He is well.  He is soldiering hard.  It was very difficult leaving him once again.  One of my friends urged me to take every opportunity I have to see him.  So even though it was difficult, I am glad I went.  I honestly can't believe 24 years have passed until I start thinking about everything we have been through in this life; good and bad. 

When I am on my bike, I spend a lot of time thinking, praying, talking to myself, or talking to the trees and animals.  I have always loved biking.  I didn't really start riding seriously until I was 40.  And I completed my first RAGBRAI (lifelong dream) at 42.  And this year as I prepare once again, I am faced with many physical challenges.  Can I do it?  I don't  know.  But I am choosing to walk, or ride, this path.

 My bike has taught me many things about life.  I have heard, more than I've ever heard in my life, people say, "I couldn't do it. I couldn't ride my bike two miles let alone across the state".  I chose to take up biking.  I don't always choose my paths in life.  I choose the paths I want.  I don't ever choose stressful paths, do I?  Or do I?  I hear the same words from people whether I am talking about RAGBRAI or deployment.  I can't, I couldn't, I don't want to, not me, I don't know how you can do it....but don't we just have to walk paths that we choose and those that we didn't ask for in the same way?

My current challenge with Eric deploying is no different than riding my bike across the state of Iowa.  He loves being a soldier.  I love riding my bike.  If he always sat on the bench, would his love of the military be fulfilled?  If I never challenged myself to a difficult uphill, what would I gain? 

Everyone has choices and challenges in life.  I choose my faith and my God to get me through each one, even on my bike.  I look just ahead of my front tire on a long uphill journey, praying the whole way, and before I know it I have reached the top.  And then I receive the prize of a wonderful downhill ride!  At the end of this year-long uphill climb my prize will be a wonderful hike in the woods.

Prayer requests:
1) Eric is facing many physical demands and he reports to me that he hasn't been this physically active and worked so hard in years.  Pray he has stamina and no injuries.
2) Lawn mower.... um..our lawn mower and my new car didn't get along so well..my car is fine and the lawn mower is totalled.  Parties involved shall remain nameless because they are gone and can't defend themselves.  :)  Pray I find the right mower to purchase in a timely fashion so we don't have to bring in a baler.
3) As always, safety for all military members and safe returns to their families.
4) Please pray for a dear friend, Terri, who received news that the tumor she had removed was cancerous. 
5) Praise for a new friend, Jessica, who's husband is also deploying. 

love,
Monica

How will we make it?

A friend reminded me today with this post (click on the link below) on Facebook that God wants to hear all we have to say to Him.  As long as our focus is on Him, it doesn't  matter if we are happy, sad, angry, terrified, or ecstatic.  That's how we will make it through this year.  And we won't stop when Eric returns. That's how we will make it through every moment for the rest of our lives!

Thanks, Lisa Carlson!  You are a huge inspiration to me with all you have gone through and I'm blessed to call you friend!

Love,
Monica


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOHJghBU0XA&feature=player_embedded

Des Moines Register Article

 We were alerted this morning by our son, Brenden, to an article in the Des Moines Register today.  I have a busy day ahead but I thought I would take the time to share.  Seeing things like this makes it really easy to stand behind my husband and support him and not be so sad that he is not here with us.

Oh..and...thanks for the prayers....I will be able to see Eric on Sunday for our 24th anniversary which is actuallly on Monday.  I'll take it!
Love,
Monica


http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100603/BUSINESS01/6030343/1029/BUSINESS/Guard-speciality-unit-aspires-to-improve-Afghan-farm-yields

Difficult is not the word

Logan's graduation day is over already. We've essentially prepared for his day since the day he was born.  It's an old cliche' that speaks to how quickly children grow up.  When you don't want time to pass quickly, it does.  Why?  And tonight I'm sitting here listening to the thunderstorm while time trickles by. 

I picked Eric up Friday evening and all of a sudden I was dropping him off again.  The weekend passed too quickly.  I don't have words to describe what it felt like.  I know I wanted to turn my car around.  I knew I had to keep driving.  Everyone may think I am strong but I don't want to do this. I don't feel the need to test my strength.  I do want to do a good job.  I don't want to face this year alone. I do want to rush into his arms at his homecoming.

I remember when I was a kid and I felt Christmas would never come and a year was eternity. And now as an adult I struggle to put wrapping paper away and take lights off the house because time gets away from me before it's almost time to put them up again.  Will this year pass quickly?  Will I blink and it be over just like my kids growing up?  A weekday morning can slip by but a Sunday afternoon and evening can drag with lonliness.  What will we experience with our time in the next year?

I was looking at my calendar today and beginning in July things look pretty quiet.  I should schedule my days, plan my trips. But I don't want to do anything without Eric.  I should work more. No.  I should be home with the kids.

I can only say that I see how conflicted my emotions are already in just a week and a half of him being active.  I do realize I can't put my life or the kids' lives on hold.  And I know things will change.  People change over the course of a year even if it is just a hairstyle.  In this next year, the kids will change grades without their dad. 

Difficult is not the word for deployment.  I'm not sure if there is one word to describe it.  So I will write.  Perceived fast or slow, time never stops for anything even my kids growing up.  And maybe at the end of this journey we will have a better description.

Prayer requests:
1) Safety
2) Sanity for all who desire it :)
3) Time and time management for the boys and I

Psalm 91: 9-11
You have the Lord for your refuge; you have made the Most High your stronghold.  No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent. For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways.

Love,
Monica