Fundraiser, Auctions & Friends

Yesterday was a crazy busy day with the phone ringing and computer beeping at me all day. I couldn't even complain because it was all people with either ideas on how to raise money or friends offering to host fundraiser for Banyan's trip to Colorado. I have to say everytime we have ever prayed about the next move to make concerning Banyan, God has flung open the windows . Not just a little crack open either a huge gaping picture window open-haha.

We now have three separate fundraisers going on to help cover our expenses to Colorado in mid-October. We still have the very beautiful Quillow that is valued at $175.00 up for bid. The current high bid is $75.00 and you have until September 15th to place the final bids.

Remember to BID on the Quillow simply leave a comment below if you don't have a Facebook account. I'll copy& paste to Jeremy's Facebook Page  
or go to the Facebook page & "like" then comment in the live auction in the NOTES section. You can't miss it! 

Now my workout partner and friend Ashley has her own cake decorating business from her home. Say it With Cake is her buisness name where she whips up some of the most delicious cakes I've ever eaten. We've ordered three cakes from her now and have a fourth soon. She can even do Gluten free cakes that taste Yummy! She surprised me by creating a 50% Give back promotion yesterday.

She  already has 4 custom cake orders placed & our family will receive a portion of her profits. Super sweet of her to do for us and we are truly touched. Go check her out on Facebook  to see all the Awesomeness she can create. If you live in the Olympia, Lacey Dupont or JBLM area she does deliver for a small fee. If your in Yelm it's FREE delivery!

After posting Ashley's cake offer on our local Yelm Outreach Facebook page someone I've never met offered to host an on-line Auction from her home based business as well. I was humbled and so grateful. I know it could be us trying to pay for the airline tickets and hotel cost alone out of pocket. I would have made it happen but generous friends & community people helping makes it easier to not wonder how it would happen. Jackie started up not one but two on-line auctions that anyone anywhere can place bids. Here is one link to the auction at Spot's Corner & here is the second auction as Spot's Corner both for Diaper covers. I had no idea Diaper Covers where so huge right now! The combined total for those two auctions with 100% of the sales going to us is already $127.00-YIPPIE!!

With all this we now have enough money to purchase one of the airline tickets at no out of pocket expense. I am so grateful and we are so blessed. We have amazing support behind our efforts to get Banyan the best training possible. I mentioned to my friend Ashley how I always feel like we are fundraising for Banyan and asking for help. She was amazing when she responded that you reap what you sow and I help out a lot in anyway I can. I sure hope I help enough because no amount of volunteering by me could ever say thank you enough to everyone over the past 8 months who have stepped up to help us along our journey. God has truly humbled me with his constant presence  & reminders to lay my problem at his feet. He will show us the direction in his time that we are suppose to take.

We haven't forgotten those friends who early on in the process helped us get Banyan home & pay for his needs for the first few months. Thank you to the whole Yelm community as well as Army family. With out each and everyone of you we would  not be as far along as we are in our journey. 

Most of the fundraisers go until September so please share them with anyone you think might be interested. The Quillow would make a great Christmas gift and is so beautiful. 

Our family is still raising money for The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation & their Epilepsy walk on September 23rd. If you would like to make a donation to us for their cause in raising awareness about SUDEP please follow this LINK  

to our donation page. All proceeds go to other deserving families who need Service dogs. We've raised $430.00 of our $800 goal- no amount is to small to make a difference.

There is a place in you where there is perfect peace.
There is a place in you where nothing is impossible.
There is a place in you where the strength of God abides you need only ask * then listen for his reply. ~ Author unknown

22 Years of Army

Today marks my soldier / husband's 22 years of serving in the Army. He is not one to make a big deal out of it, but I am super proud of him. He has worked so hard over his career before & after we got together. He has achieved a list of awards that most Infantry Men never receive- I am one proud Army Wife. I wish my scanner was working because thanks to his mom I have photos of everything going all the way back to his Basic Training days. But lucky for him it's not hooked up & functioning. I will have to just post some random pictures of highlights of my man's amazing career. 

Way to go honey- way to always put your families needs first when I know you really wanted to retire already.  You've missed birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, first days of school, first driving permits but you did it all for us & we LOVE you very much! Whatever path the Army leads us down next I know you will make us all proud until the time comes for you to pack away your combat boots. Until then we will be here beaming with pride over our awesome husband, dad, son, brother, & soldier.

 

Private Huston's first time home after Basic.

Jamie who was suppose to go with Paul but got a no-go due to medical.

