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

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.