2nd Deployment 2012-2013 IS NOW COMPLETE!

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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Packing here too

For a kid that doesn't live here Clayton sure has a lot of stuff here. When he deployed we flew to KY and drove his truck home and it had lots of stuff in it. We stored it in the guest room and with what is in the basement that didn't go into his storage unit when he moved out of his apartment.

And now that he is coming home soon he wants some of it back. I'm trying to go through it all to make sure he gets what he needs.


Um, the cat stays here.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Waiting...patiently

Okay, maybe not patiently, but we are waiting until these last weeks pass by.


We are entering the 5 week zone...until he returns. He's packing up what must go in the shipping container and keeping just what he needs to travel with. A few things he will leave behind for the soldiers replacing him.

Clayton called today. It has been many weeks since we've heard his voice. And how wonderful to hear his laughter. Emails are fine, because I know at that given time he is safe, but hearing his voice is music to my ears.

I wonder if he realizes just how excited we are about his return? I tease him about all the things I can't wait for him to experience as a parent, but the one thing I can't wait for him to understand is just how much we love him. Words do not come close to expressing the special place in our heart that only he can hold.

Please continue to pray for him and his safe return.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

HOME - Final Part [5]

Special little parts.


Thank you, Karen, for such a beautiful gift to honor Clayton's service and for the memories in years to come.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Monday, March 21, 2011

HOME - Part 3

The story of the penguin.


The one Clayton took to Afghanistan with him!




More to come...

Sunday, March 20, 2011

HOME - Part 2

The book is 12 pages, including front and back cover. Here are all 12.

 

Saturday, March 19, 2011

HOME - Part 1

My sister-in-law, Karen, made this for me. I cried!   :)

It's a little book with pages that spell H-O-M-E

She went through the blog and pulled pictures to make it.






More to come.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Tired and Ragged

Will it make it?


While working in the yard yesterday I noticed that our ribbon is looking tired and ragged. It has kept watch for many days now since Clayton deployed. Our hope is it will last until he can return home and remove it from the tree.

I'm looking forward to sharing some special posts in the days ahead. I received a gift this week that really touched my heart.

The Last Box!

I feel a sigh of relief in my future. Not yet, though. This is the last care package which means the end of this year long journey is drawing near. Can we really have spent almost a year apart?

While the date is subject to much change I can say out loud...6 weeks. So soon and yet so far.

Please continue to pray for our troops, Clayton's safety, rest & protection and his safe return home.

This box also contains a few small gifts for Clayton since he will celebrate his 27th birthday before returning home.






Thursday, March 17, 2011

How many?

How many computers do 2 accountant brothers need to plan our trip to Savannah, GA?

Supper in Texas

More photos from Kent & Lauren's house.







Aunt Karen

Don't let her sweet smile fool you. She's really a rebel!

How do you like....

....Uncle Gary's new glasses?

The Cousin's

Martha Stewart she isn't but Betty Crocker she might turn out to be.



I think Jennifer got the naughty chair for supper.


I missed getting a picture with Justin in it and he worked late and couldn't join us.

At cousin Lauren's

Hi Clayton,

I've got several posts coming from our trip down to Texas. Tuesday night Lauren and Kent cooked supper for us. This is how the time was passed waiting...


Here is a link to YouTube in case you have problems here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqKhzeaGywY

Love,
Mom

Friday, March 11, 2011

The Countdown Begins

Yesterday was a great day for this Mom. We were given a date! The Countdown begins!

6 weeks, 2 days until this guy heads home!


This was what I shared elsewhere yesterday---

Today I've:

  • screamed for joy
  • felt like fainting
  • prayed I wasn't dreaming
And lifted a prayer of thanks...for Clay's continued protection and safe return home...soon.

A date. I finally have a date! Subject to change, but a date! He is scheduled to leave Afghanistan April 25th, arriving back in the states about 5 days later. This has been a long journey. I have managed to endure because of my faith, family and friends.

```````````````````````````` 
Lots of good news this week

Clayton you can't imagine how happy that news made me yesterday. So much that I had a hard time focusing on anything and didn't sleep well last night! Dad and I can't wait to see you!

You know how you like to poke fun at me and my cemetery research...? Well, my cemetery blog has been voted one of the top 40 genealogy blogs for 2011 - read the details at Family Tree Magazine online, which will be printed in an upcoming issue. 

And today...Dad let me buy a new toy. More on that later.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

News from Home

Hi Clay,

Things are pretty quiet here. I think winter is winding down, finally. Temps in the 50s and 60s this coming week. Dad and I are ready to get out and take a few weekend get-aways. We are going down to see Uncle Gary and Aunt Karen sometime soon so we can plan a trip for the 4 of us...to Savannah, GA sometime in the late summer / early fall. That will be fun. We always enjoy spending time with them.

Dad and I took a trip to your storage unit this past weekend to check on the recall notice you got for your washer. Yep - it is one of them. Looks like we'll have to call them out. It hasn't been that long since your dishwasher was repaired in a recall. When you are home on leave [boy does that sound good] perhaps you can check on getting a smaller unit. Maybe you can save a little money that way.

Did you get your care package yet? I'm getting ready to send what I hope is the last one, in about a week.

Here is the new living room sofa and chairs. While there was nothing wrong with the old stuff [almost 14 years old] it was nice to get a fresh updated look to the room. It probably still looked good because I didn't let you play in that room. Ha ha! We need to hang new pictures now. One thing always leads to another! We did keep the old tables and lamps though.




This green chair is my $7 find. It's a Kroehler from the 1960s. Kyle is going to re-upholster it for me as soon as I find a material I like.

Speaking of Kyle...I told you in a email that Tashina had her baby last week. I believe he is a week old today. Here is Cooper Sterling Miller.



Well, that about wraps up this update. Hope to hear from you soon.

Keep safe and remember we love you beyond words!

Love,
Mom & Dad

Update

Last week I got an email from Clay after 11 days of silence. 11 looooooong days. I get antsy after just a few days. They all run together for him. He has gone back to 12 hour shifts and in a completely different time frame. Just about the time I figure out when he is awake, working and sleeping it gets changed. Oh well.

We don't have an exact date yet for his return but we are in the "less than" 10 week area. I feel these will be the toughest weeks for me. It has been a long journey and I'm ready to get to the destination and for this to become a faded memory.

I can't promise no kissing his sweet face but I will promise not to wear lipstick!

Please continue to lift him in prayer and for a safe return home soon.