Corporal Huston- this is the guy I met & fell in love with on July 24,1994

I married that Corporal on January 6, 1996

 

SSG Huston on his first deployment to Iraq 2003 / 04

 

 

Promotion to SFC Huston 2007

 2 Bronze Stars he has received - this was in Iraq 2008

SFC Huston seeing his boys for the first time in 13 months 2007 / 08

 Promotion to 1SG in 2009

 Bronze Star number 3 in 2010 

 

Auctioned off his hair for a good cause as 1SG- was one of my favorite days

 

 Sat in the dunk tank for the FRG.....

Made sure to attend buddies promotion ceremonies when he was home

 Makes me look good ALL the time!!

I love my man & I'm sure he is embarrassed over all the fuss. But he has earned it with his hard work & dedication. There are so many more moments that I can't possibly post them all. But if you've know Paul or worked with him at some point in his career I'm sure you can add to the list. Once again thank you for serving for 22 years & thank you for always thinking of your family.

 

It's In the Books

After eleven months & two weeks deployment number four is in the books folks. My husband landed around 10:30AM at McChord Airforce base & relief settled into my whole body. It's a hard feeling to explain unless you've gone through it yourself the sense of constant worry just washed away.  I use to think people where crazy who told me things like you'll never know until you've been there. But those words are so true. I woke up at 4:30AM and laid in my empty bed for what I hope is the last time. Finally I got up and made the coffee & paced around my house. I checked my facebook for any updates no news was good news. As soon as 6:30AM rolled around I woke up the children who for once jumped up & got ready! The excitement was electric in the house as we patiently waited to leave. Once we arrived at the designated gym we had been seated for less then twenty minutes when the "DELAY" announcement was given. I was not surprised but still groaned along with everyone else. As the hours ticked by I thought we where never going to see that Plane come through the sky.

After I saw this they announced at least another hour & a half so they could turn in their sensitive items I voted to go grab food. We where all starving at this point. I thought if we ate lunch then came back it would help pass time. Plus Paul wouldn't arrive to hungry cranky children. Jacob  & I walked a little ways down the road as I wasn't giving up my awesome parking spot! We grabbed two pizzas and headed back to the gym. The boys happily ate saving three slices for their dad. Then came the next best part of the day.

We had a quick three minute speech then chaos ruled as soldiers reunited with their families.

This is my favorite picture, my heart is back with me. Unfortunately know one was able to tag along like in the past to get better pictures. But that's okay, who needs pictures when I can reach out & touch the real thing!

Now we are happily relaxing as he chats with the older boys who haven;t left his side since he showered & sat down. Soon I hope to get some time alone with my man. But for now it warms my  heart to have all my boys back under one roof. Who knows for how long, but I'll take whatever time the Army gives us today.

Yep It's My Happy Dance

If you been following along on this crazy roller coaster ride for the past 10 months & 2 weeks - I bet you can figure out why I am Happy Dancing around my house tonight!

I got the STOP sending mail email today from our Rear D & the "this is how Homecoming will go"  newsletter!! We are so close I can almost taste it to having my husband home after deployment number four. We have only told the boys a time frame that dad may arrive. Seeing as I've been there done that a few times I know that exact dates are  not a good thing to hand out. But oh how I am relishing the fact that we are almost DONE!!

Done skyping, done mailing care packages, done chatting on Facebook, done, done , DONE!! YIPPIE!! Now to make it through these last few little weeks by keeping busy. I think I can manage to find things to do that I didn't quite get around to finishing....lol
I hope all you still going through your deployments know the end does come eventually. I wish only good things as you travel on down the deployment road- you are never far from my thoughts. Now to start making hair appointments & planning the outfit....thank goodness.

Happy Dancing Through the Post Office

I bet you never would have thought that anyone would be doing a Happy Dance in the post office?? Well this girl did today! We have lived in the same military town for the last three deployments so I know the employees at our local post office. A couple who always chat with me & ask about Paul are super great! I got one of those ladies today as I slung a heavy care package up on her scale. She smiled & asked what I packed this time for Paul? I smiled a huge smile & told her it has all the favorites he requested because it's HIS LAST CARE PACKAGE of this deployment!!

