I apologize for the lapse in the blog. Family events have taken over our time. Our very special cousin John passed away in North Dakota after a tough fight with a brain tumor. I feel honored to have been able to be with him and his wonderful family the last few days of his life. He was a wonderful man who adored his wife and daughters. He was a very successful, compassionate and caring man who loved the family farm, the Montreal Farm, where I grew up, and where his grandfather was born. Craig was able to bring Ryann Faith to ND which raised everyone's spirit during this very sad occasion. She was an angel and everyone fell instantly in love with her...she was a trooper though it all.
Ryann got her first tooth while in ND and is so close to crawling. She remains happy and healthy...Adam and her went on a long hike today with friends and she loves being with her dad. I may overload you with pics on this post but it was hard to choose just a few. She gets so excited when Mommy Face Time with her...pretty cute.
Rheanna has great news to share so I will let her take it away...
I made it to October! I miss Ryann, Adam, and Moose so much. I am amazed every day at how fast she is growing. I am so thankful for Craig and Georgia. They are wonderful Grandparents to Ryann and I am so lucky to have them as in-laws. I have been praying for and thinking about Christina and the girls during this extremely difficult time in losing their husband/father. I'm so glad Ryann was able to visit the farm and it sounds like she was able to lift some spirits.
I have been pretty busy the last couple weeks. I was fortunate to be asked by a commander to give a military justice brief in Northern Afghanistan near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif. We flew in blackhawks to the base. We had to spend the night at a German base on our way to the North. The German base had amazing food and an espresso bar in their Dining Facility. Once we arrived at Mazar-i-Sharif, we were taken to the palace that the book "Horse Soldiers" is based on. The palace was the site of the first American death during the start of Operation Enduring Freedom. It was amazing to walk around the palace, a piece of history that few Americans will have the privilege of touring. I thought about the fact that Mike Spann's family probably has not been able to tour the area or see the monument dedicated to him in real life. It was an amazing experience. I tagged along as part of the Guam National Guard Infantry unit. Most of you are probably thinking, Guam? Are they actually a part of country? I felt the same way when I heard that Guam had a large NG presence here in Afghanistan. They are very good at their jobs in the Army. The Soldiers are extremely hospitable and polite. The Battalion Commander who invited me to give the Brief lives in Guam with his wife and is where he raised his children. Two of his daughters attend Gonzaga University and one daughter is in GU Rotc. Small world! One of the best things about this deployment has been the opportunity to work with different people from different cultures and nationalities.
I recieved care packages from my mom and my Aunt Sharon. Thank you! My mom also sent some matchbook cars for Abdul's son and some baby toys for his daughters. We snapped this picture of him holding the toys and me wearing the scarf and jewelry his family gave to me.
