Bavaria

With each day passing my dread of posting has increased. There is so much to cover and I know it is going to take me forever. However, I finally set aside some time this afternoon while the kids play and my house is reasonably clean and hopefully I'll get the most significant events covered.



First of all, Adam and Mindi and our little Ki, we are so sorry about your toe. Your cousins are very worried about you and you are in our prayers. We hope it doesn't hurt too badly and that it heals quickly and correctly.



The girls are doing great, getting darker by the day. Ellyn wants to be completely indepent at the pool, whether that means drowning or not. She loves the water. She is getting very agile on the playground and is going down slides and climbing all the stairs all by herself now. She's such an amazing kid, Mike and I just marvel at the amount of joy she brings into our lives. She is so sweet and loving. Sadie has discovered bike riding. After her first day, her birthday, when she ended the day with a tragic crash she lost all interest. I promised her that she would love it if I put on her training wheels and she gave it another chance. Now every spare minute the girls have they are outside riding bikes, searching the field at the end of the cul-d-sac for grasshoppers, jumping on the tramp, or playing catch across the fence with the boys next door. I love summer, it's so good for them. I could do without the heat this summer but it will all be worth it.



So I eventually had a run-in with my neighbor, one that she actually instigated. It was all done in a civil manner. Everything was rather petty and anal but I took note of the few things I thought mattered, told her what they were and that I would talk to my girls abou it. Later that day I had a friend come to me and tell me that she was saying things behind my back about how she'd have to spend the whole deployment taking care of my children once I had my fourth kid, so...we had another discussion. I was nice but I was furious and I have to say I had prayed really hard that I would know what to say and be patient and not say all the things that I was actually angry enough to let fly. Besides the time that I had to drop Sadie off as I rushed Ellyn to the ER I had only had her babysit- as a trade-two other times so she had no grounds to say a thing, plus she was my visiting teacher and supposedly a good friend. She apologized and we ended things nicely after about an hour but things have been much cooler. I think she's embarrassed and I don't have the time or energy to deal with stupid petty relationships.



But really that has been the least of my, our, worries over the past few weeks. I know mom has told at least the siblings to pray for Mike and his soldiers and now that it has been mostly dealt with I can tell you part of what happened. A soldier in Mike's company was accidently shot in the head during a training excercise on the 30th of May. The soldier was life flighted to a German hospital about an hour from here. Within a day or so Mike and his soldiers had to leave for a major training ex. and noone from the Company was able to go see the soldier-for some very good reasons. The boy's parents and two brothers were flown in from Northern Idaho and were here for a week and a half. The First Sgt's wife and I took American food and cards from our families down to them about mid-week. The Rear-D that was in charge of taking care of the family thought it would be good to see some non-military, americans and our wives were dying to do something to show their support. The family was very strong, down to earth, with a great sense of humor. The mother asked me if I wanted to go in with her to see him (forgive me for not using his name but I don't want our blog found when the name is googled, we've already had some situations come up with other soldiers) and so I did. By this time he was making subtle movements when he heard familiar voices, they knew he was not paralyzed and everything was looking up. A few days later he had a brain hemorrage and lost all brain function. The family chose to take him off life support the next day. It was terrible and heartbreaking. With cellphone technology the soldiers were finding out as they came out of the field after 8 days (the brothers were friends with some of the soldiers). The timing was really wrong with everyone so exhausted and it made for a long night of clean up and checking in weapons. It has been a real punch in the chest for everyone, just the reality of what we could be facing. A very hard way to start out a deployment, a hard way for Mike to start his command. The family had a funeral in N. Idaho and there was a Memorial Service here for the soldiers. Mike was one of the speakers and did a very good job. When I arrived they escorted me to the front row, which was unexpected and a bit uncomfortable. I had never been to a military memorial service before, I'm not going to say it was the hardest thing I've ever done but it was up there a ways. Mike had told me about them a long time ago when we were in Oklahoma and I guess it has been on t.v. but I hadn't really had time to think about it before I went in (trying to get ready, get the kids set up with Jane before I left) and I wish I had been more emotionally prepared. There were several speakers, the Colonel, Mike, two friends (which was so sad, their voices wavered the entire time) then the chaplain stood again, said a few words and asked for a moment of silence. From the back one of the soldiers started calling out roll call for the platoon. The soldiers answered until they got to this soldier's name. They called his name-silence, they called his first and last name-silence, they called his full name- silence. Then out on the lawn seven guns fired three times in a 21 gun salute and taps was played. It was heart wrenching, I was afraid I was going to start openly sobbing and I pray that I never have that experience again (unless it is someone old and retired and ready to move on). I can't even begin to express to you all how sad it was. The closing prayer was said and then everyone took a turn walking to the front of the room where the soldier's boots, cevlar (helmet), gun, and dog tags were set up. It started with the generals and then his commanders and then moved on. Luckily I was part of the front group and went up with the XO and his wife and I didn't have to stay inside for the slide show. The soldiers all came out with tears in their eyes or crying, it was very emotional. That night the Company had a BBQ/bowling night in his honor. He loved bowling. The girls and I stayed for most of it but then guys started getting pretty drunk, who could blame them, and so I brought the girls home. It's been hard having the girls old enough to be aware of what is going on. Sadie, at least, is just secure in her knowledge that now he'll be in Heaven but Jane understands the danger and the loss and I have found her quietly crying in the bathroom a few times.

So please continue to keep Mike (you can only imagine how hard this has been on him) and his soldiers/families in your prayers. Whether you believe in the war or not, these men are doing their duty for our country.

I'm sorry this is so long. I guess I just wanted to share with you a glimpse of what sometimes seems so remote. It's easy to get complacent when it's on the news every day. I get that way, I know.

Well it is now Friday morning. I had to stop yesterday so I finished this morning. Jess, I understand your guilt. I don't think I will be able to nurse this baby. Sadie and Ellyn did too much permanent nerve damage to my left "side" and I don't think I can handle the pain. Also, with Ellyn being the fun adventure she can sometimes be I think I will need to be able to let others feed my little son. Yes, I feel the guilt. Well I REALLY have to get going. I love you all.

Brooke