That's right folks we have finally made it through almost 10 months of this fourth deployment. We found out a couple weeks ago my husband's unit will be home one month early- so I only have to hold on to my sanity six more weeks! I can do this I CAN!! Six weeks is a heck of a lot shorter then when we started back on July 5, 2011! It takes his boxes about ten to fourteen days to arrive so I won't mail anymore. I hate that he is spending his big 40th Birthday over there but we can celebrate when he returns. Now is time to buckle down and get all those projects done I said I would finish ten months ago,oooppps. I can barely wrap my brain around the fact that we have almost done it, we have almost kicked this fourth deployment in the booty! I pray it is our last, but who knows what God & the Army have in store for our family. I just had to share with everyone. I hope you all who are just starting your journey can read this & realize eventually they come to an end. Just hang on tight with both hands & go along for the ride!

Another Fallen Brother...

EDIT - SFC Ben Wise - Second Son lost for family.

My husband doesn't have all the details yet of his former soldier & friend. Only the news that came across his Facebook that his friend had died yesterday from wounds he received earlier in the week. As soon as we know more I will add them to Ben's picture on the Page of Remembrance. It saddens my heart every time we have to add a name. It seems like a new name is added every year now with no end in sight. Ben when I knew him was young quiet kid who loved working with Paul and the other Scouts in 5/20 "Skyes Regulars" They all deployed in November of 2003- 2004. The smaller pictures in his memorial are from that time. The bearded picture is the most recent friends have posted in his honor on Facebook as their profile picture. He leaves behind a wife and small children. Please keep them in prayer as their world is forever changed. We will not forget his sacrifice or his sweet disposition. He was one of the good guys & he will be forever missed.

Recon 5/20 2003-04

No Superwoman Here Folks

I am now 6 months into a fourth deployment. I get told a lot of times "Amanda it'll be OK because your Superwoman!". I hate to burst everyone's bubble but I am no different then any other ordinary Army Wife who is only trying to find activities to fill the time while my soldier is away. It may appear to those who don't know me well that I am on the go a lot and juggling fifty different things at once with ease. But appearances can be deceiving. Don't think for one moment that just because I am out doing things for my children or myself that this makes my deployment experience any less exhausting and emotionally draining then anyone else. But above all please no I am NO Superwoman!!

Do I cry , Yes- yesterday it was three times. Am I exhausted & get no sleep? Yes- I am averaging if I am lucky 4 to 5 hours a night 7 days a week. Do I think because this is his fourth deployment I know everything-NO. I called another wife just this week to help out another of our unit's wives because guess what folks- I DID NOT have the answers she needed. Did I know who would, yes I hoped I did. But if I was perfect or Superwoman as some seem to think I would have never had to make a call for assistance to begin with-huh. 

I am not angry that some think I have it all together, just a little frustrated with the title. I still need hugs & told it'll be OK just like any other wife going through a deployment. I still sat in my living room floor on Christmas Eve alone crying with just the three dogs. It's hard work to keep up with all the balls I do have going in my life. But I have four boys to think about & not just myself.

I am not a person who sits around and does the "whoo is me stuff" very well. I have a hard time reading status's on Facebook like that as well when I am in the middle of a deployment. I take the attitude that if you stay busy, keep your kids happy then it just helps. But by no means does it mean I have it all together anymore then other wives out there who miss their husband. I just want my family back together just as much as anyone- but right now that's not going to happen. So I put on a smile, I do endless doctor's appointments, puppy classes, soccer, video games stuff, because it helps pass the time. Not because I want to feel exhausted. But I know sitting in my house moping around will only make the kids sad and worried as well as me a depressed hot mess!

Please remember ladies that we are all in this deployment hell together. Not one of us is any more ready for a deployment emotionally then the other. We may tell our selves "we got this", but yeah when it's time & happening to you- it is never as easy as it looks. It's a lot easier to think a person doesn't need hugs, checked in on, advice, because you are peering in from the outside. Maybe you just need to remember if you feel like crap because your soldier is leaving or gone chances are so does that wife that looks like she has it all together.

I can't say enough how much fun Friday night was for me with the two ladies who enjoyed going out with me on my anniversary. I needed the laughter, the giggles, the silly girl talk. I needed to not worry about one damn thing for those six blissful hours- they will always hold a special place in my heart for taking the time to do that for me.If you know a wife or family going through a deployment it's the really small teeny tiny things that you think make no difference that sometimes mean the most. Walk up give them a hug, tell them they are doing a great job, but you just want to know do they need anything? We may not ask for help ( I know I don't) but it's nice to hear the offer to have the sense that someone knows how hard it really is to go through. For someone to realize, you aren't Superwoman you just need a hug.

Thanks for listening to may rant, every once in awhile I just have to vent. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday this non-superhero is off for my 2 hours of "me time" at the gym, then home to laundry, puppy training, dinner, then more puppy class,oh & setting up pre-op for Jeremy at some point. That is a whole different Post though. I'll share it when I am ready- ta ta for now.

