Chad update

WOW! He went from spending 45 days in May at Bridgeport, CA in cold weather training (and boy was it cold) to having less than 30 days home before leaving again for 30+ days in the Mohave Viper dessert with average 120 degree weather. He handles the heat so much better than the cold and I am so glad for that. I did get to hear his voice once while he was in the dessert when they had a few R&R days, but Katie did an amazing job of keeping me up to date on how he was whenever she got to talk to him (which wasn't much). I'm blessed to have a bonus daughter that loves me enough to do that for me. He arrived back to Camp Pendleton Friday, August 6th around 2 or 3 pm and the wives/girlfriends were all there waiting to pick up their sweeties and the Marine Corps decided to keep them until 9:00 pm. There they sat patiently waiting for their loves for 7 hours in the vehicles in the parking lot to finally see their skinny little faces. Most all the guys lost a good bit of weight and Chad was no exception. Katie and Chad both are working double duty to try and build his weight back up (don't you wish we all had that problem?) before he deploys in October.
He and Katie will be home in NW Arkansas around Sept. 17th for about 2 weeks for his pre-deployment leave. I can't wait. As soon as we have dates and timing confirmed by him we will be booking their flights and I will immediately start washing sheets and freshening up the bedroom! Ahhhh it will be so nice to have them home even if it's just for a couple of weeks. Anything is better than nothing so I will take what I can get.
At this time the plan is that Katie will remain in CA while Chad is deployed to Afghanistan and either attend school or work. She has a nice group of wives that are a great support for her and I'm sure she is for them and they are doing an amazing job of being there for each other when the guys are out in the field or training and I know they will be during deployment. I'm so glad she found these ladies and they are taking such good care of my girl when I can't be there.
We are so blessed with all our kids and very proud of them all.

What a couple of weeks...

We've been so busy with commitments for the last several weekends so lots of driving and work has been crazy to say the very least. Our daughter in CA had a visitor that she thought was going to be lots of fun and turned out not to be as much as expected, but she made the best of it of course. My BFF announced she was getting married and she and I are trying to plan a wedding and honeymoon together with her in KY and me here. Sheewwww... It's just been nuts. My baby boy gets back to base and to his wife tomorrow night after spending 30+ days in the Mojave Viper dessert in 120 degree weather. I will be glad for him to have air conditioning to sit in and a nice cool shower and his loving bride to take care of him. Tebo has played over 12 softball games in 2 1/2 weeks, he has the Tyson softball tournament all this weekend, Candi and Nathan have been busy and happy (with the exception that Nathan has been put on a night shift for a while so their together time is cut down significantly to say the least), Tia has gotten all moved and Trevor is days away from starting high school. Alex bought a new truck and there has been lots of activity and a fair share of drama in Tulia so we are just trying to keep up with everyone. I've had very little time to clean house so you know what that means... Baseboards will be on the list in the next couple of weeks. I feel like I've gotten behind on everything and I so do not like that. We are counting down the days that Chad and Katie come home on Sept. 17th for pre-deployment leave and we can't wait. The only thing that would make that any better is for all the kids to be home, but I know that is just wishful thinking. At least we will have Chad, Katie, Candi, and Nathan here so I won't complain for a second. Jorden starts college in a few weeks (I'm sure she has the actual days posted on Face Book), but I'm thinking it's about 20 days (give or take a day or two).... :) She is too excited and that's what it's all about. We have a good life and a happy life and while there are some things I would love to change (like having our kids closer all the time), I feel so completely blessed. I sure do love my family and my life.