One Year Reintegration!

Wow its been a year and a half since Jay has been deployed! We had a One year reintegration thing, classes this last weekend. We learned that he had 36 months of college that he could transfer to the kids. We divided it up between the three of them. PRAISE GOD!

We continue to Believe and pray for Jay's promotion. We have 6 years left in the Guard.

Yesterday 2 soldier's retired, I cried. it was hard to watch. After The Guard being apart of our lives for over 23 years... I'm not sure what we will do!? :/

Memorial Day 2011

This photo sums up my Memorial Day weekend 2011.

Tyler graduated from High School, my mom had a stroke, and Andrew had a going away party before heading to Ft. McCoy Wisc. deep sigh... It defiantly was the weekend of transitions.

I am trusting God with Tyler's future, he has no idea what he wants to do with his life. He is currently working at Seneca about 12-16 hour days. He really seems to like it. Jay just transferred 12 months of free college over to him. I hope he sees his potential and has a desire to go to college.

My mom is pretty much paralyzed on both sides. Her right side was paralyzed 8 years ago from a stroke and now her its her left. We were planning on having a hospice consult and then the next day she started talking and was able to swallow. She needs to be fed and has a wheel chair to support her entire body. This entry reminds me that I need to go visit her.

Andrew deploys to Kuwait.

Andrew and Jaime

A day before Andrew leaves...

It has been a busy spring. Andrew got married on April 29th. Tyler had prom, Jay's 49th birthday and Mother's Day. All with-in 2 weeks. I posted a few pictures below.



Today is the day before Andrew leaves for is 2 weeks at Ripley. Once he returns, he will be home for a few days and then he will leave for Ft. McCoy for a few months, then off to Kuwait for about 9 months or so. I am not concerned about Andrew's physical safety. I will be praying for his spiritual well-being as well as morally and emotionally.

I ordered 3 books through Amazon; on how to be a mother in law. (that thought makes me laugh) Jaime, Andrew's wife is only eight or nine years younger than me. That seems weird to me, but anyway... I hope to receive some helpful insight. :) Only God knows how this relationship will develop. I am hopeful.

deep sigh...

We are gearing up for Tyler's graduation, then I'm off to Omaha, Nebraska for Royal Family Kids training. God has opened the door for me to become a camp director... How exciting! :)

Newspaper article about Andrew's Unit

Pfc. Dalton Sellner, Pfc. Andrew Harmon and Pfc. Taylor Kamm examine a M240B machine gun during drill on Saturday morning. -- Michelle Haacke/Albert Lea Tribune

Here is an article from the Alert Lea times

While several local soldiers are taking their first steps in preparing for a yearlong deployment overseas, the family members they will leave behind remain top of mind for many.

“If our families are cared for, it enables us to stay focused on the welfare of our soldiers and ourselves,” said Capt. Samuel Andrews, commander of Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division. “If his head isn’t in the game, his actions could cost his soldiers and himself their lives.”
About 100 soldiers from the Albert Lea unit of the Minnesota Army National Guard were notified in January they will be deployed for one year in support of Operation New Dawn, which is the name of the U.S. drawdown phase of the Iraq War. These Delta Company soldiers gathered at the National Guard Armory in Albert Lea last weekend as part of their monthly drill, brushing up on some things and preparing themselves for the upcoming deployment.

Their tasks were pretty routine as far as drills go: Gunnery tests, assembly and disassembly of weapons, putting on chemical/biowarfare suits, understanding rules of engagement and proper use of applying force. Reviewing equipment records and developing a range card to help with communications in the field were other areas they reviewed.

“This is a time to brush up on what they’ve already learned and fulfill training requirements handed down by the Army,” said Andrews. “This isn’t necessarily new stuff.”

One thing many of the soldiers were doing specifically to prepare for their pending deployment, however, was updating their personnel files. Soldiers took turns filing in and out of an office at the armory, updating their medical and legal information, making sure the Army has their most updated wills and power of attorney information on file.

This type of preparedness is important, Andrews said, because the more prepared families can be for any potential situation, the better.
“Life still goes on back home, so we have to make sure everything’s ready for them if anything happens,” Andrews said.
This was exactly why on the last day of drill, the Family Readiness Group was holding a potluck at the armory.

FRG is an officially command-sponsored organization of family members, volunteers and soldiers belonging to a unit that provides mutual support and assistance, and a network of communications among the family members, the chain of command and community.

Tammy Estes is the coordinator of the Albert Lea chapter, which meets once a month. The February meeting was an informal event allowing military families to come together, ask questions and get to know one another, in turn strengthening the bond of support they’ll inevitably lean on once their spouse or loved one is deployed.
FRG covers a wide area of needs that will help families as their loved one is deployed, such as offering computer classes to teach Skype and training classes on the correct way to fill out customs forms and send care packages overseas.
Something perhaps people don’t want to discuss, but is a must in their line of duty, is dealing with life-changing experiences, such as births and deaths, and how Army casualty notifications work.

“When significant events happen in life back home, you feel sort of powerless,” Andrews said. “If your spouse doesn’t have a strong support system back home, it’s just human nature to focus on that.”

Andrews is preparing for his fifth deployment, and while he has an understanding this time of what he and his wife will go through, their children are a little older now, which makes every deployment just a little different.