Tragedy Strikes in Training Accident

We often times never remember once our soldiers arrive home into the comfort of our arms that they are still in harms way each day as the train for the next mission. I woke up to the horrible news that the unthinkable had happened right in our own back yard. We lost four helicopter pilots in a training accident on Joint Base Lewis McChord last night. It was brought even closer home when a friend private messaged me that it was her husband's unit, that he is a mechanic for one of the birds. The devastation , second guessing has begun. Praying for all the families & friends of those lost seems to be one of many options at the moment. Reassurance to a young Army family that their soldier could have never predicated this outcome. That God has a plan & thankfully it did not include taking her spouse home to heaven as well. Seems he was only home not at work because he worked night last week.

To many times I forget that my husband is always training when he is home. I can count on one hand the amount of soldiers we have lost due to training accidents . It is rare & I am asking that you all remember to pray daily for all our men & women in uniform. They may not be on a deployment but they are still in a dangerous job daily. Pray for these four families whose Christmas will never be the same again. I am posting a link to the article you can read. As well as a link for a call for help. One of the Widows just finalized her adoption of a special needs son & is now finding herself a single parent. If you have it in your heart to make any amount of a donation please follow the links listed in the article.

 This is not an easy life we live as military spouses but God has seen fit to bless me with this sometimes unimaginable burden. I will do my part &  I hope you all will pass  along  the information as well to help.

Tragedy Strikes in Helicopter Training Accident on JBLM

Project Hopeful Loses one of their Own- Call to Action

Video about the Loss

Handy man, I mean Daddy

Happy Thanksgiving folks - I know I have been a slacker in posting but we have been so busy. My parents flew in on Monday which was only yesterday but it feels like we have been going non-stop! They only come on Thanksgiving when Paul is deployed so the boys & I have some family around. I save all my household fix-em up projects for my daddy as well. Yes folks I am almost forty & I call him daddy still. My dad & I where at Home depot before 9Am today gathering the supplies on his list. He walked through the house Monday evening to see what damage the four boys had done in the two years since he had been here. Well & one girl doggie named Heidi who chewed through my bedroom door frame this summer .  I now have a new door,door frame, picture frame around my world map,& as I type he is repainting the boys bathroom. It doesn't matter that I told him they will have it trashed in a week after he leaves. He still wants it to look nice for thanksgiving day when I have a houseful of guests . I forgot to mention all the little fixes as well- but I am Thankful for every little tiny thing he has done today so my house doesn't fall apart while my soldier is deployed. I am just not a handy girl & thankfully I don't have to spend a fortune to have repairs done.

Mom & I took ourselves into town while dad worked to gather the supplies for Thanksgiving feast. The turkey will be done by our Turkey guru Nathan so we where picking up things for sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pies,green beans casserole & a ham. We bought enough that I was actually given a FREE Turkey from Safeway! Now I have Christmas Dinner in the freezer already! Plus we used all my electronic coupons & regular coupons so I saved us $103.65 on our final bill!! I was super excited! I am also thankful that I have both my parents still to share holidays with some years. I love that they love my kids & take the time to see them as often as possible. It isn't easy as they live in Tennessee but they never let the distance stop them. They see my four boys at least once a year even if they don't see me or Paul.My boys just don't know how lucky they are to have a set of grandparents that treasure them so much & want to be apart of their everyday life from thousands of miles away.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I will be missing my soldier & it breaks my heart to hear how much he is missing us this week. But I know God willing we will have many more holidays to spend together with him in the future. I have his Christmas packages all wrapped I just need to grab a few more little items to put inside his box. I cried while we wrapped his gifts because I hate that we won't get to see  his face while he opens them. I know he will like them all & I pray we can SKYPE at some point. Holiday's for an Army wife stink when they involve deployment. I will enjoy my family time with my parents & my children this week. Then deal with Christmas the best I can. One day at a time, one day at a time.

