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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
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
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
Thursday, April 17, 2008
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
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
Saturday, April 12, 2008
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
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
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
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
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
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Taking It Easy In The Lounge!
I thought you all would enjoy this picture of some of our troops taking it easy in the lounge.
Here are the troops watching and listening to the children read to them via web cam.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
United Through Reading
Dear All,
It is Tuesday and United Through Reading at the SF compound. Today I had many new airmen on the Air Force side. The Air Force does four month rotations so I am now on my third rotation. The enthusiasm for this program is huge. Being their first week in country many are homesick and sitting down to record a book to their children proves to be quite an emotional event. Several needed to just sit and talk a minute to regain their composure before beginning. I remember well my first week here and how hard it was and my children are grown so I can’t imagine the emotions of leaving school age children and infants. What an amazing group men and women serve our country.
One of my dads who has participated regularly during his time here came in today and could not say thank you enough for this program. His son was only six or seven months old when he deployed and next month he will have his first birthday. He said…… my son knows me, he really does know me. He had talked to his wife the day before and she told him that when she put the DVD of him reading to the son he crawled to the TV and said over and over, dada, dada! That was one very happy daddy! This program truly connects families and gives them a way to remain involved in their children’s lives. I sat here this evening as another dad was reading and he was having so much fun and was so expressive and it just brought tears thinking of this little boy and little girl getting to see this. I am so blessed to be a part of this.
The center remains busy and growing. We have had many of our troops volunteer their time to help us. We are doing an orientation soon and will get them all slotted to help. Last night we had fun at the center. It was Dr Seuss’s birthday and in the states it was read across America in many elementary schools. A first grade class in Pennsylvania had arranged to web cam with us and their first grade class was going to read a Dr. Seuss book to the troops. They were darling. We had about fifteen soldiers and even a marine around the web cam to watch and wave and clap and cheer them on. There was not a dry eye in the room when the children sang Lee Greenwood's “Proud to be an American” and then at the end they sang God Bless a America and all our troops in the room joined in. This was one event that I had many crying with me. I used one of our cameras and made a DVD of the troops watching the children and then had them say hello and greet the children. We will send that to them. Fun, fun stuff! For me just watching the troops smile and laugh and enjoy themselves makes any effort made so worthwhile.
I just had to share my UTR stories. Thank you so much for your support. Thank you for the books you are sending. Believe me they are so appreciated and are making a difference.
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda
It is Tuesday and United Through Reading at the SF compound. Today I had many new airmen on the Air Force side. The Air Force does four month rotations so I am now on my third rotation. The enthusiasm for this program is huge. Being their first week in country many are homesick and sitting down to record a book to their children proves to be quite an emotional event. Several needed to just sit and talk a minute to regain their composure before beginning. I remember well my first week here and how hard it was and my children are grown so I can’t imagine the emotions of leaving school age children and infants. What an amazing group men and women serve our country.
One of my dads who has participated regularly during his time here came in today and could not say thank you enough for this program. His son was only six or seven months old when he deployed and next month he will have his first birthday. He said…… my son knows me, he really does know me. He had talked to his wife the day before and she told him that when she put the DVD of him reading to the son he crawled to the TV and said over and over, dada, dada! That was one very happy daddy! This program truly connects families and gives them a way to remain involved in their children’s lives. I sat here this evening as another dad was reading and he was having so much fun and was so expressive and it just brought tears thinking of this little boy and little girl getting to see this. I am so blessed to be a part of this.
The center remains busy and growing. We have had many of our troops volunteer their time to help us. We are doing an orientation soon and will get them all slotted to help. Last night we had fun at the center. It was Dr Seuss’s birthday and in the states it was read across America in many elementary schools. A first grade class in Pennsylvania had arranged to web cam with us and their first grade class was going to read a Dr. Seuss book to the troops. They were darling. We had about fifteen soldiers and even a marine around the web cam to watch and wave and clap and cheer them on. There was not a dry eye in the room when the children sang Lee Greenwood's “Proud to be an American” and then at the end they sang God Bless a America and all our troops in the room joined in. This was one event that I had many crying with me. I used one of our cameras and made a DVD of the troops watching the children and then had them say hello and greet the children. We will send that to them. Fun, fun stuff! For me just watching the troops smile and laugh and enjoy themselves makes any effort made so worthwhile.
I just had to share my UTR stories. Thank you so much for your support. Thank you for the books you are sending. Believe me they are so appreciated and are making a difference.
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Blessing Upon Blessing
Dear All,
The days are busy and full. Each new day brings more and more troops into the center. They love the games rooms and spend hours in there. The UTR at the center continues to increase also.
