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

Sand Storm

Dear All,

Busy fun days here for me! Though we have more staff now I am still as busy as ever. I am enjoying every minute of these last days here and trying not to miss a thing.

We had a bizarre sand storm last week. Different from any of the others we have had there was no wind. It was more like snow storm. The sky went from clear to brown to yellow to bright red. It was almost eerie. As you would walk outside you would get sand flakes on your clothes. That morning when I got up it was like footprints in the snow.

1200 Sand Storm outside my room...

1300 Sand storm outside my room








1400 Walking out from bunker.... Teresa and I ran some errands that afternoon and had the opportunity to go down into one of Hussein’s big bunkers that are on base. They are all over everywhere, some of which are used by different units but most left vacant. They are refurbishing this particular one for office space for a new unit coming in. It had it’s own air filtering system that would have made it nuclear war proof. All very interesting! From the outside they look like pyramids and they go down as deep as they are tall. I have always thought it would be cool for the USO to have one for a center. I can just see the whole side of it painted with the USO logo.

I have been packing and mailing stuff home as the day to leave is approaching fast. I am hoping Angela gets back from R&R before I leave. I can’t imagine not getting to say goodbye to her. She has been such a joy.

I love you all and will see you soon.
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

Going Postal!!!

Dear All,

I have so much I want to tell you but for right now I will share my heart about my post office experience today. I will write later to tell you about and send pictures of the most incredible sand storm and my Black Hawk ride. As I near the end of my time here, I don’t want to miss a thing and am exhausted but flying high on loving the guys and girls I love so much.

Today was my regular scheduled run to the Post Office to mail UTR. It is probably one of my most laborious tasks that I do. I go with 100+ packages. Each packages content has to be searched and inspected and then sealed up and signed. Once all are inspected we begin the task of weighing and paying. Each custom form has to be stamped on all six pages and then placed in a plastic holder and taped to the package. It is a long process and normally takes at least two hours. I have a standing Wednesday and Saturday morning appointment. They let me come in thirty minutes before they open to try and expedite the process. By the time I am out of there the line behind me is long and as I walk out I keep my head down. No eye contact. THEY ALL HAVE GUNS, YOU KNOW!!!!

Today it hit, as I place each package on the scale to be weighed and processed to go the reality of leaving here hit and the cherished memories of these troops and their families painfully weighed on my heart. Nakeed, Chloe, Jamison, Mia, McQuade, Quentin, Delasia, Sammi, and I could go on forever with the names of the children that these Untied Through Reading packages have been sent to. The stories their dads, moms, aunts and uncles have shared are forever in heart. This has truly been and amazing adventure and leaving is so hard. My heart is torn between being with my precious family and serving here with the troops I have grown to love so deeply. Their faces are forever etched in my heart. Day before yesterday this beautiful Marine, who was stranded here a couple days came in to read to his children. I took him in to get him all set up and as I did I ask how old his children are and he did not respond. I looked up to see this beautiful young Marine, father of five with tears streaming down his face. The only words he could get out were Madam, I just love my family so much.

Another dad yesterday at the SF camp was so excited to share that they were expecting a new baby and he had just found out it will be twins. You always hear about pregnant women glowing, well this young dad was glowing. So Proud!

I must tell you thank you for your support and for supporting this program. The thousands of books you have sent and or money you have sent to USO headquarters in honor of this program is making a huge difference. Our troops and their families are being blessed by you. Never doubt that you don’t have a voice here. I love to tell the troops of all you have done and watch them grin in humility and pride.

I love you and will see you soon.
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

Pictures

Dear all,

I thought I would send you a couple pictures. This is not of my hair cut. I don’t have ones of that. This is Angela, myself and Teresa with some of our Navy and Army volunteers. They are wonderful and spend their off time at the center helping us. With out their help we would not and could not be very effective.



We have had one of our worst sand storms today. It was different to any other. The wind was not particularly blowing but the visibility was pretty much nothing. The center is always packed on days like this as so many get stranded here. It was fun and we were able to finally get everyone on the phones and computers.

This is one of our Air Force guys. I found some drawing tablet and colored pencils and he was drawing all sorts of pictures.





I have not told you but we have all new computers. A very special friend from home sent us all new computers and it has been such a huge blessing to us. Our previous ones had so many issues and it made it really hard. There are always Internet issues but prior to now it was a dual issue between the old computers and the Internet provider we have. The troops are so appreciative and our computers stay full from the time we open until closing. I was amazed our Internet worked as well as it did today with the nasty sand storm.


A veteran's group in Florida sent boxes and boxes of drink singles for the troops. It has been wonderful and greatly appreciated by our troops.

