The Return

This is the march of heros! {click this link}

Updates and Thankful

Yesterday I kept thinking I should sit down and update everyone on Clayton.

You know I love to snap a pic of good stuff like this

Today I do so with a thankful heart.

He finally arrived to his destination and is settling in to do the tasks at hand. I pray he finds rest during his deployment. After all, there are few days off in war.

With him arriving to his destination I have a mailing address for him. If you would like it, please contact me.

This morning we awoke to the news his FOB was attacked. Thank goodness for time differences and communication that he was safe.

Even though I entered this second deployment with a sense of peace doesn't mean there are no worries. The reality of war rattled us today.

And, to Clayton. We are grateful for communication, especially on days like these. There are so many people praying for you on a daily basis. Today, I'm sure God heard your name many more times as our church family offered prayers and thanks. We love you beyond words.

A lot has happened...

... in the year since Clayton returned from Afghanistan.

I had good intentions to share about some of the things from his return and will do so before long since I (still) intend to have this blog printed into book form. I also think I needed a break from the daily worry that came with the deployment and just enjoyed the knowledge of his safe return the best I could.

Upon his return we took Clayton to Georgia to visit his grandparents. The day of our departure to the Midwest began a spiral of health issues for my Daddy that seemed to demand most of my time until recently.

So... until I make time to share the other things I will tell you that since I last posted Clayton has married and is preparing for another deployment to Afghanistan this fall. With his marriage Barry and I became Nana and PaPa. Can I tell you that it is the most wonderful feeling...besides being a Mom!

Selfishly I pray that God has other plans about this second deployment. If it is His will I know the Lord will go before Clayton and remain at his side.

More soon!

Barry, Clayton Tiffany
Kurtis, Kieli, Gale
Christmas 2011

Trip to the Palace

First day off since I returned from R&R leave around four months ago! I slept in till 10. It was so nice. My internet is a little more friendly during these hours (when I'm normally at work) so I'll upload a few pictures from the mission I went on a few days ago.

The jist of the mission was that a Platoon's worth of soldiers went from our base to the nearby governor's palace (yes, palace) for some sort of holiday/new year celebration the govenor was hosting for US forces in the area. It was a good excuse to get out off the base. Had a good time, got to eat some things that I hadn't tried before and still can't identify


My ride to and from the palace.
Our HLZ was a soccer field outside the palace
walls but not that far of a walk. Reasonably safe too.



Just in case you forget what I look like, here you go. :)



Yep, the Penquin came along as well!
Just waiting around for the time to go.



Inside view, fairly comfortable ride.



This is us flying to the area.
That's right, we fly with the doors open :D

At the palace. I brought the eagle along with me.
The pool needs water, and some new tiles. :(



Just in case you wanted to know exactly where I was.



Hanging around outside.



A walkway with shrubbery.



This is why you can't have nice things.
When you have nice things the American's invade. :)
Seriously though, nice chair.



And at last, the food. Lots and lots of it.

 


What did I tell you about having nice things?

Thats all for now. Hope you all had a happy new years.

Living Quarters

Here are pictures of the housing in Afghanistan - plywood buildings. I believe Clayton said this was the first one he lived in. Makes me really appreciate the comfort of home. In the second photo you can see the bunkers used for shelter.

Scary Day

This picture was taken on the day Clay's base was attacked and he was in combat. It was taken after the fact, not during.

While that day was a few weeks ago I know it can happen again at any moment. Now we can laugh at the fact that he was in combat wearing the skull and crossbones shorts that I had mailed to him in a care package. If I had known something like this would have been photographed I would have mailed the Sponge Bob shorts that I picked up first. Be careful what you sleep in during war!

Finally Here

So yeah, finally here. Fob Fenty Afghanistan. It gets 20 degrees hotter here than where I was, thanks to the mountains and lower elevation.

They say when God finished making the world, he took all the left over rocks and dumped them in Afghanistan. From what I've seen, it's true.

Managed to snag a helicopter ride here, was a nice view as he went up and over the mountains, then some more mountains, then some more mountains.

I don't have the words to describe what I've seen thus far, only that it's very different from what we call civilization. Seeing buildings (I use the word loosely, but they are not huts by any means) made out of rock and earth in little clusters along the river where the ground is fertile and flat enough as the rivers cut through the mountains.

Getting settled in over the next few days, already starting my assignments.

Date & Time in Afghanistan

I have added a date and time clock for Afghanistan to this blog. Look in the left column. The time difference is for my time zone - Central Standard Time. Where Clayton is in Afghanistan is 9 1/2 hours ahead of me. That could be more or less for you, depending on where you live.

If you are interested in the weather over there - which looks to be hot in the week ahead  - visit this site.

I'm still reading through online links to understand why the time difference includes an extra half hour. Here are a couple links if you would like to further understand time zones:

Link 1
Link 2

Want to look up time zones for other countries? Use the World Clock. This is what I used to configure the date and time clock I'm using on this blog.

Not sure where Afghanistan is? Check out these links: [click on Asia Maps]

Link 1
Link 2

Would you have guessed that Clayton's deployment would provide us with the opportunity for geography lessons and more?