Hello!
I got a phone call from Brent at 1100 this morning. I apoligize for taking a couple hours to get this out, but, being on 3rd shift, 1100 is the middle of the night for me. It was 7:00 pm in Iraq, today's date.They left Kuwait several hours later than planned. They were about halfway to their destination & had stopped for the night. The Polish troops do not like to travel at night.
They are staying at a base that is pretty built up. It was quite a hike to the comm center to use the phones, but he wanted to let us know he was doing okay. They are putting them up in some pretty nice trailers for the night and then headed out in the morning again.Brent thinks he may still enter into another time zone, but as of now he is 8 hours ahead of us. He sends his love to everyone & will let me know asap when he is safely on base.
Christmas Hat Day
Mandatory good cheer on our annual shopping trip to buy for each other
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
And we wait some more...
I got an email from the Family Readiness Group Coordinator this evening. She said that she had heard from the command and that our soldiers had gotten into Kuwait safely. They were going to brief for about 3 hours, then head on to their final destination. I excitedly sent off emails telling everyone. Then, called my mom, who is still behind times and does not have email. While I was talking to mom I got a call from a strange number and almost didn't answer, but I gave it a shot.
It was Brent!!!!! I felt a rush of relief. It was 6:15 pm our time, 2:15 am Kuwait time. He said that they had been in the air for a total of 17 hours between Georgia and Kuwait, with a 3 hour layover to fuel up in Germany. They were leaving at 5:15 am go on to their destination. Silly me, all excited and chatty, started discussing our cell phones and whether we should keep his on when I lost the call. Of all things to talk about!! I can be such an airhead sometimes. Anyway, I didn't get a call back, and didn't expect one. I know there is a lot of people wanting to talk to their families.
So, I am hoping that we hear from the FRG once they hit the Camp as fast as we did this time. I know we are all ready to just get into a routine, so we can get this time done.
It was Brent!!!!! I felt a rush of relief. It was 6:15 pm our time, 2:15 am Kuwait time. He said that they had been in the air for a total of 17 hours between Georgia and Kuwait, with a 3 hour layover to fuel up in Germany. They were leaving at 5:15 am go on to their destination. Silly me, all excited and chatty, started discussing our cell phones and whether we should keep his on when I lost the call. Of all things to talk about!! I can be such an airhead sometimes. Anyway, I didn't get a call back, and didn't expect one. I know there is a lot of people wanting to talk to their families.
So, I am hoping that we hear from the FRG once they hit the Camp as fast as we did this time. I know we are all ready to just get into a routine, so we can get this time done.
The Waiting Game
Well, as I write this, Brent should be close to arriving in Germany or may already be there. I got a message from him at around 6:40 pm saying that he had to shut his phone off for take off and that this would be his last message to me. (What a horrible thought!!!) Intellectually, I know what he meant, but I am so very scared, too!
He said that I shouldn't worry, even if I don't hear from him until Tuesday or Wednesday. Yea, right! I can't imagine doing much but worry. I know that if he is given half a chance he will come home to us safe & sound. I really understand what he goes through when I'm out on a dangerous call now. I guess it never really hit me until now.
Of course, with all that said, I couldn't be more proud of my wonderful husband! Since we have met we have gotten into a wonderful habit of embracing all the people and past experiences we have had. Although we wish we had met and fell in love years ago, we both realize that it is our pasts that have allowed us to become who we are today. I hope everyone who is reading this has some idea of the appreciation that I have for you, for helping to make Brent the sweet, caring, brave man that I am blessed to share a life with! He is truely my best friend---& that is the hardest part of being away from him.
Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers!
He said that I shouldn't worry, even if I don't hear from him until Tuesday or Wednesday. Yea, right! I can't imagine doing much but worry. I know that if he is given half a chance he will come home to us safe & sound. I really understand what he goes through when I'm out on a dangerous call now. I guess it never really hit me until now.
Of course, with all that said, I couldn't be more proud of my wonderful husband! Since we have met we have gotten into a wonderful habit of embracing all the people and past experiences we have had. Although we wish we had met and fell in love years ago, we both realize that it is our pasts that have allowed us to become who we are today. I hope everyone who is reading this has some idea of the appreciation that I have for you, for helping to make Brent the sweet, caring, brave man that I am blessed to share a life with! He is truely my best friend---& that is the hardest part of being away from him.
Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers!
Monday, March 24, 2008
He's off
Well, Brent's off serving our country. The last couple weeks have flown by. We have been running around doing a ton of small errands that, in total, seemed to take up an awful lot of our time together.
The last three days he was home I had a stomach bug and he got to watch his new wife sleep and run to the bathroom. That's about all I could manage. Talk about feeling guilty. But, he was so understanding and more worried about me than anything. Another reason to love him.
On the homefront, Drake was recently made Captain of the Scholastic Bowl team. We had Easter morning with the kids on Good Friday. It was a nice family day together. We just spent it hanging out (me sleeping) and enjoying each other.
We saw Brent off at the airport. His flight was at 0600, so the kids were extremely tired, but over all, handled it pretty well. I was the basket case. But, we made it through.
Brent made it to Fort Benning in Georgia by noon on Saturday, the 22nd. He'll be there this week and then fly to Germany. He'll move into Iraq via Kuwait sometime after that. I can't wait to just hear he made it to the base safely. I'm sure that a whole bunch of us will be breathing easier then.
The last three days he was home I had a stomach bug and he got to watch his new wife sleep and run to the bathroom. That's about all I could manage. Talk about feeling guilty. But, he was so understanding and more worried about me than anything. Another reason to love him.
On the homefront, Drake was recently made Captain of the Scholastic Bowl team. We had Easter morning with the kids on Good Friday. It was a nice family day together. We just spent it hanging out (me sleeping) and enjoying each other.
We saw Brent off at the airport. His flight was at 0600, so the kids were extremely tired, but over all, handled it pretty well. I was the basket case. But, we made it through.
Brent made it to Fort Benning in Georgia by noon on Saturday, the 22nd. He'll be there this week and then fly to Germany. He'll move into Iraq via Kuwait sometime after that. I can't wait to just hear he made it to the base safely. I'm sure that a whole bunch of us will be breathing easier then.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Whirlwind
Wow, things have truely been like a whirlwind. The new Mrs Brent Russell is posting this message :D We were married on Feb 29, 2008 at the Tazewell County Courthouse and had an open house at our place to celebrate.
The kids were so cute and it really seemed as if our family was getting married, not just Brent & me. Drake & Ashtyn were our official witnesses and Dade did a great job as ringbearer. The Judge even gave him "knuckles" after the ceremony for doing such an excellent job.
The night before our wedding we headed to Machesney Park. We got up early and headed to Brent's change of command ceremony. It was very touching and I think the kids really got an understanding of exactly how important their dad really is. Brent was presented with a print of the Gas Attack of 1918 and I received flowers. I wish he would have told me how slippery the floors would be though---I really thought I was going to wipe out in front of everyone in my high heels.
The new commander and his fiancee were very nice and offered their support while Brent was gone, as did many of his soldiers. Brent presented each of his soldiers with a 135 th Chemical Company coin that he had made just for them. They all seemed very touched and werre sorry to see him go.
We had a wonderful weekend with the kids after the wedding, just hanging and being a family. Brent had to go out of town Monday and as I am typing this Friday afternoon I am anxiously awaiting his arrival home. I'm just happy to call myself his wife :D
The kids were so cute and it really seemed as if our family was getting married, not just Brent & me. Drake & Ashtyn were our official witnesses and Dade did a great job as ringbearer. The Judge even gave him "knuckles" after the ceremony for doing such an excellent job.
The night before our wedding we headed to Machesney Park. We got up early and headed to Brent's change of command ceremony. It was very touching and I think the kids really got an understanding of exactly how important their dad really is. Brent was presented with a print of the Gas Attack of 1918 and I received flowers. I wish he would have told me how slippery the floors would be though---I really thought I was going to wipe out in front of everyone in my high heels.
The new commander and his fiancee were very nice and offered their support while Brent was gone, as did many of his soldiers. Brent presented each of his soldiers with a 135 th Chemical Company coin that he had made just for them. They all seemed very touched and werre sorry to see him go.
We had a wonderful weekend with the kids after the wedding, just hanging and being a family. Brent had to go out of town Monday and as I am typing this Friday afternoon I am anxiously awaiting his arrival home. I'm just happy to call myself his wife :D
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