In the 10th Year of War, a Harder Army, a More Distant America

I read this article and thought I would share with everyone. It's long but thought it was worth sharing...

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/09/09/in-the-10th-year-of-war-a-harder-army-a-more-distant-america/

Happy Tuesday....

Oh yeah and tomorrow we are going to break through 100 days left until January! Whooo Hoooo!

WDEngagement

It's official! Hannah and Josh are engaged and as I like to coin the weekend as " War Damn Engagement!" For those of you who aren't from Alabama, WAR EAGLE is our Battle Cry! Read here for the full story! Anyway, lots of speculation was going on if Josh would propose this weekend or not. Reasons why it was the best weekend for Josh to ask Hannah to marry him ever....

1. Auburn and Clemson played for the first time since 2007. Hannah is an Auburn graduate and Josh is a Clemson alumni. Auburn and Clemson played a great game and AUBURN WON!

2. Hannah Warren...soon to be Chapman...LOVES football. Living with Hannah for officially two years and unofficially four, Hannah would wake up every Saturday morning to watch College Game Day. She can spit out Auburn Football history like it is her job. She loves Auburn football and college football in general.

3. All of Hannah and Josh's family were in town "for the game" and the weekend included a engagement party tailgate.

4. The last and the best is that Hannah was completely surprised! Josh really talked it up that it wasn't happening until next spring...needless to say..Hannah believed him!

I love these two and truly can say that they were made for each other. Congratulations you two!

Never the same

No one will ever forget where they were when the United States was attacked 9 years ago today. I was sitting in my history class at Green Bay Southwest High school. Each year that has passed since then I would say a prayer for those families that lost a loved one and ask God to protect our troops but that was about it.

This year it is different. It is personal. It is the reason why I haven’t seen Wyatt’s face in two months. A lot has changed in the past two months. I hate to admit it but I had my first break down about a week or two ago. Not breaking down because I miss Wyatt…which I do very much or because I am scared for him…which I am… but because I read somewhere that there were 7 casualties that particular day. As ignorant or immature as this might sound, it was the first time that when I heard the word casualty I associated it with real human beings. Ahhh I can’t believe I am admitting that. I am so embarrassed to be 23 years of age and just now realizing what a sacrifice our troops make for our country. It is easy to hide real lives behind a word like casualties. But that day I imagined those soldiers. That they were people that have a favorite football team, a place that they call home, friends that they drink beer and tell stories with. They have mothers and fathers. Brothers and sisters. And then, I imagined someone like me. Someone being head over heels in love with one of those soldiers and that’s when, for the first time, the tears came. I felt such empathy for those families. I was hurting for them. It is bringing me back to tears writing about it but I also know that those tears were a long time coming and it felt good to let them out. I think that it would not be normal to not have days like that and to feel that way when you really stop to think about it.

I will never be the same and I am forever changed. Today I again feel sadness for those who lost their lives that day and those who have since died protecting our country. You are not forgotten.

IOWA

After a long weekend of traveling (I hate that the closest airport is two hours plus a time change away) I am home with my pup. I wouldn't have wanted to spend this weekend any other way. Tommy, my brother, had his season opener and the fam make the trek to see the Hawkeyes win their first game. I am such a bad sister...I didn't even know they were ranked...and ranked high at that. Last I heard they were 9th! The weekend was full of hugs and stories! Just the way I like it!

On another note, I have found a new peace tonight that was needed dearly. I had been having a hard time sleeping. With Wyatt being nine and a half hours ahead when I am getting into bed and ending my day, he is waking and starting his. Starting a day, that well, isn't like mine or yours and I'll just leave it at that. But here is the TRUTH...Proverbs 3:24-26

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence...

Even when I am sleeping I can be confident in the Lord and that He hears my prayers (1 John 5:14- 15 another set of verses I have been focusing on)...Amen to that and a night ahead of me with sweet sleep!

Wyatt's Birthday

24 years ago today...well tomorrow USA time... Wyatt Lee was born awwww! Happy Birthday Wyatt!

For the past week I have been coming up with a list of reasons why this birthday is going to be great!

• With the time change you have officially have an extra 9 and 1/2 hours to celebrate your birthday! Hints why this is posted on Friday and not Saturday!


• You don't have to worry about anyone throwing you a surprise party and you not "looking cute" because you were truly surprised.


• This is the first birthday that you have known me...so it is obviously going to be one of the best :)


• It might not be the beach but you can have a great day in the sand!


• The Army was sweet and decided to give you and your unit some time off this weekend!I have a feeling they don't do that for everyone's birthday! haha


• Facebook doesn't know you are in A-Town and will still let EVERYONE you have EVER known that it is your birthday!


• 24 has now become a cool number thanks to Kiefer Sutherland.


• Less than 24 weeks until you are back in the U.S. of A... we are closer to 19 right now!


• You get to have the Army themed birthday party you always wanted!


• Once you do get your mail...which might be weeks or months later...you get to celebrate all over again.


• Your amazing... wonderful... pretty girlfriend can’t embarrass you with a Birthday Video…oh wait… Yes I can! Enjoy! Happy Birthday Wyatt! I love you!
  

Wyatt's Birthday Click for Video!