For those of you who do not know John Micah is at Fort Stewart in Georgia training and preparing to deploy to Iraq. I will be home in time to go out and see him and be there when he leaves. I can hardly bear the thought of him returning to this country. I stand again in that place of, I don’t know what the future holds but I do know who holds John Micah’s future. We will once again pray our son through this deployment.

I love you all bunches and will see you soon.
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

Good Days

Dear All,

The days are passing quickly and life at the center continues to be fun and busy. They love the fresh bread days and cookouts and are so appreciative of all the fun snacks you have provided for them.


This is Angela and I up in the tower the day we went out to take Teddy Bears to the Iraqi children.

Me with Iraqi Girl.

For me it is still all about the troops and connecting with them. I stand amazed at the continued little divine appointments God brings my way with our troops. As I listen to their broken hearts, about their new babies and their hopes and dreams for the future I am challenged to not grow weary as I move towards my departure.

I am probably the only person in Iraq who has spent the summer cold. I am in side 90 percent of the time and I will say the air conditioning works well here. For me going out into the sun feels so good though I can see where if I had to be out in it and in all the gear our troops wear I would be whining all the way. The past three days it has been overcast and we even had rain, not just rain, thunder and lightening. The thunder was so strong and constant that when I woke up I wondered if we were under attack. It was a pleasant surprise to have rain and certainly not expected at this time of the year. It cooled the temperature down which made it very nice. It was so odd the first overcast day with all the humidity; I almost thought I was in Texas. It normally does not get below 100 before the wee hours of the morning, but tonight at 10 pm it is already down to 94 degrees. Nice!!!!

The United Through Reading still remains to be the highlight of my days. It has made such a difference for our troops and I love to hear how meaningful it is to them and their families. One dad told me his two year old daughter did not know him after his first deployment and they had a hard time adjusting when he got home. She is now six and loves the DVD’s of her dad reading to her and to the two old brother during dad’s second deployment. Dad is encouraged that his two year old son will not have the adjustment that his daughter had the first time around. At the beginning of the summer I was so well stocked on books and was bewildered yesterday when I went in the UTR room and realized that I was getting low again.

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

My Military Hair Do

Dear All,

Life is good here. I got my military hair cut so I am good to go. It was not intentional that I got my military look but I knew when I heard the hair stylists get the buzzers out I was getting a little different do than I had intended. What can I say; it lightens my load, adds minutes to my day in prep time and is certainly cooler.

The Center is busy with troops relaxing, connecting with home and just seeking someone to talk to. We have this beautiful theater where they can watch movies but we find they would rather watch them in the lounge despite the distraction of troops in and out and us calling out names and constant talking. Where there are some who like the quiet get away of the dark theater room most seem to like the interaction of being with everyone. Of course, we are just certain they want to be by us and that is the reason they stay in the lounge. In the lounge I tell them they cannot watch severe violence or blood and guts because I cannot handle it. Only chick flicks……you can imagine how well that goes over. Those of you who know me, know that me and suspense is not a good combination. I think that is why the troops love to sneak the really suspenseful ones in there because they get a kick out of my reaction. I try so hard to let it roll off my back but it just does not happen.

Our volunteer network is rebuilding after our Fort Sill guys left and what amazing young men and women who volunteer their off time to help us out. They work 10, 12, 14 hour days and then still come give us time. We are so appreciative especially since we still do not have the staff that we had anticipated for so many months.

This morning I had a fun experience. We were able to go outside the gate but still inside the safety of the wire to give teddy bears and soccer balls to Iraqi children. There were only a few there but it was fun. We also had lotion for the Iraqi women and some treats to eat for those who wanted them. We will go earlier in the morning next time as many of the children had already left when we got there. It gave me a new appreciation for our troops. It was so unbelievably hot out there with all the IBU gear on. Our troops are there all day in that guarding us. It was fun seeing some of our regular troops that are in and out of the center out there. They were all smiles when they saw us coming. They loved showing us what they do.

We are required to wear reflector belts here at night for safety. I was out with some troops one night and told them I felt a bit like a beauty queen wearing my sash across my shoulder. I told them that instead of them singing “There she is Miss America”, they could sing “There she is Miss Cellaneous”. They all laughed and thought that was funny. Well three days later they showed up and had had embroidered for me a reflector belt that says Miss Cellaneous . What a sweet treasure. Don’t be surprised to see me wearing it out at night when I get home.

I took a day off yesterday and it was nice to relax, sleep in and even go to the pool. The pool was fun. You almost forget where you are. It is the most beautiful pool, big pool I have ever seen. It has all the different high dives and all around the edge of the fourteen foot deep pool is a small ledge that is af about four feet. You can stand there in the water and it is so very nice. When I first got there I had to laugh watching these two army kids, as fast as they could they were doing one legged Indians into the pool and jumping out and doing it again. I am not sure why but they were sure having fun and it thrilled me to pieces watching them. I try to stay to myself there….I mean here are all these darling guys and gals with their cute little tight bodies and here I am fifty plus with my not so tight body. I did talk myself into getting in the water and boy did that feel good.

