Where to start?!?!? Gifts in the Mail or Tampa?

OK. I will start with the totally awesome care package I received today from my office back in Alabama. Besides an assortment of food goodies specially selected to meet my tastes, my office (and I can take a good guess who specifically) decided it would only be more perfect by plastering half of the items with the face of a personal hero - David Hasslehoff. Yes, the "Hoff" made it all the way across the Atlantic and several continents to bid me a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Does it really get any better?



How about this? We had to take a detour through a portion of Kabul we rarely frequent due to serious traffic issues and lo and behold, there's KFC! That's "Kabul" Fried Chicken, in case you were wonderin'. . . .

Finally, I'll leave you with this shot. The 2008 ACC Player of the Year consoles the 2009 ACC Player of the Year on the sidelines shortly after the clock ran out. The ACC Championship Game in Tampa proved to be a lot more exciting the the SEC Championship Game and brought out the very best in both teams. Thankfully, Tech's best of 39 points was better than Clemson's best of 34 points. How about them Oranges?

I am back in Afghanistan

And I have been for almost two weeks.

The last 130 days are slowly ticking away and I am starting to finally get back into the "post-leave swing". I've started several projects lately and I have a few more left to start in the hopes of getting most of the concrete work done before winter sets in.

I am not travelling as far as I was before the break but I am travelling about as often. The air is getting a little clearer as the cold sets in, but it is still a drastic difference in air quality from the North Georgia mountains or the Gold Coast of Florida.

I have been exercising more lately, running almost every other day. I also use the stationary bike and occasionally workout on the rowing machine. In general though, I still feel like I need to lose a few pounds.

Every day I am comforted by my Creator and my life is made perfect by His grace. It is a hard concept, grace; but it gains importance in my life daily. I am constantly reminded that I am saved by grace alone and that anything good that comes from me, actually comes from Him - driven by His grace.

In Him,
David

You Wait in Kuwait

That's about it in a nutshell. I am currently in Kuwait waiting for a flight back to Afghanistan (not that I'm too anxious to return). My stay on the way over for R&R (Rest and Reconstitution) was very short - less than a full 24, but the stay on the way back has already passed 48 hours with no end in sight. My best guess is that I'll be on my way within 72 hours.

There is plenty to do here, however. I've got mutliple sources of internet access (obviously), a 24-hour DFAC (Dining Facility), KFC, McD's, Subway, movies, books, games, and decent transient sleeping arrangements. All in all, it's not a bad gig. The best part is that the weather has been very mild for the area due to being here in mid-late fall versus the middle of the summer.

Still, I'd rather be at home. The 15 days with Rachel and the kids was all too short, though very well spent and very appreciated. Rachel and I spent a week by ourselves in a cabin on Lake Blue Ridge with our sailboat, Sundae, tied up at the dock just behind us. Then we picked up the kids and shared some very terrific time with both her family and mine before heading to Florida for a week on the beach at one of our favorite vacation destinations. The resort we stayed at is called Waterscape and it is wonderful. It has five different pools, two hot tubs, and it is right on the Gulf with it's own white sand beach.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement over the last year since getting tasked, trained, and deployed. We have a few months left before being fully reunited. Until then, I'll try to keep you up to date.

In Him,
David

Counting down. . .

In just a few short days I will be with Rachel again. Granted, leave will be very short and I will still have several months left to finish out my tour afterwards, yet I am still excited. All of my gifts have been bought and/or sent home and most of the preparations for what should be a very relaxing and rejuvenating two-week vacation spread out over three states are complete.

The last 198 days since leaving Montgomery have been fun, difficult, and rewarding altogether. The 15 days with Rachel, the kids, and our families will hopefully be, more than anything else, refreshing!

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!

Two-Ply

I am a firm believer in simple pleasures. In Afghanistan the simple things please me even more. Chocolate chip cookies, light on demand, running water and WiFi are just a few examples of simple things that I take for granted back at home in Alabama.

Recently I was taking my regular sojourn to the LSS (Latrine/Shower/Shave) CONEX (a big metal box used for shipping stuff) which is really not that bad compared to other latrine facilities I've been forced to use. There is very little room to sit down, close the door, and take care of business, but at least we have them, and they are well-maintained. Until yesterday, however, I was forced to tidy up with single ply.

