So here I am 5 weeks since my son left for Operation Enduring Freedom. I have gone through many emotions and have come to terms with most of them. I have also come to figure out why people say “We walk through deployment.”
It is not something that you can put aside you have to literally learn to live with it and see it all the way to the end. My hat is off to all who have to “walk through deployment”.
Anyway, I have taken the camera out and here are some of the pictures I have taken.
I hope you enjoy them!
In Alaska you are never assured what the winter is going to bring. Sometimes it can be warm, little snow, and windy.
Other times there can be lots of snow and sub zero temperature.
This winter of 2011/12 seems to be filled with snow and sub zero temperature. Valdez and Cordova had a record 10 feet of snow within 24 hours. Now that is alot of snow.
Here north of the city of Anchorage, we have had snow but not the 12 inches the forecasters were saying we were suppose to get.
Now today, January 15th it is -17 F. Now that’s cold.
Official Temperature for 1/15/2012
In the following days I will be posting pictures of this marvelous wonderland.
This new year is starting out with SNOW!
In the City of Cordova, the new year brought 15 inches of new snow. The guard was called in to help clean it up before the weather warmed up.
In Wasilla, there was about half of that. Snow makes the landscape beautiful but the roads hazardous. Anywhere else life would come to a halt. Not so here. Kids still have school, adults still need to make it to work.
Ah! Living in Alaska is never without adventure.
A Story I just have to share!
My second son joined the army in November 2009, during his senior year of high school. In May, 2010, he graduated.
In July, he was off to basic. Being raised an army brat gave me an advantage. So I knew things and of course my mom filled in the blanks.
We went to graduation at Ft Benning and of course I believed that would be the last time I would see my son for awhile. I do have to say that going to the Basic graduation is a must for any parent.
Then the most amazing thing, what I can only describe as a true blessing from God. It only happens like less than a half a percent. My son was stationed in his home state of Alaska. Not 40 miles from where he grew up. I was amazed and felt so blessed.
During his year at Ft Richardson he was able to come home on weekends and nights if he wanted. He also brought home the most amazing young men.Those young soldier who were far from home became part of my family. They would come out and stay on weekends. One of them was married and hiswife arrived here in September. She is like a daughter that I never had.
The Gang!
The Weekends!
Anyway, I knew my time was limited, I knew this young battalion was going to be deployed this December. But it seemed so far away in the
summertime of Alaska’s long days. Then the days grew shorter.
Finally after many false starts: dates were set. Ceremony was held.
Casing the Color
The first were sent.
Then came my guys turn.
That night in December is a night I will never forget. The pride, the fright, the struggle to keep it together. Not just for my son but for the other guys and my family who had grown to include not one but four young girls.
That night I watched my son became a soldier. I watched as he checked his gun and gear. And I wanted to yell and scream but I stood with pride. Because he was proud. Proud to be an American army soldier as his grandpa, my dad, was. All my guys were proud to be serving their country.
I’m so glad I had a year to watch this transformation to get to know the other four so far from home. Proud sons of proud mothers.
Now we walk through this thing called deployment. But for me, I still have fear, I still don’t sleep much waiting for that call. But I rejoice in the
blessing that I was given. I know God is in control.
God watch over the Task Force the Spartans. The 3/509th task force gold Geronimo. Keep them safe. But most of all keep them focused.
A Heart for Alaska 