Well I need to get out the door to the center to get things set up. I love you all dearly and will see you soon. Thank you so very much for all your support and encouragement.

In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

Good Times at the USO Center

Dear All,

We have had some significant changes here at the USO in Balad and the atmosphere and center are thriving even greater than ever. Our new director arrived last Sunday and already you can see the atmosphere at the center taking on a new feel. I have enjoyed watching our new director enjoy the troops and have a great time with. I know she will bring much to the center and life here.

We have a basket on the counter that says Operation Fresh Breath. It has all sorts of dental hygiene products in it for the troops to take. The soldier in the picture got a bunch of stuff donated for it. Amazing that it was all gone within less than a week. We can't keep enough toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss around.

Prior to her arrival a director from Kuwait came in and we had a great time. She opened the door to doing fun programs with the troops that we had not been able to do before. One night last week we did quiz night. We had twenty questions for the troops to answer and the three with the most answers right got prizes. We had pizza afterwards. Another night we took 25 pizzas over to the pool for the troops. We had our logo Frisbees to give out. Friday night we played BINGO in the center and that was a big hit. We had all sorts of fun giveaways for the winners. Saturday night we had a cook out and volunteer appreciation night for all those who have helped us so much. A unit from Fort Sill left out this week to go home for good and five or six of them had volunteered over 600 hours. They had become very special to us and it was hard to see them go. Wonderful knowing they are home with their families. I have heard from a couple of them and they sound great.

I had another all day United Through Reading at another part of the base and recorded 64 UTR’s. I always enjoy those days. We have had a record month recording 601 DVD’s. That represents around 1400 children that will have smiles on their faces because they got to see their mom or dad on DVD and have a story read to them. I am having a few issues with my cameras so we will soon begin to replace them one at a time. As of today we have filmed 3042 UTR’s since we have been here. The cameras have served us well but possibly could be getting a little tired.

The director from Kuwait was a great encouragement and has given us so many ideas of things we can do in the center with the troops that we did not know we could do. Angela got back from R&R and it is great to have her back and to hear all about her trip. She is such a sweetheart. There is nothing like working shoulder to shoulder in a war zone to knit two people together.

KLIF in Dallas, Texas did a snack drive for us and we have been receiving boxes of snacks. That has been so wonderful to have good stuff and different stuff out for the troops. They eat it as fast as we can put it out. I think it is more that they are in a home like environment that gives them the munchies. Thank you so much Dallas, Texas for your generosity. You are such an encouragement to out troops.

Well I am off to bed. I stay pretty tired as we still work very long hours. I have to work at getting myself to bed so I don’t wear myself out. I love you all and thank you so much for your support.

In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

The Temperture is Rising!

Dear All,

The time has flown and I extend by deep apologies for my lack of communicating. The past weeks have been my hardest and busiest so far. Loneliness and fatigue hit hard bringing my greatest discouragement. There was even a point that I wanted to throw in the towel and come home but a short conversation with a young soldier brought new strength and conviction. He was greatly discouraged and rightfully so after missing the birth of his first child and the death of his grandfather. He did not have the option of even thinking about throwing in the towel. I knew after talking to him I had to toughen up and focus on moving forward and not on the issues that were weighing me down.

The temperature continues to rise. During the day it is getting up around 112 - 116 degrees. When I turned off my lights last night to go to bed at 2300 it was down to 102 degrees. I have to say that I can not complain as I am inside the center 90% of the time so the little I go out the sun and heat feels wonderful. If I was out in it long and certainly if I was working out in it I would be whining all the way. It is just like I had always heard...it feels like someone is pointing a big hot hot blow dryer at you.

The center continues to thrive and part of what makes it so special is the support it has received from so many of you. Your snacks, children’s books and even prayer squares have been a huge help and greatly appreciated. We have just gone through a rotation change so the faces have changed and we had to say goodbye to many that were regulars in the center. It is always sad to say goodbye but always a thrill knowing they are going home to their families.

We have a great group of volunteers right now that are there every day all day long helping. They leave here for good in just a few days. They have already passed their responsibilities on to their replacements and are just waiting to leave. The timing could not be more perfect as both of my co workers are on R&R. Two directors from Kuwait came and that has been nice. One has returned to Kuwait and the other is still here. She has been a delight and given me all sorts of new ideas of things we can be doing in the center. That has been so fun and I look forward to continuing these fun interactive activities.

