Leavin' on a jet plane.........Homeward Bound!

I am able to get on today's R&R flight out of Kuwait. PTL!!! The flight is scheduled to stop in ATL then proceed to DFW. Arrival will be tomorrow, Saturday, around 1300.

Thank you for your prayers.

"For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the Lord!"
Psalm 117:2
See you soon.

In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

Wait in Kuwait

Well, great plans don't always fall into place. I am not sure when I will get out of here. There has been a big surg of R&R troops and they take priority over me so I am stranded here. Maybe I can be home by Sunday with slight chance of Saturday.

The good news is the Major and Master Sgt from the Dallas R&R operations are here for meetings and finished early. It was a wonderful surprise to see these great guys. Just a touch of home! That is a sweet ending to this adventure.

God had been so good and my heart is full as I transition home.

I will keep you posted on my departure.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

I will see you all soon!
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

I'm Coming Home

Dear All,

I'm on my way home! Kuwait today and Dallas Friday!

My heart is so full as I come home.

The Major and Master Sgt from the R&R Dallas Operations are here for meetings and have finished early. We will all travel home together. What a special ending to this amazing journey!

See you soon.
In HIS Mighty Grip,
Linda

Bittersweet Goodbyes

Dear All,

The days are drawing close to departure and the goodbyes get harder and harder. Mixed with the sadness of saying goodbye there is a deep sense of satisfaction that I have completed the job God ask me to do so many months ago. The tears are full of great joy and blessing that this year has forever placed deep in my heart. The year has not been without pain and sorrow and conflict yet I know in time those things that were hard will only prove to strengthen and grow me as God desires.

The United Through Reading program has been the number one highlight of this year. Being so connected to the moms, dads, aunts, uncles and grandparents of our deployed families has etched in my heart memories that will always be cherished. Their tears and emotions touched me deeply and allowed me to see how important this program has been to our military families. From generals to PFC’s love for our children runs deep and strikes cords deep within that rank cannot hide. Your gift of books has made this possible and down the road will be recognized as one of the factors that made a difference in this war.

Tuesday was my last day at the Special Forces compound. The army side surprised me at the end of the day with a special presentation. Many of the moms and dads came and expressed their appreciation for the program. I was given the traditional army certificate and the Special Forces coin. Their love was warm and so meaningful to me. The Air Force side did the same at the end of the day. The Chaplain thanked me and gave me the unit t-shirt and coin then stepped up to his keyboard and sang to me “We love you with the love of the Lord”. With both groups I tearfully thanked me and feebly expressed my appreciation to them. I pray someday that some of our paths cross again.

Today a young Captain came by and handed me a flag that he had had flown for me on 9/11 and had carried with him on a Half marathon he ran that day. I was so taken back and touched and his words of thanks will always be near and dear my heart. Another young man ask for my email so he could keep in touch. I remember him when he came in through Dallas nearly two years ago on emergency leave. His family was there to pick him up as their older son and this young man’s brother had been killed by an IED here in Iraq. When I talk to this soldier shortly after the center opened and remembered who he was I have prayed for him and his family. He is such a sweet young man and I am so glad to have crossed paths with him. Pray for encouragement and strength for this family.

Last and by no means least, I am standing in the need of prayer myself. I went to space block for my flight out of here only to find out my military travel orders expired in June. I have made all the appropriate calls to the USO higher ups and am totally dependent on God’s providential care and intervention to expedite these orders so I can fly out of here the first of next week.

I love you all dearly and your support has meant the world to me. See you next week.
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

Black Hawk Day

Dear All,

Last week I got to go on a Black Hawk mission. It was absolutely the most fun! I think I would like to stay another year and be a Black Hawk stewardess. What a cool experience! I mean all the sudden you are just going up in the air and hovering over the earth.

It was an amazing opportunity for me to see outside these wires yet not be in harm’s way. I got to see Baghdad, Taji, Warhorse and several other FOB nearby. It was so cool to see the country. There are actually some very beautiful areas here. Oasis area with huge palm trees! There were also area that were just rubble and yet life goes on with children playing in the streets and men and women out farming their land.

The pilot was a friend and he was on his last mission before going home and he was training his replacement. I got to sit right behind the pilots and wear the headsets. That made it really cool as I could hear all they were saying and hear the training and stories. One stop we made was kind of near and dear my heart…Taji….when John Micah was here on his first deployment his unit poured the concrete that extended the helicopter landing area. I took a picture of my boots on the ground there.

I hope you enjoy some of the pictures I took.
I will see you soon.
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda