My Son is Going to Afghanistan

The world knows him as this guy....

My heart knows him as this little guy...
B...I love you so!

Please join me daily in prayer for my son.
Please join me daily in prayer for every son and daughter serving our nation:

Prayer for Protection


The light of God surrounds you,
The love of God enfolds you,
The power of God protects you,
And the presence of God watches over you;
Wherever you are, God is.
Amen.

What To Wear, What To Wear?

Soldiers in our U.S. Army are now wearing ACU's (Army Combat Uniforms), which have replaced BDU's (Battle Dress Uniforms) and DCU's (Desert Camouflage Uniform). I've read recently, that some soldiers feel as though this 'versatile' option, is not for the best. Airmen are wearing ABU's (Airman Battle Uniform), with the expectation to completely replace BDU's by 2011. Oh my, oh my...we will not even begin to discuss the fiasco which erupted after the NWU's were first introduced. Is Blue Camo on a boat necessary? What was wrong with wearing coveralls on ships? If a sailor goes overboard wearing Blue Camo, won't they be impossible to find?

And then there is the MCCUU (Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform) which is their current battledress uniform. Its distinctive camouflage pattern MARPAT is exclusive to the Marine Corps, which holds the patents to their design. MCCUU is available in two color schemes, woodland and desert.

Should there be one Battle Uniform for all U.S. Military Branches? Would it be more cost efficient to choose one uniform? Or is there a risk of melding into one huge military, with no individuality?

***Please note, I am not talking about Full Dress Uniform!!!

His Star Has Turned From Blue to Gold

Troy airman killed in Afghanistan

A Troy airman was killed on Sunday after a roadside bombing in Afghanistan, resulting in the first American combat deaths of the year. Bradley Smith, 24, of Troy, was among three airmen who were killed, according to Smith's pastor, the Rev. Jim Wiens, a worship pastor at Bethel Baptist Church in Troy.

"Brad was definitely a leader in a lot of respects," Wiens said. "He had influence with our kids. He was faithful and he showed the way for kids to be there consistently. He would follow through: When he said he would do something, he would do it."

Smith apparently was among four U.S. service members who were killed Sunday by improvised explosive devices. And a British soldier died during foot patrol in Helmand province, according to the British Ministry of Defense.

A statement from NATO's International Security Assistance Force said the explosion that killed the U.S. service members took place Sunday in the south, but did not give further details on the location or the victims' branch of service.

Smith's family traveled to Dover Air Force Base to receive his remains Monday night.

He is survived by his parents, Gary and Paula Smith; his wife, Tiffany, and their daughter, Chloe Lynn, who was born in October; and an older brother, Ryan Smith, an airman based in Texas who was scheduled to be deployed to Iraq this month.

"He believed it was a good cause and worthwhile to do," Wiens said. "Both of those guys are solid supporters of the need to fight these wars. In spite of the risk, he was willing to be involved in that."

Smith followed in his brother's footsteps, and joined the Air Force in November 2006, Wiens said.

He was deployed to Afghanistan last month. He served as a tactical air command and control journeyman.

"Brad was just this real likable, friendly, respectable kid," Wiens said. "He liked to have fun, but he took his responsibilities very seriously. He grew up really hard, strong: When he grew into a man, he was a man."

Triad High School Principal Robert Sudhoff said Smith, who graduated in 2004, played football all four years and was active with the school newspaper, The Knightwriter.

"He was a very outgoing, good kid," Sudhoff said. "He was an easy kid to talk to. Some were pretty quiet, he was not. I talked to a number of faculty members today who remember him."

Smith's former football coach, Paul Bassler, said Smith thrived in the team atmosphere.

"He wasn't the star on our football team, but he loved to be on our football team and he brought that joy to practice every day," Bassler said. "He was just the ultimate team player. I expect he was an outstanding comrade, if he treated them the same way he treated his teammates here in Troy."

"It's a good thing to be part of something like that, but you've got to understand that in the military, the ultimate sacrifice is your life," Bassler said. "The community's going to miss him. We've lost not only a fine soldier, but a fine citizen to this community."

Funeral arrangements are pending at Herr Funeral Home in Collinsville.
~ Jacqueline Lee




May Almighty God Bless this brave Airman. May God bring comfort to the hearts of his family. May God watch over and protect this Airman's sweet baby.

Puppies

I have met so many patriotic, kind-hearted people while attending Operation Welcome Home events. Many of us are moms or spouses of Soldiers. Many are Veterans, who served during WWII, Korea and/or Vietnam. The volunteers who run the organization are extremely dedicated to making certain our Soldiers know our gratitude for their service. Honestly, I can't speak highly or often enough of OWH!