The United Through Reading Program continues to be my joy. We filmed 548 last month and will come close this month also. Due to our staff being gone I have had to cancel several of the remote UTR days that I do. That makes me sad as I know how these particular troops appreciate and depend on that time. The books have continued to arrive and I smile through and through when the troops walk in the UTR room and go WOW look at all the books. Your faces come to mind and I always tell them about you and your love for them. A couple of weeks ago a young soldier came in and asks if we had any way he could record a message to his grandmother. He shared that he had just received word that Hospice had come in and her days were few. We were thrilled to set him up in the UTR to record. He was able to tell his grandmother how special she was in his life and say his goodbyes. The blessing is she did receive it and get to see it before she stepped into glory. It was such a help to this young man to be able to do this.

One of our Air Force dads told us his little girl was so excited about her DVD she took it to school and showed her class and took it to Sunday school and to gymnastics and to her ballet class. She was proud to show it to everyone. Another Military mom told me that her daughter hugs the TV when her mom reads to her. She now hugs the TV every time she passes it and say “I love you, Mommy”. Thanks to all of you this program thrives.

Thank you all for being so patient with me as I move through this incredible journey. The joy of being here with and for these troops blesses me over and over again. The personal hurdles I have faced in recent weeks are nothing when compared to the joys deep in my heart from serving here in this place.

I love you all dearly and am so grateful for your support.
Strong in His Mighty Grip,
Linda

I Fly Away

Dear All,

We are experiencing bad sand storms here. You would not believe the inside of our car. When I get in it to go somewhere I have to turn on the windshield wipers to clean the sand on the wind shield so I can see out. It is nasty!

I was up and off to church this morning before going into the center. Our music tends to be the more contemporary worship songs and it is lead by a very humble young man. The worship team consists of troops from the Army, Navy and Air Force. They do a good job of leading the worship time. We had sung a couple of contemporary songs and then he went right into the old hymn I'll Fly Away. I grinned from ear to ear as it took me back many years to Irving Bible Church on Finley Road. I remember well one Sunday probably in the late 70's the choir was singing I'll Fly Away and a dear friend Rick Knight was in the choir that Sunday and was truly enjoying and worshiping as he sang and the memory of him was forever etched in my heart that day. When I think of him I always go back to that place. It was fun to stand there this morning a half a world away from Finley Street and remember such a sweet memory. Rick Knight you blessed my heart today.

The center has been unusually quiet and slow the past couple of days. The main thing the troops want is the Internet to instant message with their families or phones to call home. There is almost always waiting lines for those. Our snacks are pretty slim picking these days. We are grateful for all the Girl Scout Cookies that have come our way. If we did not have those some days there would not be hardly anything. The PX runs out of stuff so quickly and they limit us to buying only two of many items. Chips and things like that! I know I opened at least fifteen boxes of Girl Scout cookies today and I believe Angela did at least that many herself. It does not matter what we put out they eat it.

We had a USO tour come through today also. It was Operation Hoop Talk! Basketball coaches from several colleges. They walked through the center and visited with the troops and sign pictures for them. It is always fun to have surprises like that for the troops. They were supposed to be in Baghdad but the dust storm kept them in Balad. Fortunate for us!

Well I just wanted to say Hi. I am trying to write more frequently and give you more of the daily flavor of life in Iraq. Pray the sand storms go away. Sand Storms also mean mortar attacks so we need the sand to just stop blowing.

I love you all dearly and thank you for your support.

A Big Happy Birthday to my Johnny. You're the best!
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

Return To Balad

Dear All,

I am sure you are wondering if I fell off the face of the earth or maybe did not return from R&R. None of the above, it has just been busy and I am just now getting into the swing of things and my routine back. R&R was wonderful. Nothing tops being with Johnny and our children!

I was so grateful for the opportunity to ride home on the R&R flight with all the military troops. I always knew it was a long grueling trip but now I KNOW it is a long grueling trip. For me it took four days to make it from where I am in Iraq to Dallas. I was fortunate that I had no issues getting home. No sand storms or delays or canceled flights as many of our troops experience. My trip could not have gone smoother but even still it was long and exhausting. The hurry up and wait certainly takes on a whole new perspective. Hours it took! It is a very smooth operation but when you are moving that many troops it just takes time to do it and do it safely. I literally had to dump my whole suitcase so customs could go through it and then repack. Nothing went unnoticed! Once through customs we were secluded until boarding buses to go to catch our flight. Prior to the time we went through this process the place that we were secluded, I had thought was a prison on the base. Now I know….it is the holding place for all R&R troops. Sure like a prison to me from the outside.

I met many great troops along the way. I had a darling Marine colonel as our commander for the flight. I am sure he would grin to hear me say that. He was headed to the west coast to his wife and two darling little girls. I was one of three civilians on the flight. Every seat was taken so we were packed in like sardines. Once leaving Kuwait we made one stop before arriving in Atlanta. Flight time around sixteen hours! There were cheers as we landed on American soil. Those of us going on to the next leg of the flight to Dallas never left the secure area. It was sad as there was no one there to cheer and tell these battle weary guys thanks. Maybe it happens when they leave the secure area but certainly not where we were. The flight from Atlanta to Dallas got a little livelier as troops recognized they were almost there. The cheers were even greater when we landed in Dallas. Dallas you make me proud the way you greet our troops. I walked off the plane and into Johnny’s arms and boy did that feel good. It was wonderful to walk out to the cheers of so many and see my mom and daughter and uncle and so many friends.

