A tough day

Today is going to be a rough one for me.  I have to tell my kids that I am going back to Iraq.  This has to be the hardest thing to do.  As a Soldier, my job is rather simple.  The Army says go, I pack my bags, get on a plane, and do the job.  For my family, however, it is not as simple.  My wife has to go for a year without her husband.  My girls have to go a year without Daddy.  And finally, I will miss birthdays, aniversaries, and other important times in their lives.  Perhaps the hardest part is realizing that my children have to deal with mortality.  Knowing that Daddy is going to Iraq is one thing.  Dealing with the fact that some Soldiers are coming back either wounded or worse, that is the hardest thing for me to take and for them to have to deal with.  I will certainly keep people posted, and I know that at the end of the day, we will make it through this.......again.

A New Year, and a new outlook

What really changes when we move from an old year to the new year? Is it something in us that feels that we must change? Or, is it just another day that we move forward on? For me, I am finding that I am starting to change. And by change, it is me becoming older. I was joking with Catherine last night, realizing that as I head to being 35, I was wondering what 35 is supposed to look like? Am I that guy now? When did I become "middle aged?" I say no. I may be getting older, but to quote a great song by Pearl Jam, " I've changed, by not changing at all." I am looking forward to what this new year will bring. I have found that worrying about tomorrow allows you to miss what is happening today. So for me, the change will be to stop and enjoy the day that I have. And in the end, isn't is always about the challenge of life? I am truly excited to see what life has to offer and to enjoy living.

24 Hour Duty and other ramblings

Here it is at 0230 on 31 December, and I am sitting at a desk, fighting off the sleep monster. Christmas was awesome, as I was able to spend it with my beautiful family. I love seeing the faces of my daughters as they saw the tree and opened their presents. The pure joy and delight that they exhibited really made me appreciate the life I have.

This year saw a lot of changes for me professionally, but the steadfast rock in my life is my family, and without them, I would not be a successful man. I truly love them, and sometimes it takes sitting at a desk when everyone else is sleeping to help me put into words what they mean to me. Until next year, when I hope to do better at blogging, rather than take a month between entries.

A Four Day weekend

And of course I get sick.  I love the irony in life.  A time to rest turns into a time to heal.  I have been enjoying the off time with my family, but I really don't like being sick.  It sucks.  Not too much to write today.  Just drinking some tea, trying to watch some football, and hoping that this crap gets out of my system.  BTW, people really suck.  I hope that my wife and I can teach our daughters to be members of a full society rather than be stuck in a short sighted world view that does not challenge them.  From idiots trying to buy more stuff to those who only care for themselves, I hope that my girls are able to rise above that and become the greatest generation of leaders and citizens of the world.  Just my quick rant.

A good Saturday

I took the girls out today, so that my dear wife could have a little quiet time to herself.  So, as the girls and i went to get some odds and ends for Thanksgiving, Cat was able to just relax.  I am amazed by my wife on a daily basis.  She has held the fort down while I was in Korea for 15 months, Iraq for a year, and any number of schools that the Army sends me to.  She is truly my hero, and the reason I have had any success at all on this wild ride in the military.

Anyway, as the girls and I were leaving Wal-Mart, they saw a group of Veterans who were taking donations.  So, they all took money from their own purses, and donated a dollar each.  That was amazing to me.  But when I asked them why, my eyes were opened to them.  They each said that we have to take care of all the Veterans, Daddy.  Because you are one and we have to take care of those who take care of us.  The pride I felt hearing my girls say that is still beaming.  In fact, I think that they have hit the nail on the head.  

Why, in the most prosperous nation in the world, do we allow those who defend freedom to live in the streets?  Is there an easy answer?  Of course not.  However, I believe that we, as a country, owe it to the men and women of the military (my brothers and sisters in arms) to be able to take care of them in some way.  I am not sure what that is, but I think I have found a new cause to get behind 100%.  Please check out the following link to see the group my girls gave to, and lets see what we can do to take care of those who are serving, and have served this great nation of ours.    www.veteranssupportfl.org

OK, so I haven't posted in a while

So, where do I start.  I had this great idea to start blogging about the life of a Soldier, only to have the life of a Soldier kick into full gear.  In the last nine weeks, I have been to two different schools, in two different areas of the country and have been home for only three weeks.  Needless to say, trying to sit down and attempt any kind of coherent thought was not happening.  However, I am home now, and am back into the groove that is being me.  I have to say that the election of Barack Obama has restored my faith in the humanity of the American people.  Only in this country can we overcome social prejudices in such a way as to where a man like Obama can become the first African-American president.  And honestly, does it matter his skin color?  Certainly many social walls crumbled upon his election, but he is the President-elect of the United States.  That, to me, is the awesomeness of this situation.  I am sure that my parents and grandparents did not think they would see this historic day in their lifetimes.  I am just happy that the first memory that my oldest daughter will have of the President will be that he was an American who just happened to be African-American.  For her generation, that will be just the way things are.  And to see the culture of America move forward, and to be a part of it, and to see my children live in it.....well, that is why I serve, and that is truly the point of the life of a Soldier.  To all my Marine brothers, Semper Fi.  Know that this Soldier respects you and your training, and I cannot wait to do it again.

I love my life

There are a few times in life, when out of the blue, you realize how lucky you can be.  For me, that was about twenty minutes ago.  I was in the bedroom, getting all of my stuff together for tomorrow at work, and in the silence, I heard my youngest giggling.  She was watching her favorite show "Yo Gabba Gabba", and was just laughing and singing along.  It was that pure sound of joy that really brought to me what a lucky man I am.  While working, paying bills, and the overall stress of being an adult can bring you down, that pure joy of life reminded me of just how lucky and blessed I am.  I am convinced that most of the time, we cause our own stress.  We don't take the time to enjoy the day as it comes.  I am finding more and more that I need to be more like my children.  My oldest teaches me that day dreaming is a lost art, and something that I should do more often.  My next oldest teaches me that wisdom has nothing to do with age, it has to do with being perspective and seeing the beauty in all things.  My almost youngest teaches me to live life to its fullest.  She puts the same passion into brushing her teeth as she does playing outside.  That is something to emulate.  And finally my youngest just taught me to see the joy in life, and to not be afraid to laugh and enjoy it.  

I am truly a lucky man, and nothing that the Army can do will take away from me the lessons my daughters teach me in the quiet times at home.