This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Kathi

Billy Hodges, in the blue shirt, with a wounded soldier on a fishing tournament in Palacios, Texas


Billy Hodges, who served in the U.S. Army and Texas National Guard between 1971-1979, is not only being profiled for his service, but also for what he's done since then. Mr. Hodges runs an organization based in El Campo, Tx called Hunts For Heroes. They also have chapter in South Carolina , Arkansas , Mississippi , and California and what they do is take soldiers who've been wounded in battle on hunting and fishing trips and other outdoor related activities. All free of charge.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.

We are off to the ZOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! All of us. FUN FUN FUN!!!!! I will have pictures later. IF I do not pass out tonight. LOL Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

This Weeks Soldier Was Suggested By Jenn

Capt. Alan B. Rowe
35 years old from Hagerman, Idaho
1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center
September 3, 2004


The Perfect Marine. That's how many describe Capt. Alan B. Rowe. Respected and dedicated to the Corps and still able to be a husband and father.

Rowe, who was on his fourth deployment since joining the Corps in 1985, died with two other Marines, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Wilt, 23, of Tampa, Florida, and 1st Lt. Ronald Winchester, 25, of Rockville Center, N.Y., when a remote-controlled explosive device detonated as they returned to their vehicle after inspecting a bridge in Anbar province, near the Syrian border.

"He was a quiet, humble person and extremely polite," his widow, Dawn, recalled from their early days of dating. "He was a traditional type of gentleman. My mom was surprised to meet such a ... perfect-picture Marine." "He did a great job balancing a pretty intense Marine Corps career with also being a great husband and father. He worked extremely hard to balance it." "He was so dedicated to the Marine Corps. He was really driven and believed in what he did. He was a Marine’s Marine. Tall, blond and fit. Kind of the mental image you think of when you think of the Marine Corps."

A week after his death, Capt. Rowe was posthumously promoted to major. He leaves behind his wife and two children.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.

As the time gets closer to Hubby leaving I am having a harder time dealing with things. I am sick and tired of hearing people's views on the War and what they think and who they voted for. I do not CARE. Yes I do NOT care nor will I ever. Why do you want to question what I do or don't do while Hubby is gone. I do things to benefit my Kiddos and wonderful Hubby and to stay sane. Hubby being gone to a war zone is very different than your hubby being away for a conference or having to do something for work. No this is not like a vacation and I will not treat it as so. I may joke I can do more of the things I want but inside I am nervous about what lays ahead for us. If you have never walked in my shoes or sent a spouse off to war DO NOT say you understand and do not tell me it is for only such amount of time. It does not nor will not make my time go by faster. The communications factor is also a null and void cheer up type of response. The at least you can chat with him online and see him on the web cam will help. No it does not. It makes me crave Hubby's touch and smell and his boots under my bed where they stand watch waiting for their next mission. Just be my friend and say I am here when you need me. Don't tell me if I am OK or not. I know how I feel and I also know I will not be OK till Hubby is home safe and sound. Til then let me have my illusion. It helps me cope with the crazy days ahead. I am not strong I am a military spouse who has a wonderful husband and kiddos. I do because of them and no one else. I cry alone at night or in the morning after kiddos are at school. I smile in public to show the world we are a strong , loving and committed family. That is not the whole me. I do because God is my strength and in nothing else will I ever trust to get me through anything.

My Kiddos are wonderful. They smile and laugh but look into their eyes and you will see the sadness and worry. Someday the Kiddos look to old to be 15, 10 and 6. The feel the same way I do. They just don't know how to express it. They have their anger to get through and I will do my best to help them. Just don't tell me how to do it. Let me tell you what they need. I am the one with them all day and all night listening to them cry and yelling for Daddy when they scrap a knee or when they want Daddy to see them do something for the first time. That alone tears out our hearts more than anything else. Their Daddy is their world and it is tearing them apart knowing he will be gone for awhile. Missing birthdays and end of the year parties at school. The swimming parties and the first year of sports for the kiddos. The camera will be very busy but it will not replace Dad being around.

Dates and times have changed. Hubby is leaving sooner but not going to be gone for as long. I am happy to not have to wait to long to start this adventure but not really convinced that he will be home when he says he will. Hopefully the trip to Vegas will happen the first week of April. Have to wait and see what the job says. The last day for me is this Friday. I am looking forward to not working and being a mom and wife again. I am off to bed and some much needed rest.

Almost a month ago, the Wednesday Hero Blogroll received an email from a reader named Mike Gardner that contained something he had written in honor of this country's heroes. He asked that it be considered for a future post. It took almost a month, but here is his tribute.

At The Right Time, We Remember

The honor roll goes back farther than we can remember, it contains names we will never know...

I wasn't there when the American Colonial Army stood winter guard in the snows of Valley Forge wearing bloody rags for boots as they fought for my freedom.

