Final Days in the US

Hey Everyone...

I have some sad news to report. The day has finally come for Bri to leave for Afghanistan. She is leaving at 1am Wednesday morning. This is very hard to let her go. I told on a phone call a few minutes ago that I wished she wasn't leaving and that I could fly over there and steal her away so she wouldn't be able to go. Bri is having a tough time right now and reality has really set in for her. Please keep your prayers and thoughts going for Bri. These next 10 to 12 months are going to be tough.

Bri had a 3 day pass in Indiana before leaving for Afghanistan. Greg, mom, and I drove down to Indiana to see her after getting off to a late start due to my "lovely" plane ordeal. Wednesday was a pretty low key day. Bri and the rest of the gang went to the movie "The Proposal" while I stayed at the cabin because my medication had made me super sick that day.

Thursday was a lot more exciting. Bri, Alty (friend from the military), mom, and I went horse back riding. Mom's horse was a little crazy and mom freaked out a little bit, I thought my horse was going to fall and was super tired, Alty's horse was gasy, and Bri's horse was pretty good. After horse back riding we headed to a little airport and Bri, Alty, some of Bri's other friends, and myself all signed up to skydive. We got dressed in our lovely skydiving suits and got on the plane. Bri's friend Luke jumped first then it was my turn. I was followed by Bri and Alty. Just a note about skydiving- it is one of the biggest adrenaline rushes you will ever experience. The first few seconds you are thinking to yourself, "What was I thinking?" after that you are trying to figure out how to breathe and then it is so amazing.

Friday was 6 Flags in Kentucky, but was definitely not a great 6 Flags. There was so little to do there. Bri returned to Camp Saturday night and prepared for deployment.

Again, please keep her in your prayers- especially for her safety, since it has been pretty crazy over there lately. Thanks for checking in. I will update as I hear from her or others who hear from her.

Not much to report right now. I do know that Bri is on a 7 Field training session. She is doing pretty well. She is very excited to get some time off. We are going to be in a pretty awesome cabin for her time off.

As for me, I've got something up again- health wise. My lymphnode on the right side of throat was really swollen so I went in to the doctor (again), and got the next strongest antibiotic from the zpack. THe medication has been making me even more sick, so I have been sleeping a lot. Please pray for an answer- I had more blood work done and something would be better than nothing.

Thanks for checking in... Hope all is well on your end. Next week I promise this will be a little more exciting!

Happy 4th of July!

Today is my first time celebrating Bri's service. We have had a couple years of her being in the military, but this is a little different this year. I am very proud of her bravery and strength to do something that not everyone can do.

Brianna called the other day to let me know that she has some time off before she goes to Kuwait. Because I was unable to see her while she was in Minnesota, I had promised her that I would see her in Indiana if she had some time off! So on July 21, I will be heading to Indiana to see my beautiful sister before she leaves for Afghanistan. I can't wait to see her.

Please continue your prayers for both of us.

Hope you have a great 4th of July! Be safe! Thanks for checking in!

Brianna and Meghan

Bri in Indiana

I finally got a chance to talk to Brianna this week. I hadn't been able to get a hold of her since she had gotten to Indiana. She sounded really well and said that things had been going fairly well. It didn't sound like things were to overwhelming, which helped ease my stress level. There is still no official word on when they are leaving for Kuwait. It was 30 days then it was 45, Bri said that it will happen when it happens and it could be at any time. A little scary. I asked if there was any word on when they will be back in the US, again no word. I would really like to know just so I can start counting down the days til she gets home.

I'm going to try to get some pictures from Bri's celebration up on the blog for everyone to see. So check back soon.

I'm doing ok, have a lot of things on my plate and still no word on a job. Please pray for a job for me. Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers!! We hope that all is well on your end!

Love

Meghan and Brianna

Bri-

Hey Girl. I am so glad I got to talk to you the other day. I'm glad things aren't to stressful and crazy this time around. I love you tons and miss you lots.

Love- Me

For Your Enjoyment...

To watch video, turn off sound at the bottom of the page.

I have been going through a large box of cds and came across a funny video.  This video was taken I believe my freshman year of college back when I came back for Christmas.  Bri and I drove up to Graceville where some of our family lives.  The "kids" got the job of cleaning up after the meal.  The little cousins started whipping the older cousins with towels.  So we fight back.  I start spraying water at one of them and Bri and I could not stop laughing.  Hope you enjoy this if you don't you probably had to be there.

Bri- I hope this gives you a good laugh.

Change of Addresses...

This week has been a pretty big week for both Brianna and I.  Brianna had a celebration this weekend for the military before deployment.  The Governer of Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty, was there.  Brianna also had to go to Chislom (sp?) for another ceremony.  I was unable to go, but I was told that several family members showed up in support for Brianna.  She said the ceremony wasn't that exciting, they just stood there.  Poor thing.  On Wednesday Brianna and her unit were flown to Indiana for more training.  This training I believe lasts for 35 days and then it is off to Kuwait.  I haven't heard from Brianna since she landed in Indiana, so once I hear from her I will update with more information.

It has been pretty busy here on my end.  I have been subbing like a mad woman and school finished on Tuesday.  I am also moving.  I move to a friends house on Saturday.  Other than that, it has been the same, just keeping busy.  I still haven't heard about a job yet, but I am preparing myself for the last minute call to go and teach.

Thank you for taking the time to read the blog and for your prayers and support.  We are grateful for all of you.  Please continue your prayers for us.

Bri-

Hey girly!  Deployment is getting so close I can't believe it.  I really wish I could have been there for you this weekend.  Another thing I feel guilty about not being there for you.   I am so proud of you!  I hope Indiana isn't too crazy and that you can get some rest before you have to leave.  I love you tons, keep up the great work.

Love you!  Megs

A Brianna Story...

I have been working on writing a book about being a military sister. There is little for sibilings on how to cope with a sibiling being deployed. So this is my project. I have asked some people to help jog my memory in some stories about Bri and I growing up and this one cracked me up. I have changed the point of view to fit with the book. Thank you Grandpa and Midge for this story and helping me laugh.

Brianna has always had a style of her own even as a very small girl! One time when we were camping, she and dad were playing “baseball”. Brianna had on a baseball cap that was several sizes too big and she wore it cocked to one side with her strawberry blond hair sticking out in every direction under the hat. She took a stance with the bat and dad pitched the tennis ball to her and it hit her on the side. He started to laugh and she put her hand on her hip and said “It ain’t funny, dad! You don’t see me laughin, do ya?” Later that day dad decided that it was time to remove the training wheels from Brianna’s bike. She was not happy about this turn of events, the day had not gone so well already. She came into the camper and Midge and her daughter, Kristi, asked why she was so upset. She said that Dad had taken off her training wheels. Kristi told Brianna that she was a big girl and it would be okay. Brianna took one look at Kristi and said “I’m not that big!” She definitely knew how she felt about any given situation.

I've only briefly talked to Brianna. She is doing ok. They have been doing a lot of training and prepping for leaving. Please keep her in your prayers!

Nothing to report here, still haven't heard about a job- so continued prayers on that topic please!!

***Bri!
I have enjoyed getting some very funny stories about as when we were little. It has also brought tears to my eyes as well as it makes me miss you more. I am always thinking about you. I am very proud of you. I hope you enjoy the letters from the kids. You have to read it the way they wrote it with out trying to figure out what they are saying because it is so funny!
I love you a lot and miss you tons.
Meggs