I enjoy my one day a week at the Special Forces Compound doing the United Through Reading program. They are all so appreciative and enjoy so much reading to their children. One dad told me that he looked forward to the time so much and it had helped get him through this deployment. I had one young soldier read a book to his two nieces this week there and he was so cute. I could hear him in there just a cutting up and having fun reading to them and talking. Don’t you know those little girls will be tickled to get a DVD from their uncle? I wish I could remember what he said they call him, it was so cute. I record in two different areas of the SF camp. One in the morning and the other in the afternoon! Both in the Chaplains office area and Chapel. They are very gracious and it has been so fun to get to know them. The Chaplains Assistant on the second side was leaving this week and so that meant another goodbye. She has been so sweet and I have enjoyed my time with her. She calls me Mama. That evening I was filing along and the Chaplains, from the front side and some others come over to where I was. I figured the were there to say goodbye to the assistant that was leaving. We were just visiting and enjoying the time when all the sudden they ask me to come up. They presented me with a certificate and a flag that had been flown on a combat mission over Iraq. I was so honored and touched but the sweetest thing of all was the inscription on the certificate. It was to Linda Robinson “Our USO Angel”. It will be a treasured memento from my time here along with the memories of spending time with so many dear airmen and soldiers.
We also had another first and treasured event at the center. A young airmen came by a week or so ago and ask if we had any place that was private that he could web cam with his wife because she was due to deliver their second baby. The hospital had agreed to allow them to have a web cam there for the delivery. The airmen had been all over base trying to find a place where he could go when the day arrived. We let him know we would do whatever we could to help him out. He runs in the other night and says she is in labor. We go to work and get him set up back in our office. We were having trouble getting my laptop to download and by the grace of God our Internet guy was there and he hooked him up to another computer the was in our office. In order to do that we had to close down our computer lab which we hated but this was one of those special events in life that took priority and was not to be missed. It was fun watching him talk to her and coach her through. In Iraq fashion right towards the end our Internet went out and we were doing everything we knew to do to get it up and running. Finally we talked to the special unit that share the other wing of our building and they hit the ground running and had our new dad hooked up within minutes. 2:45 a.m. a beautiful baby boy was born. Daddy was proud and mom was grateful he had been by her side though the miles were many.
Today is John Micah’s birthday. Being so far away on special day’s brings a certain sadness and an awareness of how far away I am from those I love. I talked to him on the phone and it was great to know he was with his sister and girlfriend and having a wonderful time together. I am very proud of him. For those of you who have not heard he has been redeployed and will return to Iraq around the end of the summer. He is an amazing young man, proud to serve his country.
I must get myself to bed. I love you all dearly and thank you over and over for your support and encouragement.
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda
The days are busy and full. Each new day brings more and more troops into the center. They love the games rooms and spend hours in there. The UTR at the center continues to increase also.
I enjoy my one day a week at the Special Forces Compound doing the United Through Reading program. They are all so appreciative and enjoy so much reading to their children. One dad told me that he looked forward to the time so much and it had helped get him through this deployment. I had one young soldier read a book to his two nieces this week there and he was so cute. I could hear him in there just a cutting up and having fun reading to them and talking. Don’t you know those little girls will be tickled to get a DVD from their uncle? I wish I could remember what he said they call him, it was so cute. I record in two different areas of the SF camp. One in the morning and the other in the afternoon! Both in the Chaplains office area and Chapel. They are very gracious and it has been so fun to get to know them. The Chaplains Assistant on the second side was leaving this week and so that meant another goodbye. She has been so sweet and I have enjoyed my time with her. She calls me Mama. That evening I was filing along and the Chaplains, from the front side and some others come over to where I was. I figured the were there to say goodbye to the assistant that was leaving. We were just visiting and enjoying the time when all the sudden they ask me to come up. They presented me with a certificate and a flag that had been flown on a combat mission over Iraq. I was so honored and touched but the sweetest thing of all was the inscription on the certificate. It was to Linda Robinson “Our USO Angel”. It will be a treasured memento from my time here along with the memories of spending time with so many dear airmen and soldiers.
We also had another first and treasured event at the center. A young airmen came by a week or so ago and ask if we had any place that was private that he could web cam with his wife because she was due to deliver their second baby. The hospital had agreed to allow them to have a web cam there for the delivery. The airmen had been all over base trying to find a place where he could go when the day arrived. We let him know we would do whatever we could to help him out. He runs in the other night and says she is in labor. We go to work and get him set up back in our office. We were having trouble getting my laptop to download and by the grace of God our Internet guy was there and he hooked him up to another computer the was in our office. In order to do that we had to close down our computer lab which we hated but this was one of those special events in life that took priority and was not to be missed. It was fun watching him talk to her and coach her through. In Iraq fashion right towards the end our Internet went out and we were doing everything we knew to do to get it up and running. Finally we talked to the special unit that share the other wing of our building and they hit the ground running and had our new dad hooked up within minutes. 2:45 a.m. a beautiful baby boy was born. Daddy was proud and mom was grateful he had been by her side though the miles were many.
Today is John Micah’s birthday. Being so far away on special day’s brings a certain sadness and an awareness of how far away I am from those I love. I talked to him on the phone and it was great to know he was with his sister and girlfriend and having a wonderful time together. I am very proud of him. For those of you who have not heard he has been redeployed and will return to Iraq around the end of the summer. He is an amazing young man, proud to serve his country.
I must get myself to bed. I love you all dearly and thank you over and over for your support and encouragement.
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda
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