Over time, I have grown accustomed to certain luxuries. Fresh Alaska Salmon, not-from-concentrate orange juice, 110" movies at home, and two-ply, quilted toilet paper are on a short list of "must haves" in my household - anything less is substandard (in my humble opinion). Since being deployed I have been forced to "suffer" without these things with no suitable subtitutes. The sandpaper that disintegrates as I "finish off" that is passed off as toilet paper is pretty much reprehensible, and yet I deal with it. And then I had a very pleasant surprise waiting for me in stall number 2 of my favorite LSS yesterday afternoon - half of a roll of two-ply.

No, it wasn't quilted. But it was a wonderful change nonetheless. I'm saving this sacred roll now for special occasions - the first of which was a photo op (shown above). I think you will agree with me that this is a terrific boost for my morale. Away from family and friends, yes. Missing some finer things, maybe. No two-ply? Not anymore!

Organization!!!

A couple of weeks after Jeremiah's death, I needed a change. Some dear sisters came and helped me get my bedroom clutter under control. It's spilled over to the bathroom, the pantry, and other areas yet to be re-organized. Here's the proof-in-the-pudding along with a shot of the process in progress. I have had so much more peace in my alone time since then! I have to be careful to not let clean surfaces be my "god" yet, it is so much more manageable now that everything has a home!

Jeremiah Sulhoff

"God will uplift"

On 28 April 2009, Jeremiah was born into the hands of God. Five days later a very small gathering of family members honored this tiny life during a short graveside funeral in Montgomery, Alabama. We never really knew him or his desires or his talents. But we know this, God did. Psalm 139 and Jeremiah 1 remind us that God is aware of our innermost being even before we are born. Although we mourn our loss, we can rejoice in His gain. Jeremiah lived a life short of the usual selfish desires and temptations that plague all of us. Yet we still recognize that he was also saved by grace and not by any work of his own. He received the inheritance of sin through me and Rachel and nothing can change that. But he also was received by the Lord as the Bible promises those little ones a place in heaven.

I'm saddened deeply that I was not with Rachel and the kids during this difficult time. God still provided though, in the way of family and friends at my work, our church, and in nearby Atlanta. Thank you for being there for her and the kids. Thank you for being there for Jeremiah. Thank you for answering His call.

In Him,
David

In My Room

Some folks have asked what my living conditions are like. This is a fair question and I'm happy to entertain. Understand, though, that living conditions are as varied as the missions out here. Soldiers in Afghanistan somewhere will sleep under the stars tonight - though I haven't met them. Others are living in modified CONEX shipping containers that have been stacked like LEGO bricks. I live in a wooden B-Hut. Its a small wooden building about 20' x 32', raised a couple feet off the ground for leveling and flood and pest prevention purposes. There are six of us in this B-Hut and the "rooms" have been partioned by past residents using cheap lumber and plywood. I have a twin bunkbed with one mattress. The top of the bunkbed is used for storage. This is the only picture I was able to upload.  I'll work on getting some more onto the blog, but for now, this should give you an idea of what my room is like.  God Bless!

Guten Tag

Yes, I am in Germany right now. I'm waiting to board for our next leg on this yearlong journey in the making. So far the flights have been OK. I've eaten four times in 10 hours and my indigestion is getting the better of me - thank goodness I have an aisle seat! We've had several movies and several more to come.

I still think wifi is just about the coolest thing in the world - just an hour ago I video-chatted with Rachel and all the kids (even Hannah put in her $.02). They are well, but I miss them tons already - and it's only been 3 days!

We stopped over in Iceland and I watched a pretty amazing video that presented many of Iceland's amazing landscape and regions. What was more impressive than the movie was the projector. I have no doubt it was a very high-end DLP as the image was easily a 30-40 foot diagonal image and the clarity was unbelievable! It made me eager to save and prepare to drop some change on an upgraded model for our home after I get back.

Well, that's enough for now. I hope everyone is doing well and I look forward to posting again!
God Bless!

A Psalm for me, now.

Psalm 91:14-16

"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Lying in bed alone far from home, these words comfort me. It will be at least seven months before I see Rachel and the kids again as well as the rest of my family and friends, but I am determined to not shaken by the duration ahead. Soon I will begin a very long journey to my home away from home for the next year and these words (along with many more I hope to devour) must stay on my heart and mind every minute as new and unique challenges present themselves.

I almost must continually remind myself the same thing that Larry Boy had to remind himself in his tussle with the Bad Apple - that I can't do it alone. God has put a support system that is unrivaled to comfort, encourage, bless, and support Rachel and me during this time that He wants us to use. He also wants us to communicate regularly with Him about what we are going through mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and so on.

So yes, the words of that Psalm comfort me - but in reality, I'm not alone tonight. I am surrounded by His presence and the prayers of a countless army of spiritual warriors standing in the gap for me and my family, and I am thankful.

In Him,
David

Trees!

Well, I guess you could call me a liar or even confused. In the end though, I thought this was the best place to post about the newest editions to our backyard - three trees. So even though I said the garden was done, I decided to talk about these editions in this blog as it seemed most appropriate.

Yes, we got trees. Three. Two live oaks and another one that I think is like a cross between a cherry tree and a weeping willow - Rachel can confirm and post pictures also. I'm pretty excited about the trees seeing as how we really had nothing to block the neighbors behind us from peering into our backyard or our home. It will take a few years, but eventually the backyard will be a sanctuary from the rest of the world for our kids and whoever else may live there over the course of our wonderful little home.

We followed the directions pretty clearly, unfortunately we won't know for a while if the roots "took" or not. Please pray, if you have a moment that we don't lose them. It wouldn't be a financial setback so much as it would be an emotional one. I'm especially excited about coming home from my long deployment to see trees much larger than the ones I left and a backyard gradually becoming more and more private.

Family Finances From aFar

Man, this is tough. Since 2005, Rachel and I have been budgeting almost every expense from every month. Some months are better than others and sometimes that bottom line is not where we would prefer it - but it should go without saying that we have definitely become more disciplined in our spending and more open in our communication regarding money. I count that as a success, considering so many (who are deceived) fault finances/money as the biggest area of marital strife. The fact that money management is more a symptom of a bigger problem than the problem itself is another blog entry altogether, which I'll save for a later date.

What is interesting, though is how much difficulty the current separation has added to managing our money. Today we spent a few minutes on the phone trying to work through the December budget and it was anything but painless! I'm thankful for an understanding and intelligent wife who can manage the task of stopping her day to work with me over the phone while keeping the kids from destroying the house in the background. Still, it wasn't easy! More than ever, we need a common operating picture and more than ever, we need a strict zero-based budget that anticipates all of the expenses for the next 31 days. Lord willing, we'll get both of those, but it will take regular communication and a large amount of foresight.

This is just one element of deploying that makes life harder on families. What's amazing though, is how resilient God made us. Even though it feels like we are pushing a steamroller uphill, I know that we are being made much stronger individually and as a couple through this process. The last deployment was easy - we just spent what we needed to and used the card for anything else that wasn't covered with cash in the bank. And guess what - afterwards, we were still in debt and we had not grown at all to speak of financially. This deployment is different. We have been debt-free (except for the mortgage) for over 2 years now and we have a chance to accumulate a decent sum for savings. I pray that I don't let my selfish desires get in the way.

Hey, Hey, Fay!

What a wonderful day! Fay is rolling across the Florida Panhandle and we are getting a much-needed steady rain. I expect it to last several days and keep most folks in for the weekend. That's OK, though, especially considered the recent simplification my life has undergone (check out my review of the Logitech Harmony remote). Now I have plenty of time inside to work on my Masters and start this new semester off right. Please pray for us as we continue to balance school, church, work, family, and extra-curricular activities. God Bless!

With baited breathe

By this time tomorrow we will have seen The Dark Knight. It's been a few years since Christian Bale returned as Batman and I'm really looking forward to catching up with the caped crusader. Of course, there have been nothing but glowing reviews from just about everyone I know who's already seen it and just about every news source. I wonder how much of that is respect for the late Heath Ledger and how much is unbiased, critical analysis of yet another Hollywood attempt at re-molding the powerhouse cinema. I guess I will have to make up my own mind later tonight. I find it hard to believe Jack Nicholson's performance as Joker in Batman will be upstaged by any performance, yet everything I know so far seems to support that thought. We'll see and I'll be sure to share my thoughts in the "Reviews" portion of the website.

In other news, we've been thoroughly enjoying the produce from the garden. Last night I had some diced tomato and tonight I had the red bell peppers. Everything is wonderfully fresh and really a nice reward for the labor. Conversely, I'm a little saddened by the ease that my "lawn care specialist" had in eliminating 90% of my troubling dalisgrass (what I thought was crabgrass). After literally over a year of toiling on my own and buying every possible weed killer (including a too-effective stint with "Round-up") I get nowhere. After one treatment, my lawn is almost void of weeds and the grass is thicker than ever. Oh well. Some men were born great. Some do great things. And some give up and call Alabama Lawns to take care of it. I'm thinking about asking them to fix the CVs on my Jeep also.