Tacoma Glass Museum

Today was a beautiful sunny day in the Pacific Northwest & I got to spend the whole afternoon with son number two all by myself which is rare. It was some much needed quality time at the Tacoma Glass Museum for a Blue Star Family event they where holding for children of deployed soldiers. We arrived had the presentation of colors ,opening remarks, then where given private tours of the museum. Matthew got to learn to make a layered glass tile, watch glass blowing, & enjoy his good ole mom's company all day! We had a good time even though it was a long day. We actually snuck out thirty-mintues early & headed to dinner. I let Matthew pick since it was our special day out together. He picked seafood at Duke's Chowder house on Ruston Way- YUMMY!!  We enjoyed sitting on the deck in the late afternoon sunshine & talking. I gave him some helpful tips for when he is on a date because I know that is not far off,uggg He also got to try clam-chowder for the first time & our server thought he was a cutie so she kept bringing him special drinks. He loved all the attention! I was very blessed to get this special time with Matthew my special,artistic, sweet son. Since he was born he has needed a little more of mom's attention & today was just what we both needed! Thank you to the Army for giving us this day,it allowed us to create wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.

In front of the Museum at the beginning of the day

He wanted a picture for his dad in front of the glass Salmon Panel display

Working on his layered Glass tile project

Glass & Water sculpture outside

View from the top of the museum

A 9 year old girl drew this "Shark Attack" then a local artist blew the glass for her.

Danger Ahead.....

I am heading into a weekend filled with activities that will be fun but are centered around FOOD lots of FOOD! I am heading into the gym this morning to get in a really good work out to start my day before I go to my first FRG Potluck since Paul left. Nothing says "Get your grub ON!!" like putting a room full of amazing homemade food in a small room with a bunch of Army Wives whose husband's just deployed! Yep- it has disaster written ALL OVER IT! I did buy something healthy to take so I at least have that option besides all the food that is sure t0 be high in sugar & calories. I am taking a few preventive measures to insure sucess.

1. I am working out this morning to get my metabolism jump started & help me not feel to guilty if I have one treat. Never deprive yourself if you must have something. Just remember MODERATION so you don't blow all your hard work!

2. I will be eating a small high fiber meal about an hour before I go. Why eat before you go to an event that is serving food? The fiber will fill your stomach up & last longer then even a lean protein. At least for me I have found this to be true. It also helps you to not be starving by the time the food is served. You are less likely to "graze" or over eat.

3. Taking my own big bottle of water. A lot of times at Potlucks they provide drinks but they are sodas that contain a lot of sugar. They may have a diet soda but it will just go right through you with no benefits. By drinking the water I am helping keep that "full" feeling & getting in my daily 8 glasses a day I am shooting for everyday.

4. I will NOT be standing around the food table chatting. Once I have gotten my food I will go find a seat far away as I can. Since I hate getting up & going back to the food table this will help me a lot. But If I stand close to chat with ladies I risk the chance of "grazing" while I chat.

So that is on today's agenda but I still have Sunday to make it through as well. I have a fun Farewell Luncheon to attend. It is fun in the sense that it's at a great location on a patio outside & the sun is suppose to finally be shining. It will be sad & I will cry when I have to talk to say goodbye to a great friend. Now this menu is set as I had a hand in the planning. Thankfully we chose five items our guests can pick from tomorrow. I asked that two of those items be a vegan meal or a fish item. The guest of Honor went ahead of time did some taste testing & picked her favorite. So I do have two items on the menu I can pick from tomorrow. Thank Goodness! But I do love a good glass of wine on a sunny day with my lunch. That will be my down fall I am sure. Wine in moderation is ok, but is still high in calories & sugar. I will have to make sure to find time to hit the gym at some point tomorrow evening as well so I can enjoy my lunch with friends with out any guilt.

I know a lot of you are thinking I don't understand the guilt part?? I have really made getting healthy again a priority but don't want it to mean I can't enjoy my friends & family. In order for that to happen I will have to maintain a good work regiment or I always feel bad for eating anything I know should be "off limits" if I haven't had a good exercise week. I work out because it gives me energy that I desperatly need keeping up with four boys alone. But I also work out so when I want I can indulge in a favorite food or drink from time to time I know it isn't going to go straight to my hips! But that is just me, not everyone shares my views & that is OK. You have to do what works for you when you are living a healthy lifestyle. I don't call it dieting because it's not. If I want a cookie or a slice of pizza I will eat it for sure. But I will also use moderation & a good work out to balance it all out!

Now wish me luck that I can stick to my plan & make it through the next two days having some fun! I am off to the gym to get my work out going for the day. It just starts my days off right when I exercise first thing. Have a GREAT weekend & I'll check back in Sunday night to report on how I did......

