Guitar!

I finally bit the bullet and shelled out some cash for a guitar. It only took me four months to realize that borrowing someone else's or using the severely substandard axe in the MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) room just wouldn't cut it. So, last week as I was coming back from a pre-construction meeting, I bought the pictured guitar at Camp Phoenix. It is a decent guitar made by an unknown company, but it serves its purpose well. The vendor said it was his last guitar and that it was for sale for $120. Of course, just about everything in this country is negotiable and I was able to walk away with this guitar for only $80 after making a few obvious observations devaluing the instrument. She may not be a Martin or a Taylor, but I am very thankful to finally have my own to bring a taste of home into my room.

Now if I could just find a way to get the rest of the church band over here. . . . .

In Him,

David

Check out the Garden!

Check out the "Garden" tab if you're curious to find out how our garden is growing this year!

Garden, year two

Well, I decided to go for a garden for another year! Gardens make you slow down and do the simple things. Many people who live extraordinarily long lives attribute gardening to their good health. Here's to that! Gardening is just one simple way to step out of the rat race and/or the busyness of life for just a few moments. Somehow, after planting or watering or pulling weeds, you somehow feel like you've really lived. It is a very rewarding way to spend a little time every day.

We are growing Better Boy tomatoes, grape tomatoes, red peppers, 12 stalks of corn, and finally 2 watermelon plants. I bought new watermelon seeds this year...and then I lost them...so I eventually planted the ones from last May ('08), but they did not sprout for the looooongest time. I had given up on them and was already thinking about where I would put the little peat greenhouse they were in until next year. Later that afternoon, after I had given up hope, I looked and to my shock there was a two inch sprout there! A few days later a second one sprouted. I planted three and went ahead and put all three in the ground; maybe, just maybe the third will sprout, too. Here's hoping for 4-6 melons this year!

My 30th Birthday!

Well, it was a wonderful day. I got flowers from David (aren't the peonies gorgeous!), wonderful friends watched my kids so I could go to dinner and a movie with another dear friend, and I had tons of Happy Birthday calls and cards. Here is a picture of me with my little cake the Golarts got for me--yummy! Who could ask for more (except David home, of course!)? Thank you, all, for a wonderful day!

Carpets, CONEX, and Roses

Aladdin would be proud!

It's nearly impossible to come to Asia and not buy a carpet. They are amazing! The more expensive ones are handmade and the even more expensive ones are silk. The tighter the knots, the more silk, the larger the size, and the more elaborate patterns = mo money.

The shown carpet is from a "family" of carpets that are easily my favorite (and most expensive - go figure). They come from Iran and they are exquisite! You can easily drop a couple grand on a small carpet that end up hanging on the wall over here, and yet they are still worth several times more than that in the States. Feel free to click on the picture for a larger image.

HOLY RUSTED CONEX BATMAN!

These are everywhere in theater. And by everywhere, I mean EVERYWHERE. The CONEX is a watertight shipping container that usually comes in 20' or 40' lengths (the picture is a 40-footer) and they are not only everywhere, but they are used for everything. All across the country, these containers are retro-fitted for use as latrines, showers, offices, bedrooms, warehouses, and just about anything else you can imagine.

One of the benefits of these CONEX's is that they are relatively easy to ship. All you need is an appropriately-sized "Jingle" truck (affectionately named because the Afghan drivers usually deck their trucks out with elaborate and colorful paint schemes, tassles, and bells) and a crane. This one is being shipped from one FOB to another. Fun Fun!

For the Beauty of the Earth

Even in a war-torn nation there is beauty to be found. It can be found in the rugged mountains, the lush river valleys, and in the eyes of children while driving through the market. The Afghans wish to make their country more beautiful and in a dried up flower bed, an ANP troop had managed to plant and nurture this rose bush.

Truly a diamond in the rough.

In Him,

David

TRAMPOLINE!!!

