From Bravo Company To The Cav (COC)

Last Wednesday, the 20th, Buck had his change of command.

He relinquished command of Bravo Company, 4-70th Armor and took command of Delta Troop, 5th Cav, the Brigade Reconnaissance Troop. Actually, it happened in reverse order, which was really weird. For about an hour he was in command of two companies.

It was a bitter sweet day for him. He took command of Bravo in December of 2008, while in Iraq. He had built some wonderful relationships and camaraderie with those soldiers and he was proud of them and of that company.

On the other hand, he's a Cav guy. He's really been looking forward to taking Delta Troop. The Cav is a whole other beast and what he knows best. Like they say, "If you ain't Cav, you ain't ---- (a four letter explicative that starts with S and I won't say)!" And if you're wondering what the funny looking hat he's wearing is all about, it's a stetson...a Cav tradition that only Cav troopers wear. (Think guys on horseback in the Civil War). It looks funny, but it's a cool tradition.

Since I am on bed rest, Brady and I didn't get to be there. I was awfully disappointed that I couldn't be there to support my husband, my hero and my best friend, but he knows that my love and complete support are his. As upset as I was, we both knew that my place was here, taking care of me and Noah, and that by doing so, I was taking care of us all.

I did send both of our cameras, so when he got home that night, we were able to watch the video and look at the pictures from the day and share in his moment with him.

I am so proud of him and his accomplishments. I know that he will do wonderful things with Delta Troop, just as he did with Bravo Company. He's a great soldier, but more importantly a great man, who does his job not only with great skill, but with great integrity.

We as his family, are blessed to have him as our leader, as are those men that he commands.

1-35 Ball

One of my favorite things about being in the Army is getting all dressed up for the balls and formals. It's like prom, only with out the awkwardness, and it's legal to celebrate with a few glasses of wine, or beer, or whatever else you might like (unless your pregnant, of course!). When the guys aren't deployed we usually have two a year or, one, big, fun one to celebrate the end of a deployment! Tuesday night we had our 1-35 AR, end of deployment, celebration ball!
Buck and I got all dressed up, a sitter came over to keep Brady, and off we went to the Rheinlander for a few adult only hours.

One special part of the evening was when Buck was inducted into the Order of St. George. The Order of St. George is an award given to "honor the very best of America’s tankers and troopers". It's an award that's not given out too often. I've only known two guys in the five years we've been married who had one.

Oh...and I can't forget the grog!! For those of you who don't know, grog is the most disgusting concoction of alcohol that I've ever smelled (and only been brave enough to taste once!). I've seen grogs containing wines, beers, hard liquors, sand and dirty socks! It's a punchbowl ceremony of sorts where different guys come up and read off whatever this particular bottle of liquor represents, i.e. Jagermeister represented the battalion being in Germany, then they have to take a generous swig, and pour the remainder of the bottle into the punchbowl. Anyway...Buck had a part in the grog ceremony and lucky for him he only had to pour in a bottle of wine!

We had a great time, enjoyed great food and great company, but at the end of the night I was ready to come home to see my baby boy, who was sound asleep. :(


Our babysitter, Hannah, took these pictures for us...

After a few pictures were snapped, Brady wanted in on the action...

The grog ceremony...

Buck being inducted into the Order of St. George by LTC Morales...

In Honor of the Fallen

Okay...I just might ruffle some feathers here, but after leaving Landstuhl Regional Medical Center today and witnessing what I witnessed, I just have to get it off my chest.

Today was not the first time. Every, single, time, that I've had an appointment at Landstuhl, to include the appointments I had when I was pregnant with Brady and all of the trips after he was born, as I have been entering or exiting the hospital, multiple buses and vans are parked at the emergency entrance, which is also one of the main entrances to the hospital. Waiting for those buses and vans are more medical personal than I have ever been able to count. Okay? So there's some buses and vans and lots of people? What's the big deal? The big deal is what's being unloaded from those buses and vans and what's waiting to be unloaded, or who's waiting rather.

