We Are SO Very Thankful...

Friday, November 27, 2009

I'm waiting for my sis-in-law to email the rest of the photos she took... I was enjoying myself SO much, this is the only one I have & Sky was the one who took it. =)

This was taken in their backyard, just before we left.

This Thanksgiving was the first one we've celebrated with family in years, and we had an AMAZING time!! We had Thanksgiving dinner with my sister-in-law, Ursula, her husband, Keith, and all of Keith's family. Keith's sister, Deanna, was so gracious to open up her beautiful home to us all. The adults had a formal meal in the dining room and the children ate at the kitchen table... poor Sky had to eat at the kiddie table, but I honestly think he may have preferred it. =) After we ate, Deanna surprised Keith & Ursula with a beautiful homemade wedding cake... since they were married in Vegas two years ago and never had one. It was SO yummy!

After dinner & dessert, we all went outside and played a game of touch football. It was a pretty brutal game... Ursula & I are quite aggressive, haha! =) Her loving husband gave her a little something to remember the day, a black eye... poor girl was hit in the eye with the corner of the football! She sat down for just a moment, until Samantha, Deanna & Oliver's daughter, asked her if she was going to "just sit there and cry like a girl, or get up and play." Hahaha!! Needless to say, Ursula got up and played! The boys had so much fun playing with Michael & Samantha and can't wait to see them again. Deanna sent the boys home with chalkboards she made, for them to write their wish lists to Santa... Keith has the sweetest family.

We stayed the night with Ursula and Keith and left Friday afternoon... Keith had a big motocross race in Savannah. We had the BEST time! This year, we are SO thankful to have some of our family living close to us... who we have been able to create some wonderful memories with.

We hope you all had a very blessed Thanksgiving!! We are also so very thankful for all of you, our family & friends!

A Walk Through History For Two

November 14, 2009

Fort Benning's Infantry Museum is a multi-million dollar museum that just opened in June of this year. Benning is known as the "Home of the Infantry,"so this museum is the largest infantry museum in the world. Retired Gen. Colin Powell was the guest speaker for its Grand Opening, who said,

“This is what we owe to those who went before. This is the place. This is the home. This is their legacy. May God bless all those who have worn the crossed rifles over the years.”

Behind the museum is Parade Field, a baseball stadium. Dirt was brought in from a battlefield of every war America has been in and sprinkled under the field's sod. What a great honor for all those who play there!

The giant iron statue behind us is 'Iron Mike,' the famous Follow Me (the infantry motto) statue, which was moved from the front of Infantry Hall.

It was my first time going to the museum since its Opening. I met Donnie there and we spent the afternoon walking around exploring every inch of the museum... I LOVE military history! Skyler is at an age where he'd truly appreciate the museum... but the younger two will most definitely have us hurrying through some parts of it. So it was nice to take our time together before our visit with the boys.

I'm heading into the Civil War...

There were several metal statues displayed, each made from an actual photograph. This photo above, Donnie is standing next to one of a soldier looking around the corner for a German soldier. Historically, this photo was said to symbolize America's looking from WWI into the future...

I made Donnie stand in front of this so I could take a photo, haha!

"Fort Benning: Home of the Infantry, World Class Training for World Class Soldiers. At Fort Benning, we transform men into soldiers. Every time our nation has gone to war, Fort Benning soldiers have led the way. These soldiers remain the bedrock of our fighting force, taking the fight to the battlefields of our enemies around the world."

Donnie is trained in all of these weapons... along with a few other larger ones that wouldn't fit in this display case. =)

A ceiling display I thought was cool. The helicopter is a Black Hawk.

A display case for the Officer Candidate School (OCS) here at Fort Benning. Fort Benning is the home to MANY different schools, men and women from units all over the world come here to train.

A photo wall in the Airborne display area.

A very cool display case showing Fort Benning historical memorabilia.

The AMAZING Wall of Honor

The reason Donnie, and MANY others, joined the military.

Operation Enduring Freedom display... Infantry Operations in Afghanistan.