I wasn't there in the war of 1812.

I wasn't in the trenches when the German's seared the lungs of young American men with mustard gas as they fought for my freedom in World War One.

I wasn't at Pearl Harbor when a single Japanese bomb detonated a million pounds of black powder on the Arizona and instantaneously killed over one thousand American sailors preparing to defend my freedom against the Japanese and the Nazis.

I didn't see the bullet riddled bodies of the Americans who died defending my freedom in Korea.

I only vaguely remember the nightly news clips of American soldiers as they carried out our government's orders in the jungles and swamps and tunnels of Vietnam.

I have never been with a family who lost a son or a daughter defending Kuwait, Afghanistan, or Iraq.

I wasn't there with any of them when they suffered as prisoners of war in any of these wars.

I have never been with a family whose child died in a peace time military training exercise.

Not every one of our veterans saw combat. Some were clerks, cooks, mechanics, machinists. Some served during war time, some served during peace time, some serve in peace today, ready for battle tomorrow. Today they prepare for the ongoing war against terrorists. Some gave their lives, some suffered wounds, some saw things that no human should ever have to see, and many did things that no human should ever have to do. And all gave their daily life, for a period of time, while many more gave their time to work in the industries that sustained our veterans.

Not all of those who have protected my freedom were even in the military. Some of them were the firemen, policemen, and paramedics who risked their lives each day, rushing in where most of us would never tread. Some are the doctors and nurses who treat the wounded, and go home and cry for them. Some of them were "just" passengers on commercial airline flights who, with faith in Christ, calmly chose to fight, and die if necessary, rather than let Flight 93 be used as a weapon against their country and their fellow citizens.

When I tried to join the US Air Force, my application was turned down for medical reasons.

Because others were, and will be there, I am privileged to continue to live in the greatest nation the world has ever known and to enjoy the greatest freedoms that any people have ever known.

The honor roll stretches forward to times, and places, and names we will never know...

And so I thank you, veteran, whoever you are, and wherever you are, whenever your service.

Thank you Vet. Thanks Dad. Today, I remember WHY I am free, and I thank you.

I know that when you were asked, at the right time, like Christ, you gave your life for me.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.

So the Bully is trying to potty train. He will us the toilet once a day and that is all. Once a day is an 100% improvement over what he was doing a couple of weeks ago. We do the shake the booty when he does do it. What a sight to see. The Bully with his butt naked and shaking as he turns in circles. I am going to have to try and get a picture of that for y'all.

The rest of the kiddos are fine. Spring break is driving everyone nuts. It rained yesterday and the night before all night long. It has been to muddy to take the kiddos to the park and let them run. OY!!!!!! And we still have 5 and a half days to go.

I am still feeling outta sorts. Dates have been changing and we want to head to Vegas to see family before Hubby deploys. Hopefully we will still be able to do it. His civilian job is making go back to work right away after this home station AT. It is crazy hours and he is exhausted. Hubby does not get home til after 6 pm every evening. It is just crazy. Because of his hours and my hours we have not had much time together just to cuddle up on the couch and chat or just be together. It is making it hard on me. I want as much time as the day allows with my Hero and the love of my life but we have not had a chance to sit and just talk about how to do things this deployment. We have little talks here and there but nothing face to face. The only time we talk is on the phone.

I am off to get the rest of dinner set up to cook and finish up some laundry. The new washer and dryer rock. Kenmore is an awesome brand. I love the fact that I can dry a load in the same amount of time it takes to wash a load. It makes laundry fun again. I can do four loads of laundry in the time it used to do 2. What a wonderful life!!!

So much has gone through my mind these last few days. I am afraid I have taken out my frustration on my wonderful Hubby. He has enough on his plate without me adding to it. And then I read this today http://haloscan.com/tb/armywifetoddlermom/6855845962376617696 It made alot of things seem very trivial. I want a goodbye like that even though we go through it each time with heads high I am afraid one of us will break down and lose it. I know I have to be strong for the Kiddos and Hubby. He and they deserve nothing else but that from me. I can lose it later. Hubby will have other important things on his mind without worrying about us. And well the Kiddos will do what they will. Each time they do something different. Never the same with them.

I am already dreading the goodbye. Even when he left for one night it was hard. The next time will not be easy by no means. But it will only be for a short time. Yes I am crazy for thinking that 15 or so months is short but they will fly by. Hubby will be close enough for a couple of trips to see him for a long weekend and then once he is in the air flying across that huge blue pond time will start to fly.

How do you close this out? Well I will do it by saying time to make dinner and get ready for Bible Study. I am going to be talking alot more about my faith while Hubby is gone so if you don't like it be forewarned I will still talk about God and my faith.

This Weeks Soldier Was Suggested By SJ Reidhead

Cpl. Jennifer Parcell
20 years old from Bel Air, Maryland
Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force
February 7, 2007


Cpl. Jennifer Parcell was petite, but one learned quickly that underestimating her was foolish.