God bless ya'll!

What I love about the United States of America

I posted this on an AJC blog, but I doubt many of you read it. But it embodies the many things I love about my country.

Lee Greenwood
Boys in the Hood
City Halls
Strip malls
Martin guitars
Rovers on Mars
Outsourcing
No forcing
FAA
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Colonial Antiquity
"As seen on T.V."
Drummer and fife
Sanctity of life
Needles highway
New York gray
Prom dates
Fifty states
Many sides
25-cent rides
Snopes, the facts
No internet tax
Pine, oak, birch, spruce
Cardinal, eagle, blue bird, goose
Times Square tower
Hawaii flower
Diversified people
Star, crescent, cross, steeple
Stone Mountain
Centennial Park fountain
Miami beach
Dr. King Speech
"No papers, state to state"
Drive-thru food, no wait
Gettysburg fog
This timely blog

God Bless America Again!

The Garden / ROTW Part III

In case you haven't already done so, I would strongly encourage you to take a look at our Garden page. It's really neat to see how quickly these seeds have developed into sprouts!

As for my weeds - the saga continues. Here is a quick shot of the rebellion that is going on in my front yard.

Today I went to see my friend, Kirk, and alas - he was at lunch (I guess that's OK). So, I spoke with another employee and was advised (after they saw the pictures of my lawn) to use a spray-on weed killer other than the 2,4-D I used at the beginning of April. I should see yellowing in two weeks and then dead weeds in six. Of course, crabgrass may take multiple treatments to be affective. And like all other things for the lawn, there are explicit instructions on what and what not to do. DO NOT mow within 48-hours before or after. DO water within 1-7 days. DO NOT spray when wind is greater than 10 mph. DO wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes to apply. DO NOT apply in colder temperatures. yadda yadda yadda. So, I think I met all requirements and I'll be sure to avoid the pitfalls described. I really don't care what it takes at this point - I just want to lose the weeds!

God Bless us all!

What a difference a day makes! The beans are all full sprouts (save one that has yet to rear its head), the first leaves from the corn are about to poke through, the watermelon finally decided to make a debut (second row from the bottom, 3 on the left), a couple carrot sprouts showed up and the flowers are growing lovely stems.

It's so incredible to see the regenerative nature of God's creation. It reminds me again of the mustard seed faith we must possess. All we need is a seed's worth of faith, surround ourselves with a fertile environment and drink His living water. God does the rest!

In a few weeks we'll hopefully harvest some beans and by the end of the summer the rest of the garden will be eaten or on our table! Give us a call, stop by and we'll share the harvest.

In Him,

David

Welcome to our garden!

As a 7th anniversary gift, I gave Rachel a garden. The idea was given to me by a good friend at work, who saw I was out of ideas. Rachel loves it! It was pretty easy to build and fairly inexpensive. Materials were all purchased locally at Home Depot for less than $65. The topsoil was purchased from a local greenhouse for about $40. Of course, they did not deliver, but it didn't take long to move the yard of dirt from my buddy's truckbed to the backyard using a rugged lawn wagon lined with a tarp.

As part of the gift, I also got her this "Jiffy" greenhouse and three packets of seeds (green beans, corn, and carrots). She bought some more seeds (watermelon and gypsophylia) to round out the first crop. The greenhouse is really a neat thing. it has small peat packets that expand once water is added. The seeds are added (2 or 3) per packet and the plastic clear cover is put on top. The greenhouse holds 25 individual starters and is placed on top of the fridge (or in a place with indirect sunlight). What you see here is the result of just three days of growing! We already have sprouts in several of the starters and soon we will take off the lid as the sprouts grow more and more. We'll keep you up to date on the progress of our garden. Thanks for tuning in!

Houston, we have liftoff!

Today was a red-letter day for our family. Just hours ago, our firstborn - Andrew - rode a two-wheeler all by himself for the first time! It was really a nice feeling as a father and I started realizing how quickly things happen and how much is going to start flying past me if I don't slow down and focus on my kids when I get the rare opportunities to do so.

I guess what's more important is to make those opportunities less and less rare. We also spent time playing soccer in the backyard and Rachel's teaching him to read. Man - I don't know if the best years are ahead or behind, but I know that I'm really enjoying the here and now!

God bless you all today!
David