Our guys don't play with your typical deck of cards, haha! Donnie played a part in capturing the "King of Spades." =)

Since living here at Fort Benning over the last six years, we have been able to capture a few historical keepsakes of our own. I had the opportunity of meeting and speaking with both Gen. Hal Moore (We Were Soldiers Once... And Young) and Gen. Ralph Puckett (Words for Warriors: A Professional Soldier's Notebook), and having them both autograph a copy of their book for Donnie. I have no idea how, but both times I came to the book signing when no one else was there, what luck! In 2005, we were invited for an early viewing of "The Great Raid," a movie documenting the world's largest rescue mission to this day. After the viewing we met director John Dahl, who thanked the men for their service. At our amazing Balls, we have had the honor of listening to Vice President Dick Cheney, Ret. Major Robert Prince (captain who led the rescue in "A Great Raid"), and the Honorable Les Brownlee (Retired Secretary of the Army) speak. Donnie's first Platoon Sergeant was on the rescue mission in "Black Hawk Down," which he, of course, never talked about it... nor did his wife. But we all know who he was in the movie, God bless him.

I never tire of hearing these stories, of learning about our country's history... and honoring the great men and women who work so hard to serve us.

Donnie's First Weekend Pass

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Donnie was able to get a pass this afternoon, so the boys & I went on-post to spend the day with him. But first, we had a bit of running around to do... Donnie was elected Treasurer of his class yesterday and had some things he needed. We honestly would've followed him anywhere though! =)

After we ran around and had dinner, we took the boys to see 'A Christmas Carol'... the new 3D movie with Jim Carrey. It was really good, we loved it! The little boys got a BIG kick out of the silly glasses, it was so fun!!

It's amazing Donnie has only been in school for a week now, but is really embracing this new career path of his. The OCS Commander had pulled Donnie aside and recommended he do something other than infantry with the pins & screws in his back and shrapnel throughout his body... he says it will catch up to him at some point in his career and cause him a great deal of pain. So Donnie is considering all of his options, including possibly Military Intelligence. He asked me what I thought, and I told him I just want him to be happy... whatever he chooses I will stand by and support him. I know, with the Lord's guidance, he will definitely make the right decision!

After such an incredibly long and difficult week... this was absolutely the PERFECT way to end it! We can't wait to see him tomorrow!!!

OOOOOOOOOCS!!!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Today was Donnie's OCS Class Opening Ceremony. The ceremony was really short, literally 10 minutes long... it simply represents the passing on of leadership to the new officer candidates before they officially begin OCS. When they did the change and the new leadership ran up (Donnie's a platoon sergeant so he took part in this), they all yelled "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOCS!" It was too funny to me because I KNEW Donnie was just hating it! =)

Even though OCS is here at Fort Benning, Donnie has to stay in the barracks on-post when he's not in class. So the boys and I haven't seen him all week, and I received just a few very short phone calls that lasted less than five minutes. So, it sure was good to see him today!!

Tomorrow Donnie will get a pass, but we'll have to stay on post... so we plan to take the boys to see 'Where the Wild Things Are' and to dinner. Can't wait... I know we've been apart for a LOT longer before, but I have MISSED him!!!!!

A Day Of Snuggles

Sunday, November 1, 2009

After saying goodbye to Dad and sending him off to Officer Candidate School, the boys decided it was a good day to snuggle together on the sectional and watch 'The Transformers' together. Notice Kaden & Kaleb are STILL wearing their costumes?? Haha, it may be hard to get them to change out of them for school tomorrow!!

Following A New Career Path...

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Arlington Cemetery near JFK's grave

"And to my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. And fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

Today Donnie is leaving for Officer Candidate School, and retiring the tan beret of his Special Operations unit. I have so much respect and admiration for the Rangers and their families, I feel so fortunate that we have been able to be a part of this elite family for the last six years. We have so many friends who have gone into other aspects of the Army, who chose a life outside the military, & who remain in the unit... and it gives me so much comfort to know no matter where we go, that kinship will always be there. As one girlfriend said "Once a Ranger Wife, always a Ranger Wife!"

As Donnie pursues a new career in the Army, I look forward to the new opportunities it brings our family. We have met so many amazing people throughout our journey, and know there is more yet to come.

Good luck in school, Donnie... I know you're going to make one AMAZING officer!!!