Bella Hope

Bella Hope....or Beautiful Hope (as her name means in Italian) pretty much sums our little girl up. Since we brought her home on July 10, 2009 in that little green dress, our lives have been changed for the better. Since yesterday was her FIRST birthday, I wanted to post a blog dedicated to her. Some of you may think I'm crazy, but those who have been through a deployment with the companionship and love of a dog will know what I mean. Simply put, next to God Himself, she has been the one constant in my life....the non-deployable member of the family who goes where I go and is simply content to be anywhere I am.

Usually, I am never short on words, but it is hard to capture everything that Bella means to me...She is the reason I care to go home at the end of the day and she is a big reason why I still can smile (if not laugh out loud) through this year. Nights would be particularly difficult without her, having to go to sleep in a dark, empty house. Yet, I lay down and soon after I feel a warm little girl cuddling up, wedging herself as close as she can next to my side. With another beating heart in the house, all is well. Then, Saturday and Sunday morning (probably the toughest times of the week for me), she is the first thing I see, ready to snuggle and play. Of course, she keeps me busy too...She is almost always "up to something." Currently, her top three ways of getting into trouble are pulling the hamper over on herself and taking the clothes out, dragging toilet paper rolls around the house, and trying to steal shoes from our closet. Yet, that sweet and innocent face seems to always get her out of any punishment!! (I already told Mark he is going to have to be the disciplinarian of the family.)

I also wanted to give a special thanks to Lloyd, our neighbor who comes over faithfully every week day to check on Bella while I am at work. Oftentimes, I think this "check" turns into hours, as he gives Bella as much love and attention as I do. Also, thanks to Kathryn, the breeder who raised Bella until she was 10 weeks old. Without the special care she gave all her puppies, I don't think Bella would have the sweet personality she has today.

Bella has been nothing short of a blessing straight from God. I thank HIM for providing me with such a wonderful source of joy, love, and laughter, especially during this difficult time.

***The picture is from her birthday. She really did quite well for a dog!! She got presents from the grandparents and her mom and dad. (She liked dad's present best, though...a toy that you hide little toy squirrels in.) She even had her own cake!!

A Week in My Shoes

It's difficult to describe my job. As a Commander, almost everything falls under my purview: training, coordinating, counseling, planning, punishing, briefing, and almost anything else that requires a decision or a signature. This is a typical week:

 

Monday- 

0515: Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) which consists of as many push-ups and situps as you can do plus a timed 2-mile run. Fun!   

0800: Breakfast with my First Sergeant (1SG) to talk through the plan of the day and any Soldier issues. Even if we don't agree 100% we need to present a unified front to the company.

0930: Interview with a Soldier who wants to become an officer and needs a recommendation letter. 

1200: Lunch at the Aviation Dining Facility...it's Mexican Monday and the line is 20 minutes long! 

1300: Three hours of counseling sessions for Soldiers going on Rest & Recuperation Leave (i.e. don't drink & drive or do drugs).

1700: Prepare slides for another briefing. 

1900: Finally time to respond to the day's emails and taskings. 

2200: Done for the day.

2300: Bed   

 

Tuesday:

0630: Call Jocelyn, talk for at least 30 minutes before she goes to bed. This is the highlight of my day!

0900: Spent 3 hours inspecting containers full of equipment we are preparing to ship back early.

1300: Attend a promotion for one of my 2nd Lieutenants, present an award to a Sergeant.

1330: Another three hours of counseling, this time for retention (i.e. trying to convince my Soldiers to stay in the Army)

1800: Mongolian BBQ at the Dining Facility, my favorite meal of the week!

1900: Two hour meeting called 'Command & Staff' with all key players in the Battalion.

2100: Workout with another Captain at the gym.

 

Wednesday:

0630: Call Jocelyn of course, even though I'm tired, because I love her ;-]

0900: Can't remember, probably not very important.

1300: Company Training meeting, where I verbally define the focus for the week and task specific sections.

1800: Worship Team practice, but only myself (on the mandolin) and the piano player show up.

2000: DART rehearsal (Downed Aircraft Recovery Team...just in case a helicopter goes down).

 

Thursday:

0630: Ditto

0930: Weight Control Counseling for 2 hours. I put on my motivational speaker hat and tell them 'You can lose 20 pounds in 3 months!'...if not I could legally kick you out of the Army.

1500: I brief a room full of AF Colonels on the importance of our Motor Pool and why we need more space & cement. They are impressed by my green laser pointer and approve the project!

1630: Weekly Supply meeting, in which we review all of the military property I am signed and responsible for (to include satellites, 5-ton trucks, ATV's, and a deep fat fryer!)

1900: Commander's Huddle with my peers and our Boss to talk strategy. This week it's about a drug called 'Spice' we've been finding in Soldier's rooms.

2100: Personal time, either to read or study for the GMAT.

 

Friday:

0630: I forget to call Jocelyn, and she's worried about me. Oops.

0900: Motor Pool morning, when I put on my coveralls and pretend to be a mechanic for a couple hours.

1300: Taking care of Soldier issues, let's just leave it at that.

1800: Serve the Steak & Shrimp/Lobster at the Dining Facility to largely ungrateful and greedy customers.

2100: Workout and hit the hay (as my Dad would say).

 

Saturday:

0400: Woken up early to deliver a Red Cross message.

0900: Even more counseling. I feel like Dr. Phil except much better looking.

1300: Officer Professional Development with my Lieutenants. This is the most enjoyable meeting of the week because I get to dictate the agenda!

1500: Company Grade Article 15-- A Specialist is accused of insubordination and I am responsible to take her rank and/or pay away. Not fun.

 

Sunday: this is my b-weekly day off so I decide to sleep in!

1000: Spent two hours peeling potatoes in the Dining Facility to help understand why my cooks' morale is so low. Now I know.

1700: Worship setup and practice for the 'Unplugged' service. A Kiwi Huey pilot (link: http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/central-north-island/454391) is the lead singer. Good group of guys.

 

So, I hope I didn't bore you to death. This doesn't include the secret stuff, but is indicative of an average week for me. Have a great week and enjoy the USA for me!

 

Back at home...

It's been a while since I have written anything on here. I figured with all the news and big changes going on with Mark in Afghanistan, I didn't have much to offer. Basically, life at home can, in some ways, feel like "groundhog day"....Go to work, work out, go home, walk Bella and play with her (I can't say enough about how important that little girl is to me, especially going through this year!), do FRG stuff, talk to Mark, go to bed...Another day "checked off" and another day of this deployment in the history books. My friends have been so thoughtful about checking in with me and visiting at times on the weekends, and their company is ALWAYS appreciated. But, Mark has been particularly wonderful at managing to organize activities and surprises from a world away...which is completely typical of him, but I am still so grateful and amazed that he can find the time to do these special things for me despite being so busy with his responsibilities over there. The latest surprise was that he organized a CONCERT by Jon Troast which was held right in our own living room, in conjunction with Kristin's visit this past weekend. It was wonderful! Thank you, Mark, for doing what you can to help the time pass by...Having things to look forward to is so important and critical to getting through this deployment. And thanks to Kristin for coming to visit! I loved having you here. :-)