Cross-training approved

As I have mentioned here before, my oldest daughter is a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force stationed at Langley AFB in Virginia. She has been in the military for 6 years now. She was just accepted to cross-train. She has been working in the POL - Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants area. She will be cross-training as an aerial gunner. She starts training this fall. She is very excited, as she has been trying to get approval for this for about a year now. Again I am very proud of her, as I am of all my kids.

What's everyone up to?

Well here is a current rundown on my bunch:

I am currently visiting friends in Ohio.

DH is at home watching the critters and the place.

DD1 is still stationed in Virginia; she is a staff sgt in the Air Force and thankfully returned safely in January from her third deployment. She has been home to visit 2-3 times.

DS1 is in Kentucky; he is still working for the same place; him and wife and kids are doing well; grandson and granddaughter made honor roll in school recently.

DS2 is still stationed in Kentucky with the 101st; he recently was promoted to Specialist; his wife is starting a new job; our granddaughter is going great.

DS3 entered the Army on New Year's Eve and has successfully graduated from basic training and is in the middle of his AIT now; his wife is about 4-5 months pregnant with their second child; the baby just turned 1.

DD2 is currently in Florida; and in the National Guard; she does the Honor Guard for the military funerals; she is engaged.

DS4 is up in Ohio this week visiting on of his best buddies; he is doing well in school; and is taking a welding class this semester that he is enjoying.

DD3 is spending her spring break with ds2 and family in Kentucky. She is doing well in school and recently had her birthday.

As for the extended family:

My dad and step-mom are still in Ohio and doing ok.
Much of the other family is in Ohio some in northern Ohio and some in southern Ohio. Thankfully most are doing pretty well.

I am blessed with my family and thank God for them.

Happy New Year!

May 2009 be your best year ever. Wish everyone happiness, health, love, and laughter this year.

God bless and protect all of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines.

HOOAH

Trip to Washington, D.C.

My son, the one that just returned from Iraq; is leaving in the morning. But this time it is just a 2-3 day trip to Washington, D.C.



Last week, he and all the other recently returning Screaming Eagles at Fort Campbell; got to see the President, when he stopped to thank them for their service - so cool.



Tomorrow's trip is different, it is sad and happy.

It is sad because his buddies and him are going to the VA Hospital in Washington, DC to see their Sergeant. Only days before he was due to come home, this young hero's life was forever changed when his hummer hit a IED [a crudely made bomb] and his arm was blown off.

It is happy because, he is alive and back in the USA.



I feel sorry for this young man that I don't know that gave his arm for his country to defend my freedom. I feel guilty that I am grateful that it wasn't my son; although I know it could have easily been my son... or even my daughter, as my oldest daughter is still deployed to Iraq - a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force, she is on her 3rd deployment.



To all the mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, family members and friends; may your loved ones come home safe and sound as mine have so far. And God willing, they will continue to.



Deployments are a fact of life in my family:

oldest daughter - staff sgt in Air Force.

2nd son - cav scout with 101st Airborne - Screaming Eagle.

3rd son - ships to Basic at Ft Knox in 4 weeks; training to be a tanker crewman and set to deploy in the spring.

4th son - a high school freshman and taking JROTC classes.



God Bless this country and the soldiers fighting to keep it free.

Another soldier in the family

I already have:

a daughter that is a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force

a daughter that is a PFC in the Army National Guard

a son that is a PFC in the Army

my 3rd son called me two nights ago and said he enlisted he will ship off to basic training in the Army in about six weeks.

my 4th son is still in high school and is JROTC.

Not bad out of 7 kids. We are a patriotic family.