The next morning I spent two hours walking through Wal Mart. Who would ever think Wal Mart could be so fascinating. It was amazing seeing everything you need right there together. Next I ventured into Sam’s and Home Depot. Oh to have had these stores close when we were trying to do all the renovation on the center. I just kept walking through my house and loving it. It was beautiful and clean and HOME. John Micah drove in from Lubbock and Amy flew in from California. It was so good to see them. On Saturday Johnny had arranged for Amy, Alyson and I to go to this very nice exclusive spa for a day of pampering. We had massages, body scrubs, facials, manicures and pedicures and the works. What a wonderful day of pampering and even better that I got to share it with my girls. When we got home Johnny had everything all set up for all our family to come over for dinner. He catered the dinner from Babe’s! Yummy! I did not lift a finger! It was wonderful seeing everyone and visiting and just being together in my home.

The rest of my time at home was spent visiting with family and friends and just taking it easy. I was able to be a part of the Defenders of Freedom Annual Golf outing and that was fun for me. The days flew by and leaving was tough. Somehow it does not get easier saying goodbye.

It is so strange because as hard as it was to leave it was good to be back and doing what I feel called to do right now. The trip back was as grueling as the one going over but with a more somber atmosphere. I spent another night in the transient housing in Kuwait and then spent the next day sitting at the terminal waiting on a flight. We sat on a C17 for an hour or so before they canceled that flight and back to the terminal to wait. I finally got back to Balad a bit sleep depraved but ready to get back in the swing of things.

It was good to see so many of you while I was home. You are all so special and your support means everything to me.

In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

Starting Home for R&R!

Dear All,

I’m on my way. I had no issues getting on a flight out of Balad and it looks like everything is a go to be home as planned. I am very excited about flying on the R&R flight with the troops. After meeting that flight for so many years at DFW it will be fun to see the whole process. Here in Kuwait I am staying in transient housing just like the troops and going through this process just as they do.

My last day in Bald before leaving on R&R was bitter sweet. My Col friend who flew into Iraq with Angela and I back in September left out for good. He has become such a dear friend and has been such an encouragement to me these past eight months. I am thrilled for him that he will be home with his family but will greatly miss him. While seeing him off I saw several other of my SF buddies and said goodbye to them also.

That night two of my UTR dad’s who are doctors at the hospital invited me to dinner. They are precious young things who have seen more in the four months they have been here then most in a life time. They will leave out for good while I am home so this would be our farewells also. What a treasured evening! They were my singing dad’s who sang children’s Bible songs on their UTR recordings and often prayed. They were a blessing from beginning to end. They brought me a gift that will be forever cherished. It was a framed picture of the three of us at the Toby Keith concert and also their ER coin.

I am laying here on my bunk in transient housing and enjoying having time to reflect over these past eight months in Iraq. There have been so many adventures and life experiences that have impacted me greatly but none more precious than the relationships of so many troops that will always be remember. My dear Angela who has experienced this adventure with me since day one, is a joy and a bright spot as I watch her serve and take care of our troops. Her boundless energy amazes me and her brilliant mind astounds me. She always goes above and beyond!

I love my United Through Reading days out at the SF compound and at the hospital. I cherish that time interacting with our troops, often hearing their life stories, heartaches and joys. I hold dear my times with them. I will never stop thanking all of you who have supported this mission and supplied the books. I don’t think we will ever really see how far reaching this program is in connecting our troops to home and family.

Being away from my family has been the hardest thing I have ever done. Johnny Robinson has been my hero, always supporting me and lifting me in prayer. He has also become quite the poet. Often he writes me poems that are so precious. They are about the things I am doing or he is doing and they are such an encouragement. There have been ones about the UTR program and the children that impacts and even one about my grand puppy, Stella. Many mornings I have woken up to a hymn that he has written out for me or scripture that was on his mind. Those things always came right when I needed them most and carried me and sustained me through my day. He has been my rock on the hard days and held me up and wiped my tears from half way around the world. I am one blessed women to have a man like that in my life.

I love you all so dearly and without your support I could have never made it this far. You have all been wonderful. Your care packages shout in my ear how loved I am. I am not sure if I told you that the postal people know me and say I get more mail than anyone here on base. I am so proud of my mom and her support. She has been strong and I am so thankful for her encouragement. My mother-in-law or should I say my mother-in-love has been a huge advocate of the UTR program and has her teacher sorority sending books like crazy.

Amy, Alyson and John Micah are my pride and joy and I am so grateful for them keeping Johnny busy and taken care of.

I will see you soon.
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

Fun Times!

Dear All,

We had two days last week of dust storms. It was nasty! Though it was blowing, you really could not feel the sand as it is so much like talcum powder. At the very most the visibility was a quarter of a mile. My head pounded and I coughed horribly all day from all the dust. The center seemed to be inches deep in dust. Seems useless sometimes to dust but we do it anyway lest we lose control.

One thing that happens during dust storms are mortar attacks. The air support cannot get out do surveillance and the insurgents know that so they make their presence known in a big way. Before the day was over we had had many sirens and alerts. One did injure a soldier but I understand he is doing fine. So much to learn and understand! Mom, I am very careful and do exactly what I am supposed to and I am also in a hard structure so I am really safe.

I am hoping that when I go to post this I will be able to put pictures with it. You just never know here if the internet is going to cooperate or not. This picture is a five pound chocolate bar that Johnny sent. He had contacted the Hershey Company and they also sent a case of chocolate Kissables.

Well it has been a week since I started this and so much has gone on that I want to tell you. Hopefully I can stay awake long enough to finish this. We have had several more days of dust storms since the one mentioned above. It’s that time of year so you just deal with it. You never really feel clean. Once you shower you still have to walk back to your room. It is just kind of nasty. Everyone walks around outside with something around their face where all that is exposed is their eyes. It is really kind of scary looking. I understand that this will remain with us until probably mid June. Now that excites me.

Guess who came to town? TOBY KEITH…. Those of you who know me, know how much I love Toby Keith music. His concert was supposed to be Sunday night but he got stranded at another FOB because of the sand storm. His band made it in but he did not. They brought the band by the center to visit and they were so fun. We decided to pull off a cook out for them so they came back over and spent the evening with us. We had ten of our volunteers and probably fifteen band members and stage hands. We were able to get steaks, hamburgers and the dogs from the PX and then we all went over to the DFAC and got to go boxes with all the side dishes. The evening went well and we all had fun. I found out that one of the band members use to live just a few blocks from me in Coppell and another lives in Valley Ranch right by me. They were fun and down to earth and I enjoyed watching them interact with the troops. The hope was to get Toby in the next day and have the concert then.

They had planned to bring Toby by the center for a tour on Sunday but it did not look like that would happen for us on Monday. Late in the afternoon we got a call saying they were bringing him by in an hour. Forty-five minutes later the USO WHQ representative comes running in saying he was there can you give him a tour. You can imagine I was happy to oblige. He was quiet and not real personable but I am sure it was that he was shy being with me. It was fun going from room to room and watching the troops be surprised when they saw Toby.

The concert was wonderful. You know me I got emotional watching the troops have so much fun. HE sang all my favorites. After the concert I had a few things to do at the center to clean up and close up. One of our regular volunteers who will be leaving next week stayed to help. We decided to take these USO “Mortaritaville” Frisbees over to the band members. Long story short, Toby Keith was sitting out front and me and this soldier sat and visited for almost an hour. Toby was hungry so we ran down to Burger King and got him something to eat. It was pretty awesome. He was very nice and signed some things for us to have to give to troops and even gave this soldier his Toby Keith coin. When we got in the car I told the soldier I was with that I felt rather silly. Here I am a 54 year old women giddy excited that I got to see and talk to Toby Keith. Oh Well! I just have such respect for him because he values and honors our troops so much! That is big in my book!

I start home for R&R soon. I am thrilled. I hope arrive the 7th. It will be so good to see my family and friends and all those who have so graciously and generously supported me and the mission here. You are all the best.

In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

Pictures

Connecting Through Crafts







John Micah's friend









Finally we are getting my computer working. Wanted you to enjoy these pictures. Now that it works there will be more to follow.

In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

Bitter Sweet Week!

Dear All,

I am going in a little late today so I thought I would write to you before leaving. I was up early and out to where we rented our car to have the oil changed. While I was there we had a Code Red so I got to take cover there and wait for a little bit. One new worker from Nepal, when he heard the sirens took off running and dove into a connex that was close. I think he was a bit embarrassed when he realize that though we took cover the urgency was not quite as he thought. I won’t say time has made me or most complacent but by the time the siren goes off, whatever was coming, has already come. His buddies harassed him a bit but I patted him on the shoulder and told him it was okay. Better to do that than nothing! I remember my first and it does kind of rattle you some. Once the car was finished I took it for its monthly inspection. You have to have the car inspected monthly and the paper work you get is what allows you to get gasoline.