Estes, whose husband, Tom, is also preparing to deploy for his fifth time, said programs offering child care resources, such as Operation Military Kids, are invaluable for families with young children. In fact, preparing their three children is something they’ve already begun in their home.
“Our biggest thing is how the children would react,” Estes said. “This time my children are old enough to write their own e-mails, so it’s something they can be excited about when their dad is gone.”

She recommended being completely open with children and their school teachers about the deployment, as this will only benefit everyone, from the children to their friends and classmates.

First Sgt. Matt Price of Farmington, who reports to the Albert Lea unit, also spoke highly of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon. Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is a program that encourages members of the community to offer simple acts of service toward military members and their families. Simple acts include things like shoveling a driveway, babysitting or even offering up a kind word.

With a wife and three children back home, Price said it gives him comfort to know there’s another support system in place.“If my wife ever needs anything, I know I can’t fix it but I can help by making suggestions and with this, I know she’s taken care of,” Price said. Just last week, Andrews spoke to the Albert Lea City Council about becoming a Yellow Ribbon City, which would include putting a comprehensive support plan in place and getting final approval by the governor.

Delta Company soldiers called to serve Operation New Dawn will leave May 22, first heading to pre-deployment training at Fort McCoy, Wis. before shipping out overseas to Kuwait, which Army officials expect to happen by late summer.

My private journal entry from April 25th 2009

Jay left around 1 am to Maine. He got there about 9:30 am. He texted me at 4:44pm and now landed in Germany. Each step is harder the further he gets. Communication is going to get tough. Not being able to talk to him each day and night before bed. Texting him is not the same. It could be several weeks before the Internet in Iraq is up and running.

Tyler picked rock with Cody today, and is spending the night at his house. Caleb is with Joshua, Hannah is spending the night with Reign and I as we watch "Pride and Prejudice." Andrew did not come home last night - praying he is not going backwards.

Earlier today I laid in my bed and CRIED. Reign laid next to me and lifted my arm and handed me her daddy doll. She knew ... She took her nuk out of her mouth and kissed my face three times. (Wow almost 2 years later and I still cry as I type this today.) My heart ached for my husband. (The pain of missing him is still raw.) She was so precious. Reign then picked up Jay's t-shirt that I slept with, she smelled it and set it close to me. I think she has been watching me. She is too smart.

This is my time to draw closer to the Lord. Jay is officially on tour! UGH!! Our Seattle trip was amazing. Now it is time to journal. I guess we will see how this goes...

READING
Psalm 43:3-5

3 Send me your light and your faithful care,
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

Jay has been home for a year!

Wow where did the time go?

At times it feels as though he has just come home. Jay has transferred to Faribault from IGH. It is half of the driving distance. It is also a different position, less pay, but less responsibility and with the distance, it is less gas money so it is about the same.

It has taken us at least 6-7 months for things to become a new normal. I was surprised to look back after 7 months and say; wow! it has taken this long. I do not ever want to go through a deployment again, however I feel it might happen at least one more time during Jay's career in the military.

Jay is apart of a men's' Bible study and LOVES it, it is encouraging to see his faith strengthened. I young man from church spoke over Jay the other night and told him that he could see an Angel of JOY standing on Jay's shoulders. If only this boy knew... JOY WARRIOR is Jay's new name... that is another story! We will have to share it with this young man some time. It confirms to us that this young man of 21 can hear God's voice! :)

Nancy (me) deep sigh... has entered into a deeper level of HIS LOVE. It is so awesome going deeper with Christ. I have learned so much about myself this last year. I have learned to see myself how God sees me. I see myself through his lenses. (tears as I type this.) It has been an amazing experience. In the midst of this I have started to dance before Him, at home, at church. while doing the dishes. :) It has been so freeing. I truly believe that this NEW FOUND LOVE has been the main reason why I have lost almost 50 pounds in the last 6 months! I LOVE me, and that CHANGES so much!

Andrew is getting ready to deploy this May. I will blog the experience. I'm not sure how it will be different from when Jay was deployed. I know it will be different. My relationship with Andrew has been strained for several years. This makes it even more difficult. He plans on getting married April 29th 2011to Jaime Soulek. He will deploy to Kuwait, with missions to Iraq. I continue to trust the Lord, and believe that Andrew cannot stray too far from God, because his roots go deep. in Jesus name!

Tyler is getting ready for his High School graduation. He has no idea as far as what he is going to do afterwards. His life right now is wrapped up into his last years prom date, now girlfriend Amanda. I think a few of his short term goals are to get a full time job and put some money away for a car. Tyler has drawn a little closer to the Lord. At times I don't see it, but I guess that is where faith comes in.

Caleb has some choices to make concerning High school. Not sure if he will be home schooled next year or not. He is a great help around the house and is adored by his little sister. He is growing and learning more about God. He (we) are still torn between two churches. We have come to love them both and cannot decide where to plant.

Reign LOVES her daddy! She is growing and maturing. I do not have any words to describe her.. She is the baby girl. I am learning so much through her innocence as a child. She is an inspiration to me as far as my faith is concerned. The other day we were talking about donating some toys to church. She yells; "JESUS" then says; shh listen! Jesus said; we can donate this toy but not the other one. (too cute)