Inside lay the wounded, mangled bodies of the bravest men and women I have ever seen. Men and women who just arrived in Germany from Iraq and Afghanistan to fight in yet another fight...the fight of their lives. Men and women who are facing the most difficult, challenging, darkest days of their short lives because they have lost their ability to walk, or hold their new born baby, because they no longer have legs or arms. Men and women who will never again see the light of day or hear their wife whisper in their ear because they have lost their sight or ability to hear because of the concussion from an IED that detonated next to their vehicle. Men and women who are fighting for their lives and who might not live through the night. Men and women, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers...

I believe that you should give credit when credit is due. Michael Jackson was arguably the greatest artist of all time, yes. I myself have danced and sang along to many, many of his hits. I LOVED watching him perform. He was THE master of his craft. I'll give him that. But, really?

People could purchase tickets to his memorial service?! All I've seen on the news since he died was coverage of his death, tributes to him and now this memorial circus. Enough is enough. I'm sorry, I didn't realize that the world has stopped turning! Why is Jackson's death, as unfortunate and untimely as it was, taking precedence over more important news. Why is this guy, who's never done anything to serve his country, or the "fans" who have followed him religiously for years, or anything or anyone other than himself the only piece deserving of coverage on the evening news?!?!

What about the 5,021 men and women who have died for your freedom, your life, liberty and your pursuit of happiness? Those men and women died not because they overdosed on pills they had to take because they couldn't cope with life, but because they VOLUNTEERED, to put themselves in harms way so you and I could continue to live life as we know and love it. And who could blame them if they did need pills to cope. How do you suppose that Michael Jackson would do if he had to spend days, months and years of his life away from his family, in a tent, or sleeping on the top of his car, or on the side of the road, in 150 degree weather with no air conditioner, and the sound of bullets flying by his ear or the crack of mortar rounds as the sounds of his alarm clock, watching his buddies that he's bled with, sweat with, laughed with and who have become his brothers, scream in pain as they've lost their legs, or arms, or held them in his arms as they took their last breath. My guess is that he, along with all those other "celebrities" we worship, wouldn't last a week.

No, those men and women that I saw being unloaded from those buses today were suffering so that freedom seeking people all over this globe could have a better way of life. So that Michael Jackson could stand on a stage, and wow the world. So that he could earn millions upon millions of dollars, live in the lap of luxury and then piss off all that God was gracious enough to bless him with. They were there today so that his fans could sit at one of his concerts and scream out their undying love for him and worship him even in death.

But, for them, there are no hysterical, screaming fans to greet them. No pomp and circumstance, no "friends" reading pre-written, carefully planned speeches, no songs being sung, no grand stage upon which their broken bodies were wheeled. For them, there are just men and women, who like them, have volunteered to serve a cause far greater than self. And thank God for those angels of mercy, who's hands will mend those broken bodies and lives back together. Thank God for those men and women who have sacrificed their bodies, their lives, so that we can continue to sit comfortably on our couch and mourn Michael Jackson. Men and women, who have accomplished more in their short years than Michael Jackson could have in 1,000 years.

Men and women like SPC Robert Ehney, PFC Scott Messer, CPT Andy Houghton, 1LT Leif Knott, 1LT Laura Walker, MAJ Brian Mescall and SSG Matthew Taylor just to name a few, who are the best of our great nation.

A Soldier's Prayer

God our Father,

Help me to remain true to my ideals during my service to my country.

Help me be what is in America, the land of the free.

May I realize that I represent what our country stands for.

My uniform is a symbol of duty and valor both in peace and in war.

I take up arms to defend what all Americans hold dear:life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Grant me the strength to live according to these ideals, the courage of my convictions, and the resolve to endure whatever dangers threaten.

With you at our side I fear no evil and resist every enemy, secure in the knowledge that you hold me in the palm of your hand.

Amen.

MISSION COMPLETE -- OUR HERO IS HOME!

After 14 long months, our wait is over! Buck's mission is complete; our hero is home!

He arrived Wednesday, the 27th of May, one day before our 5th anniversary! I couldn't have had a better anniversary gift than to have the man I love more than anyone else in the world, my best friend home with us, where he belongs.

The welcome home ceremony was supposed to be inside, at the Hall of Champions gym, but for some reason, when we arrived, we found out it was being held outside! Wednesday, was no day for outside ceremonies. It was so cold! The high was around 55 degrees and there were some major cold winds blowing! I know...it's May...but this is Germany and apparently it's always cold and windy here. I wore a strapless top because (I thought) we were going inside and I could brave the cold parking lot to look cute when I got in the warm gym. Instead, me, Brady and my friend Monica, who took most of these wonderful pictures, waited in the car with the heater on until the last minute!

When we finally got to the field the guys were standing about 100 yards away on the other side of the fence. We spotted Buck early, (which isn't so hard to do when the guy you're looking for is a head taller than anyone else there) and then, nothing else mattered. I didn't care that I was shivering and chilled to the bone. I didn't care that my hair was blowing wildly all over my head and in my face. I didn't care that my tears were streaking the mascara I had so carefully applied. I didn't care that anyone else was on the planet! My HUSBAND, Brady's FATHER, our HERO was home!!

We watched as the gate opened and those brave men marched onto that field and I thought that I would burst with pride! To be honest, I don't remember anything about the ceremony except that it felt like an eternity before we heard the word we were all waiting for..."DISMISSED!". With that, Brady and I took off running across the field and fell into the arms of our hero. I sobbed and Brady just had this bewildered look on his precious little face. It didn't take him long to warm up to his daddy though, and by an hour after we got home, they were best buddies!

That day, those first moments we had together as a family, will be forever etched in my memory. Not a day will go by that I won't say a prayer of thanksgiving that God brought us together again. More than ever I realize that He is faithful to his promises and that His word is true. He has given me so many moments to cherish and to be thankful for, but this one was one of the greatest. "Your LOVE O, Lord reaches to the heavens; your FAITHFULNESS stretches to the skies..."

Father, I thank you that you are a God of your word. Thank you for being faithful and true. Thank you for covering us with your divine protection, for arming us with your mighty strength and for wrapping us in your holy love. Today, I celebrate that you brought your son, my beloved and Brady's father home. To God be the glory!



We decorated our little part of the stairwell to welcome home our hero!

Before we left for the ceremony, Brady wanted to practice waving his flag for Daddy...

And then, he was ready to go!

We waited in the Jeep with the heater on.

And in they marched!

We spotted Daddy!

Waiting out the ceremony.

Finally...our next chapter begins!!

When we got home, we let Brady play with the balloons...

He was thrilled to finally get his chubby little hands on one...he had been begging me for one all day!

Showing Daddy some love!

The perfect ending, to the perfect day!

*On a side note...I want to thank you, Monica for the wonderful pictures! You made these precious memories possible to share with our family and friends and for us to enjoy for years to come! (Monica left her husband, who had come home only days before, on her anniversary, to be there for us! She's a better friend than most, and a better friend than I would have been!) Love ya' girl!

Reflections From A Deployment

As our 3rd deployment draws to a close I've been doing a lot of reflecting. I've asked a lot of questions of myself and come up with a lot of answers. I find that with each deployment I grow. I find a strength that I didn't know I had. Maybe because each one has presented it's own unique set of struggles and challenges; it's own obstacles to overcome. With each one we've been in a totally different phase of our lives. The first, we had known each other for 2, yep that's right, 2 months, and got engaged the day he left for Iraq! The second we had been married for just over a year, so were essentially newlyweds. I, had just a few months before moved away from home, and for the first time in my life, truly lived on my own. And this time, we had a precious gift from above. I got to briefly experience life as a single mom and tackle this deployment as a new mom. Brady was 10 weeks old when Buck left. So, needless to say, a lot of changes have transpired over the last 14 months and I have once again, molded by my circumstances, become a different woman. Here are some of the things I've learned over these 3 deployments and 5 years of marriage (this week) to my most amazing husband and the Army...because you can't marry a soldier and not marry the Army too!