(MP) - Thanks to some wonderful Air Force friends who are moving away, we now have a trampoline in our backyard! I'm sure Rachel will post pics of it soon (along with pics of the kids piled on top of each other). Even though I'm thousands of miles away, I'm still excited! I may stop at the house while I'm on leave just to get a quick "jump" in!

Military Appreciation Day...

...or week, rather. Let me tell ya, Montgomery does an awesome job supporting their military! Both last Wednesday night and this Saturday night are military appreciation nights at the Biscuits baseball games, Montgomery's minor league baseball team. Wednesday, was military appreciation day at the Montgomery Zoo. Military and their families got in for free, and Jim N Nicks BBQ along with Golden Flake snacks and some other organizations and companies all worked together to provide a great free lunch on that hot, hot day at the zoo. Posted are pictures of us on the train along with our dear friends the Bergrens.

You know, it's taken me eight years to feel this way, but I never knew until recently how good it feels to be appreciated specifically for our military service. I know that sounds crazy, but I think it's because, until now, I've never really felt like I've sacrificed very much in it. If someone told me thank you, even as a spouse, I don't think I really took it to heart. I've thought to myself, "Lots of people have hard jobs, we're not doing anything all that great." And, besides that, the AF has treated us well, meaning we haven't had to endure a lot of deployments on a frequent basis. Until now, I don't really feel like we've sacrificed a lot. But, now we've turned a corner. We are actively sacrificing 15 months of our life, by choice. We have had opportunities to get out. Yet, we have chosen to stay, in the midst of our greatest sacrifice, knowing there will be more rough times in the future. And, so somehow, it really is touching when a person I don't even know, much less my whole city, works to express their thanks for making the choice we have. When someone thanks me and I realize the gravity of our decision and all it encompasses, it nearly causes me to weep. It is very comforting to know that our family is not alone or our sacrifice going unnoticed. Thank you all for your unending support and prayers! There are people all over this great country praying for us! We are so blessed!

~Rachel

Andrew's missing teeth & Casting Crown's Pics

It's Alive!

Well, if you are reading this than you are aware that "My Side of the Blog" is active once again. Thank you for your patience during the last week or so. I'll be writing a few reviews and post some pictures soon, so stay tuned!

God Bless,
David

Casting Crowns

Some dear friends are in town for the next 3 weeks or so, and last night we went to an outdoor concert on the river. It was surprisingly the coolest night we've had here in the south in a long while. Casting Crowns glorified the Lord and edified the Body here and the three of us were moved by the music and the Spirit. All 7 of the band members are involved in some sort of youth ministry in the Atlanta area. They are not the most polished group, yet it was so real listening to their perfect harmonies, the awesome violin, guitars and vocals. It was a joy listening to songs I've listened to in my living room or my car for several years become personally meaningful as I took the time to focus on them a little more.
I hope you all take the time to focus in on something commonplace like music or the weather or your lunch and see what the Lord is trying to say to you. But more importantly, spend time with Him in His Word, and guard that time with your life! Keep the faith! ~Rachel

First and Second Lost Teeth!

Well, it's a day for the books, folks! Andrew lost his first tooth biting into his favorite food: an apple. We put it in a small envelope. That was right after lunchtime. Then at dinner, I sent him to the bathroom for something and he came running back saying that he pulled his tooth out, but he lost it down the drain rinsing the blood off it, and could I come, QUICK, to get it out! So of course I went running. It actually had gotten lodged right at the top and if I had used the right tool from the get-go the slippery little thing wouldn't have fallen all the way down. Well, being the problem-solving mother I am, I figured out how to open the drain below the sink and I got that tooth out! Well, just as I had begun to clean up from dinner and was patting myself on the back over getting the tooth out, Andrew came running in again. "Mom, somehow, when I was getting my first tooth out of the envelope, it must have fallen out somewhere in my room and I can't find it!" So, the tooth fairy will only be giving money for one tooth tonight. Maybe the other one, the one he lost in the apple, will eventually show up... I'll post a picture of the little darling with his holey smile soon.