That being said...as I was waiting to welcome Chief home the other day, I chatted with another Blue Star Mom, Debbie. She is a member of Any Soldier, I'm a Soldiers Angel, we both are dedicated to mailing letters and packages to our warriors while they are deployed. She is one cool lady, with two sons...one of which is a member of the U.S. Army!

Debbie introduced me to Operation Baghdad Pups. She donated a large crate, so that a Soldier's puppy could be flown to the States. Of course these pups are only flown home during the winter months. There is time to make a donation, if you too are an animal lover. Debbie also told me of two books she read recently, of military dogs. The first book is actually a children's story, but I was given a tissue warning..."Nubs the Dog". The other book is titled, "Saving Cinnamon". I'll go ahead and post these books up for discussion on my "Book Group Blog" (see right sidebar). Debbie is one cool lady, who I am so very grateful to have met and continue to chat with at OWH!

I had to take this opportunity to repost my favorite photo of MudPuppy...yes, his blog is public once again so do stop by and say hello! For those of you wondering who is MudPuppy...he is my SoldierSon who I happened upon almost two years ago by reading his blog. He deployed to Afghanistan for a year, returning home last August. If you have not yet had the honor of reading his words, I do encourage you to do so.

May Almighty God Bless each and every Airman, Soldier, Sailor and Marine.
May God Bless those who touch the life of a Soldier, while they serve our Nation.

The Warrior Song

Thanks to AAM for posting this video on her blog, 'Proud Mom to a 1-89 Cavalry Scout'. Stop by and visit her here.
Her son, Scout needs our prayers while he serves in Iraq.

(please pause my playlist on the right sidebar)


May Almighty God Bless and Protect each and every Airman, Soldier, Sailor and Marine.

Twenty-Ten's Perfection...

Mr. Webster defines the word, 'perfection' as the quality or state of being perfect: as a : freedom from fault or defect : flawlessness b : maturity c : the quality or state of being saintly

Hubster and I had a New Year's Day which was nothing less than perfection.

We attended an Operation Welcome Home event of an unscheduled flight. Chief was on this 'unscheduled' flight, because his scheduled flight was due to arrive on December 30th! He began his journey home on December 27th! Four delays later, Chief landed on U.S. soil. God is Good!

Awesomely Amazing is how I describe meeting this hero. I have e-mailed Chief for months now, while he was deployed to Iraq. Good Earth (where I work) held a Soldier Drive...we gathered and mailed nine boxes of goodies, which Chief was kind enough to distribute to Airman and Soldiers while on his convoys. The box of toys sent, were distributed to the Iraqi children at a Rec Center. Awesomely Amazing!

I asked Chief to let me know if he was coming home via BWI (Baltimore)...he replied that he would be returning home and his first stop would be in Baltimore. Little did we know all those days ago...how much frustration would fill the days to follow.
It matters not, at this point.

Chief is home!

Here are our photos:
(Our first glimpse of Chief coming through the security doors, a bit fuzzy but priceless!)

(We are so grateful for the Information Desk/Photo Takers of the world! Hubster, AirmanMom & Chief with a goofy AM homemade sign! Ask my kids, I am huge on making silly signs!)
(Hooray! One last security line! Next stop..Wright-Patterson! Home!)

May Almighty God Bless Chief and his family (did I mention he has two ultra-cute sons?)
I thank God my sons know the 'Chiefs' of our world.

A New Year's Prayer....

May God make your year a happy one!

Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain,
But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;

Not by making your path easy,
But by making you sturdy to travel any path;

Not by taking hardships from you,
But by taking fear from your heart;

Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;

Not by making your life always pleasant,
But by showing you when people and their causes need you most,
and by making you anxious to be there to help.

God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.

As I look out my window and watch the sunrise over the cornfield; I thank God for richly blessing me with so many gifts...
God has given me my Hubster; my best friend who I share my extraordinary life. I could not ask for more.
God has given me four children; four pieces of my heart always.
God has given me four grandgirls; these sweet girls define heartfelt joy.
God has given me two son-in-laws; these men love and protect my daughters.
God has given me friends; I share laughter and tears with freely.
God has given me a job; a place to go, be productive and fill happiness in the life of strangers.
God has given me our Nation; the land of the free and the brave.
God has given me our Soldiers; strong warriors who protect me with their very lives.
I pray that each day in Twenty-Ten I not take one of His gifts for granted.
For I am so richly blessed.