I went from there to do my laundry and it was wonderful because I walked in and there were three washers right there in a row. No waiting! Unheard of! I caught up on some computer In Kind stuff while I waited. By the way, I was picking up our mail the other day and one of the postal workers announced my arrival as I walked through the door. I was a little taken back and ask why , and he told me they all wanted to know who Linda Robinson was, the lady that gets more mail than any one on base. I grinned from ear to ear and in my head I saw each one of you. You have been amazing to provide and support this mission. I loved telling the workers there that it was a very support community of God’s people who wanted to do all they could for our troops to encourage and support them. You all got a hats off from all the postal workers. Thank you, thank you!

It has been a hard week in some ways. John Micah’s best friend , Blake, who I call my other boy, had a good friend from his old unit killed last week here. The young man had been in our home and it sadden me greatly to hear of his death. Army Sergeant Smith served his country well. I have thought so much about his family as they grieve and pray that God will encourage them and give them hope. I went down to the hospital to see if he had come through our hospital just because I knew that if he did he was honored and loving cared for as I see over and over down there. He had not come here. Tuesday out at the SF compound while I was doing the Untied Through Reading in the Chaplains office a young man came in looking for a book to read. I was the only one there at the time so we had a great visit. He is an Army medic and had spent the past month in the ER trauma ward in Baghdad doing some training. He had story after story and I found his strength and compassion for troops remarkable. Towards the end of the conversation I told about Blake’s friend. He knew exactly who I was speaking of and was one of the attending medics there that try everything to save this young man life. It meant so much to me that such a caring individual was there doing all that he could for Tim. I will probably never meet or know Tim’s family but if I ever get the chance I would love to reassure them that Tim was not alone when he died and that those around him were some of the most caring soul’s I have ever met. I came home that night feeling so blessed that God gave me that little gift of getting to meet one of America’s finest Army medics.

I had a very fun blessing this week also. One of John Micah’s friends who was based here came by the center and I got to spend the evening getting to know him. What a sharp young man. He had pictures of John Micah from when he was home on R&R and it just meant so much to get to be with him. Here is a picture of us together. Don’t be fooled that is near beer in my hand. We had a cook out that night at the center and they had near beer. Mom, near beer is non alcoholic! Tom wanted a picture drinking a beer with Rob’s mom in Iraq. Rob is what they call John Micah. He had some fun stories about John Micah and I love hearing him talk about my baby boy. I am thrilled for him as he has finished his time here and is on his way home.

It is now getting up in the 100's during the day, though today has cooled off and we are having quite the sand storm. I am not sure what the visbility is but it is bad out there. I am hacking and coughing.

Well I have got to get down to the center. I just wanted to say hi and tell you how special you are and how much I appreciate your support of me and our troops.

Well once again I can not get the pictures to upload. I will add them later. The joys of internet in Iraq. Nor will it allow me to spell check. I apologize for any glaring spelling arrows. I need Karen or Kathie to edit....

In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

Trying To Catch Up!

Dear All,

I think we will hit our first 100 degree day. Day before yesterday the air changed and that nice crispness that was there vanished and you could feel the heat settling in. Though there is a breeze it is like a warm blow dryer coming at you. It does help though having the air circulate. I can’t imagine what it will be like come July. I’ll be sure to share. Well I started this blog two weeks and am just now getting to finish. The weather though warm has not been bad at all. Mild temperatures with somewhat cool nights and mornings!

What makes the days so fun are the troops that come in the center. Though we have many regulars we also get many that are just passing through Balad and find us. I can’t wait to get you a picture as we had another set of brothers come in the other night. Two darling young men and their third brother will arrive here soon. I understand that they were featured on one of your night news shows here recently. I just think of their mother and father. I will send her pictures every time I can get them together.

We got another order of 550 cord in yesterday so the Connecting Through Crafts is back running full swing. I think it is so fun to see the troops have fun doing that kind of stuff. It is one of those relaxing things that they can do and then send home or have for themselves. They are pretty funny about it. Well since I wrote last they have used all the 550 cord. We can’t believe it. We had probably 15 different colors and 500ft of each. They love making the bracelets and key chains. Time to reorder!

I am not sure I have ever told you about the OPSEC training I had some months ago. It is an important issue that all here has to know and follow. OPSEC stands for Operation Security! It is unfathomable to me that there would or could be those out their/terrorist that would go through trash or tap in to phone lines or emails or anything to gain information to try and use against our troops or civilians that are deployed. I am careful to never mention specifics of when we travel. Though it becomes public information quickly that we have mortar attacks here, hence the name “Mortaritaville” I am not to say where any of those may have hit at least not unless it has become public through media. Every package you send me I cut the labels off and the labels are shredded or burned. When I am on the phone I can’t share times and dates of specific events or dignitaries that are coming! All these things if not done properly could put others in harm’s way. This has all been new to me as I have lived a pretty sheltered life and in a very sheltered environment. Exact dates, times, locations are all romper room no no’s to share.
Week before last I went to another special part of this compound and spent the day filming United Through reading. What a thrill. I filmed 61 that day. That represents 105 children. Isn’t that cool? This group of troops rarely has the opportunity for special things so it was so nice to be able to provide it for them. They were so appreciative and being a first for most, it was a day to dry tears and encourage them they could make it through. One young man was so nervous and he finally said that this would be the first time his two year old son got to see him. Hard to believe and who knows why but how wonderful to think this little program had a part in introducing a father and son. I also had another new baby this week. One of my Dr. at the hospital had his third. A baby boy! I just turned in my March reports and we filmed 548 United Through Readings in the month of March. To the best of my calculations we have filmed, and by we I mean all you who have supported this, 1357. Imagine that! That is well over 2500 happy children who were recipients of your support and generosity.