"She was an absolute firecracker," Master Sgt. Jerry Widner said. "Just a go-getting machine."

Her relentless can-do attitude led her to volunteer for Iraq. And then to volunteer for the Lioness Program, which provides female Marines for searches of Iraqi women to respect Muslim cultural mores.

Parcell was killed Feb. 7 in Anbar province when a woman she was searching blew herself up with a suicide vest. Parcell had started doing the searches a week before and was three weeks from going home.

You can read the rest of Cpl. Jennifer Parcell's story here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.

Hubby is back from SRP. He has a few weeks before he is activated. So that means we can plan our trip to Vegas and not have the MIL visit us. When we are there we are talking about having a set day for each family or friend so we do not have to be running around and acting like we have nothing to do but be there for some people. I am not looking forward to the drive but I am looking forward to seeing my Mom and friends.

We still have no idea what unit Hubby will be with or exactly when he will be heading out. I hate not knowing anything. I can only pray we will have the Internet like we did last year. It is hard to believe we are getting ready to do this whole deployment again so soon.

Hubby asked me not to be sad about him being gone til he is gone. I am trying but sometimes when I think about another year + alone I have a heart stopping moment and come close to having a panic attack. Thank God for prayer. If I did not have God I would be a basket case I believe.

I am also starting to plan trips to see Hubby with the Kiddos wherever he is mobbing out of. I have heard a couple of places so I need to do research and learn some more.

I am off to cook dinner and research. Maybe I will learn something new. LOL

I sit here alone for a few minutes. Hubby took 3 of the kiddos to the park, one is sleeping and the oldest is still at school. I am enjoying it but it is bittersweet. I did get some heart stopping news today. The MIL might be heading this way if we can not go out there before the Hubby leaves. OH my gosh!!! I have never did anything right in her eyes and I don't think I ever will. A visit from her is not what I need at this point in my life. At least if we visit we can leave or at least I can. This is the same woman who did not have anything to do with us while he was gone. I will try not to worry about that til I know if he is going to have time for anything. It may work out that he will not have time to even have her come out at all.

The kiddos still have not talked to much about what has gone on and I am not pressing them about it either. They seem to be doing ok but I have a feeling that will change after he leaves next week for a few days.

I am looking forward to paying off debt and knowing Hubby has a job when he gets home. We did not have that peace of mind the last time so it will be great this time.I am still working and will quit as soon as we have set dates. (or as set as they will be til he is gone)Everyone at work has been great about it and helpful. I will slap someone the next time they call to ask me how I am doing. How the flip do you think I am doing. I have almost no notice to deal with the fact Hubby is leaving and everything else that has to do with it. How the heck do you think I am doing????????

Anyway, I am off to shower and go to work. Maybe tonight I will not feel so scattered. And maybe no one will as me how I am doing. We will see.

I always talk about how we are doing and myself but I have to say I am ticked off big time. I am so sick and tired of hearing about Bob Woodward or what ever his last name is. Yes he was injured very badly and came close to death but does it warrant all the appearances and interviews he has done this week? What about our Soldiers, Sailors and Marines? Most come home in the same condition and rebound and heal the same way but they do not get all the press coverage and they have to prove they are fit to return to their job. A job that is to protect us and the ninnies who think they need to be out there doing so called reports.

I want to see the MSM do something like they have for this reporter for all of our men and women and their families. Their struggles and tears are no less important than a reporter.

Ok I feel better. I do not want to turn this into a current event thing or anything but I needed to get that off my chest. Now I can sleep and relax. :) Good night.

We told the kiddos and Sweetness took it the hardest. We were going to do it this weekend but found out Hubby has to be at SRP next week so we told them. I ended up taking the night off from work to be with my family and the fact that I did not stop crying for a few hours made it impossible for me to work with the general public. I hope I can make it through tonight and the next two nights.

We still do not have set dates and unit yet. All we know is that he is going and he starts the process next week. I am processing things slowly I think. Yesterday was fine and today is really rough. Hubby has the next two days off from work and tomorrow I think we will let the kids decide if they want to stay home or go to school. Sat is our day. All 5, yes ALL 5, will be somewhere else all day and all night. That is our time. I will still have to work but it is a short shift. Then we actually get some alone time. I do not know how to act or think.

I am so flipping stunned. This time last year I did not know if our marriage would work or where life would take us. Then all I knew was I had taken my 5 kids and moved to an unknown town and state for a better life and to await the return of Hubby from the Stan. Not all things worked out but the most important things did. We have begun to rebuild our marriage and we serve God together. I am nervous about doing another year alone but know that the important things are on a firmer and stronger foundation. I am so thankful to God for all of this.

I am off to take care of lunch and get the kiddos ready for their naps. Maybe I will lay down too. I have not done much but I am exhausted.