Happy Holidays all!

Sorry it’s been so long since my last post. I’ve tried to keep as busy as possible for the last couple of weeks. Just a little trick I’ve learned that helps get you through the holidays while you’re deployed. All in all, Christmas went well for my buddies and I. One of my friends was able to get back out here after recovering from surgery (again, not battle-related). So he was able to spend the holidays outside of a hospital, which was nice for everyone.

It’s been incredibly cold out here recently- believe it or not. When I talked to family back home, they boasted how cold it’s been in Wisconsin (as we normally do, as if it’s a right of passage for all Wisconsinites). But, I got to boast right back. In the morning, it gets down to the low 30s out here, and I can only assume it’s even colder before the sun rises (but there’s no way I’m running out to the nearest thermometer to check). I would have never imagined this in a million years. You constantly hear stories about how hot it gets out here, but I’ve honestly never heard a story about how cold it gets. So, of course my family is in shock of this, but still think that it’s got to be much colder in Wisconsin. That may be so, but how many of them have a 30 yard walk outside to get to the bathroom or showers? When you wake up in the middle of the night, you really have to think about it and weigh all of your options. Do I put all my clothes on? Do I stay in my shorts, throw on a sweatshirt and make a run for it? Or, do try and hold it till morning? This never works, by the way.

I figured Santa would skip Iraq this year (no-fly zone and all), but I got a couple of packages and cards that all came on Xmas Eve. Good thing too, since I’m incredibly inpatient. If I would have gotten them any sooner, I’d have opened them anyways. Not having anyone to slap you on wrist when you try to shake the boxes under the tree will do that to you I guess. I would like to thank you all again for everything you’ve sent, and continue to send - not only for myself, but for the rest of us out here in the desert.

Mellissa and Keegan (my wife and son) are back home in Wisconsin for the holidays. Keegan loves going home to see his Grandmas and Grandpas. I would too though if they spoiled me the way they do him. I think they enjoy it the most though. They don’t get to see Keegan all that often, so they’re only making up for lost time. Mellissa has done a real good job sending me videos and posting photos from their visit on Keegan’s photo website. Even though I can’t be there, that really helps. The photos and videos are great… I can’t believe how much he’s grown and learned just since the time I left, 3 months ago. I couldn’t even imagine a 16-month deployment, like most of the Army is currently doing out here. She sent me one video of Keegan singing Jingle Bells, which I couldn’t believe. Now, I’m not saying he’s Frank Sinatra or anything, but give him a few years. Haha.

I’d have to admit though, my favorite present didn’t come in the shape of a package. It came on Xmas Eve when my beloved Chicago Bears beat up on the Packers (sorry Wisconsinites, I guess I’ve always been a traitor in that respect). This game was exceptionally good though, because my family had conveniently scheduled their Xmas party around the game. Now, my Dad and I are the only Bears fans in the family, so through the years, we’ve taken a considerable amount of grief from them. That’s what family is for right? So, since I was absent from this year’s party, of course I mandated that my son wear his Bears jersey so his Grandpa wouldn’t be the only one of “us” there. Worked like a charm. Having decent phone connections through my computer, I was able to call and send text messages throughout the game to gloat. Nothing better than gloating from thousands of miles away, where the others can’t call you back when their team scores. Haha. Good times. Merry Xmas Packer fans. 35 points, 2 blocked punts, 2 INTs, 1 Bears win, and a partridge in a pear tree.

As for work, things are going well for myself and the rest of the Battalion. We’re just about finished with the construction of a new fellowship hall for the camp’s chapel. It looked pretty nice about a week ago, when I last visited the site. We also just began a huge new project. We’ve sent a considerable amount of people and materials out to build a brand new combat outpost (basically, a small camp). It should be an experience for those guys. They’re going out to a location with nothing and making it something.

I’ve attached a couple photos I took of our guys out working on the fellowship hall. Enjoy!

Anyways… I should get going now. Duty calls. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!