*I've learned that that strength I spoke of really isn't my strength. Rather, it's the awesome power of Christ, made perfect in my weakness!

*I've learned that the power of prayer is real and that when you call on the name of Jesus he always gives you an answer.

*I've learned that I can carry every single grocery bag and a 25 pound toddler up 3 flights of stairs in one trip...and juggle those bags and that toddler and unlock the door simultaneously.

*I've learned that I'm more thankful than ever for the friends, both new and old, and family who have supported me and gotten me through.

*I've learned that though not desirable, you actually can make it for over a year without cooking a single meal! And that when you finally do get around to cooking again, it can make your food taste as good as Paul Deen's! (Don't worry! I've been cooking for Brady. This was a lesson learned from the previous deployments.)

*I've learned the true meaning of pride.

*I've learned to understand the motto, "Duty, Honor, Country" on the deepest level.

*I've learned that the house is easier to keep clean (that was true for the first two...I never thought that anyone could be as messy as Buck, and then he had a son!)

*I've learned that necessity truly is the mother of invention.

*I've learned that even from half way around the globe, over a static filled line, the sound of my husband's laughter can brighten any day!

*I've learned that a deployment is an incubator for faith, hope, strength, determination and love.

*I've learned that you can get to know someone, fall even more in love and get glimpses into their heart and soul through letters. You don't need phones or email, even this day and age!

*I've learned that it's not a matter of if it breaks, but when, and that when it does, you can fix it yourself or find someone who can!

*I've learned that I enjoy yard work.

*I've learned that military wives are the most resourceful, proud, brave, funny, emotional, and wonderful bunch I've ever known.

*I've learned that, if founded on the rock of God, long periods of separation can lead to a better marriage.

*I've learned that no news is good news.

*I've learned that I don't need sleep, food, a shower or a quiet moment for 72 hours! And I can endure painful screams for that entire time! Isn't it amazing that a precious newborn baby can teach us such lessons. And we thought we parents were the only ones imparting wisdom!

*I've learned that though most nights I miss him beside me, others it's nice having all that room!

*I've learned that it helps to turn on the stove and/or oven when you cook.

*I've learned that I'm more independent than I thought and that I enjoy being so.

*I've learned that I can manage a baby/toddler complete with stroller and carseat, diaper bag, carry on, purse and 4 overweight suitcases in an airport alone.

*I've learned that flying alone with said toddler is not a good idea!

*I've learned that when my husband is gone I...eat less, exercise more, pray more, watch all the chick flicks he won't, take out the trash, pump my own gas, play mom, dad, the repair man, the mechanic, the housekeeper, the nurse, the cook, the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker... and everything in between!

*And finally, I've learned that I am more thankful than ever for the Godly man, awesome father and best friend I have in my husband. And, that I am more thankful than ever before for this life we've been given. Though dysfunctional, abnormal and crazy it may be to most others, it's the perfect life for us!

WELCOME HOME!!!

It's not often that I find myself at a loss for words, but today I can't seem to find the right ones to describe the overwhelming emotions I have experienced. Today, Brady and I attended two welcome home ceremonies. The first one we welcomed some of our Bravo family and a good friend home. The second, just about an hour later, we saw in the second group of our Bravo family.

Those doors opened and the soldiers started marching in with their heads held high and an indescribable look on their faces. Both times, as soon as I saw them, the floodgates opened and I could not stop the tears! I cried more than anyone who actually had a husband there! Hours later I'm still crying, just remembering the day!

I felt incredibly blessed to be able to be there for my friends. Each of you are strong, brave incredible wives, moms and women. I am blessed to know you and to call you friend. To your amazing husbands who have so honorably served their country, WELCOME HOME!

I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story. They speak more than my words ever could!

The first set of pictures is of our friends and neighbors, John & Jessica Craven.

The rest are of our Bravo 1-35 family...

The Mittleman Family

The Abada-O'Malley's

Chrissy and Meghan

The Ellis's

The Elling Family