 

Still waiting....and waiting some more

We had a super relaxing fun filled weekend with the family & good friends. We honestly spent it like it was the last weekend my soldier would be home. We are still waiting on an exact time & date which I know is never exact until they drive away on those awful blue buses. I feel like I am stuck in a horrible limbo or twilight zone. We laugh,watch movies,play with the kids, & then BAM! My bi-polar self starts crying & even yelling on occasions at my poor husband. The poor man has know idea whether to hug me, yell at me, or just walk away.I at least recognize the symptoms this time of me trying to separate from him ahead of time so it might hurt less when he actually leaves . But it is not how he nor I envisioned spending our last few days with him at home. So I will try to pull it together & live as "normally" as possible until he comes home with the dreaded "it's time,here we go". Then I'm sorry all bets are off & I could be Medusa for awhile. Thank goodness my four boys get to fly to their Ommie & Pawpaw's home next week for three weeks of non-stop fun! At least by the time I see them again I will be over the crying every other minute stage & ready to make some fun memories to share with my husband via SKYPE. 

All the last minute packing probably didn't help with the sudden out-bursts of emotions...

  Even poor Heidi is depressed, she knows what it means when all the bags come back out.

Only Jacob laughed & tried to get his daddy to pack him to take to Afghanistan with him.

Just Don't Speak Please

This post may offend some & I am not even a little bit sorry- so here we go. You may mean well when you are talking to me &  my kids about Paul's up coming deployment by saying " This deployment isn't so bad compared to the last. No worries, he will be on a huge secure FOB. (Forward Operating Base).".

At this particular point in my pre-deployment life I neither want to hear or believe it! We just laid to rest a close friend who was also suppose to be in a "safe zone". So just DON'T SPEAK if that is the only thing you can think of to say to us. Just hug us & walk away, I would rather have a hug  then hear those words one more time from anyone.

Unless it is you going through a deployment or have been through a deployment you really have no idea the worry that comes along with the deployment.Your mind plays tricks on you & it's hard to turn the worry off. You can't even begin to compare a two day business trip or a week long training period with a whole year of your loved one in a War zone. So please don't try. I will smile most days & just walk away with out saying a word. But on any given day I could possibly lose it & snap - saying words I really don't want to say to you. If you want to help, give us all a hug & be honest tell us you have no idea how hard it is going to be. Be sincere when you offer to help us & check in on us while Paul is gone. I can always tell the people who mean it when they say it & the folks who are just saying it to be nice but hope we never call.

I love your support & could have never made it through the past ten years with out all the love.But you must understand to the best of your ability - Paul is going into a War zone, he will wear a flak vest, he will carry a gun 24/7, I will not think he is safe until he is back home in my arms where he belongs- period end of story!

Unimaginable Heartache

I finally have a moment to breathe & take in the insane events that happened over the last twenty-four hours. I woke up yesterday and it seemed like a normal Sunday was in play. Church, lunch, haircuts, & Jayd dropping off her graduation announcement. Laughter & hugs with her over the exciting future that lay ahead. With promises to talk with her soon to help her mom & her with her graduation party. 

Then the knock at the door at 8:56PM that every military family dreads, they know before they answer something isn't right if their is a knock at the door that late. Shouts for me to hurry up & come to the door,with close friends standing there. Saying the words but my brain not fully comprehending that they are telling me Sam needs me- Cliff has died in Iraq.

It felt like minutes but I know it was only moments that the fog lifted from my shocked brain & I said I'll be right over. Threw on my yoga pants, hair in a ponytail & jumped in my van. The drive seemed like forever as I was trying to hold it together so Sam & the kids wouldn't see my crying seemed almost impossible, but I did pretty good. Gone was the excitement in the house of an impending fourteenth birthday coming up on Friday & a graduation from high school in two weeks. Shock,sadness, disbelief just a few of the emotions that swept over me as I entered their home to see my best friend of thirteen years completely heartbroken & devastated. No tears came, but my hands shook as I helped make a couple phone calls & tried to let the kids know we would figure it all out. Not sure I was much comfort, but it gave me comfort being with them.

 My heart broke for the two children I had watched grow up & become like family over the past thirteen years.Not sure what the next few days will bring as everything is still up in the air. But my brain is still in shock over the passing of their dad & our friend. Just when you think your reality is safe, the Army has a way of smacking you right in the face. Asking for all my friends to keep the Beattie family in prayer as they are grieving- two children lost their dad on Sunday- their lives will never be the same. I am not sure any of ours will for a very long time.

  
Rip SFC Clifford Beattie- you are loved & will not be forgotten 

Press release from Sunday    All family members have been notified as of this post & announcement has been posted on Facebook.

Cliff's Memorial Page  on Facebook. Please feel free to visit & leave your condolences for the family or share a memory.