Into the breach once more...

So as the hour approaches swiftly, Lindsay and I have spent countless hours together. We have watched several movies during the past couple of weeks and discussed our future to immense lengths. We actually looked at houses in Alabama the other day just to see where we might live if we move there in a couple of years as planned. I told her that the difference between our relationship and others is that we dream and hope almost everyday together. We have laughed and cried about my leaving so our hopes and dreams are really important to us, now more than ever. The girls are taking it pretty good considering. I took Bekah out to eat the other night. We had soups and sandwiches...her choice of course. We brought Lindsay a to-go order back...she was really appreciative and said it was very thoughtful. (good brownie points!)

I have packed...and packed...and packed...and packed. I have rolled up all my socks, t-shirts, and underwear into tiny little balls so I could have enough room in my four bags I can take with me. They each weigh about 65 lbs. each...the worst part about this is that at some point I will have to carry (drag actually) those heavy bags across the rock and gravel on the way to my room (CHU is the official local term, but I have no idea what it stands for).

I should leave Friday night and fly through Maryland, Virginia or New York on my way to the tiny country of Kuwait. I will spend about 3 weeks there and then head north to my home away from home for the next year. The weather in Iraq is 68 on average right now with the temperature in the 50's at night. However, I do anticipate the weather to get hotter and hotter the longer I am there.

This will be my 5th deployment overall since I first enlisted in the Army back in 2000. This will be close to the longest absence we have endured and the first one in Iraq. Please call Lindsay and the girls often so they can feel often the love I know each one of you reading this has for them.

I will try to keep this updated at least once a week when I get into my permanent CHU. This should be sometime near the end of January. I appreciate you thoughts and prayers, as always, and hope to hear from all of you very soon.

-Jerm