I can’t remember if I mentioned in my blog but my friend Laurie did a chocolate candy drive and we received over four hundred pounds of chocolate. Thank you DynCorp and the Southern Cruisers! The troops have loved it and believe it or not, they have just about gone through it all. They open the fridge and you can hear them say Wow! Chocolate!

The center continues to get busier and busier. We have had many troops volunteer their time and we are trying to put together a schedule so we have the help we need in the center. Our Air Force units are only here for three/four month rotations and so every time we get them trained up they leave. The group that did so much to get our center up and running just left this week and it was another round of sad goodbyes. We have another new addition to our center. They built a deck on the side just outside our lounge. We had our inaugural cook out this past Sunday and the troops had a great time grilling, making guacamole and drinking near beer. The music was cranked up and the night full of laughter.

I need to close. I apologize that I can’t seem to write more often. My ninety to hundred hour weeks, though exciting and great and full of the very thing I love doing, supporting our troops does leave me at the end of the day pretty beat. Thank you for all the books you have sent.

In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

The Smell of Bread Baking

Dear All,

The days go by so fast and most of the time I don’t even know what day of the week it is. I just realized it has been well over three weeks since I last wrote you. The center gets busier and busier as more and more troops find us and come.

Just before I went on R&R I was at the laundry mat and a soldier was making those macramé bracelets that are made out of 550 cord or parachute cord. He showed me how to make them so I picked up some 550 cord on R&R. Once we were open and running I one day got it out and started to make one and immediately I had several troops around wanting to make some. It was so fun and since we have done and taught them how to do hundreds of them. We have now ordered our third round of 550 cord. We haven’t decided what to call it but it is a toss up between Connecting Through Crafts or Relating Through Rip Cord. They love doing it and have made them for their wife, children and self. They do bracelets and key chains. I hope you enjoy the picture of them. They are all so cute and I enjoy teaching them how to do it.

We had a distinguished visitor last week. Vice President Dick Chaney. He spoke to the troops at the stadium. Talk about the security measures. He was quite protected. I did not get to go see him as this is my United Through Reading day on the other side of base and it is a one of my weekly highlights.

The smell of fresh bread brings home to the troops. My friend Laurie sent a bread maker to us via a soldier who was home on R&R. We opened it that day and baked three loaves. The troops loved it. Can you imagine what they felt when they walked in the lounge to the smell of bread cooking. Laurie sent twelve boxes of bread mix and four days later we had devoured it. We had troops set their alarms so they would be back when the bread was ready. Thank you Laurie for the bread machine! It has been quite the hit.

I was talking to Johnny and the other night and he ask me how many UTR’s we had done since we arrived. I went back into my records and if my recorded are right we have done close to 1100 recordings for the United Through Reading program. Isn’t that cool! That represents over 2200 children whose mother, father, aunt, uncle or grandparent has read a story to their special little one. That’s a lot of books that have been mailed home and brought so much joy to our deployed troops families. For many it is their life line to their child. Not all our troops have supportive families at home cheering them on so for some here being able to send these readings home is God tool to breath love into their children. I have talked too many who these little DVD’s is the only connection they have with their children.

Easter was a bit quiet. I went to my little church and was blessed by the fellowship with God’s people. We had stuff Easter Eggs for the troops and Chocolate bunnies. Some of the eggs had prizes so that was fun.

I again face another rotation of troops finishing their three months here and headed for home. It is so hard to say goodbye to the many that have been such an important part of our USO heritage here. I have been so blessed by so many and I realize that for the most part I will likely never see them again this side of glory. A sobering reality.

I am going to close. I keep falling asleep trying to write. The alarm goes off early and my normal weeks are averaging around 90 plus hours.

I love you all dearly. Your books have been such a blessing and the chocolate that Dyna Corp and my biker buddies from meet and greet in Dallas collected has been a huge hit. I love to tell them about you and how much you appreciate them and the sacrifices they are making. They are so taken back when they realize they are so loved.

Resting In His Mighty Grip,
Linda