Trip to Kuwait

I am here in Kuwait now, but let me tell u about the journey here.

       i woke up bright and early on a friday 0600. All my bags are packed I am ready to go, well atleast get out of McGregor. We get all out bags and carry ons outside. We lined them up in some kind of order. After we did this i made some of my last phone calls. First I decided to call my uncle and it was really nice to talk to him. He is always there with a postive attitude and to lighten the mood. I love u Uncle DAnny. After that i called my Aunt Cindy. I really enjoyed talking to her also. She is very encouraging. Then after that i call my cousin adam and talked to him. He was very excited to hear from me and i felt the same to hear from him. The i talked to all three of my little cousins. They had just woke up and young so i dont think they quite understand what i was doing or where i was going. But it mad my day to talk to all of them. I love them and miss them all dearly. Shortly after i got off the phone we had to all go inside and wait for the dogs to sniff our bags to make sure we didnt have explosives or drugs. After they got done we loaded the bags into the back of 3 big trucks and hopped on the bus to head to thw airport at Fort Bliss. Once we got there we ate chow then loaded the plane.  Lucky me after everyone got on the plane i had a empty seat beside me....YAY.  The first stop we had was in Maine. We got out to stretch our legs. When we got off the plane we where warmly greated my the patriot guard from there. It was very nice of them to do that. As we stretch our legs I made my final call to my dad. It was hard cause i miss him dearly and wish he could be there to see me off but he was there in spirt. So after i talked to him i cut my phone off. So no more phone for me, and let me tell you that is something that is hard to get use to. About  a hour after we got off we had to load again. The next desitnation is Germany. This flight was about a 6 hour flight. I slept the whole way there. When we  landed they told us that one of our generators had went bad and we would have to switch flight. So the consisted of us moving about 600 plus dufflels and about 300 ruck sacks and some crates to another plane. This process took about 3 hours. Once we got all that loaded on the other plane we laoded and took off to our final place Kuwait. This flight was about a 7 hour flight. I also slept the whole way. Once we landed (at 130am) we loaded the bags in the  back of 3 more big trucks and headed to the holding area. After that we headed to the living areas. Well once we got there my section had to collect all weapons for turn in. Then we had to take them to the arms room and put in serail number order. This was a very long process. After most of this was done (about 0930) we headed back to the barricks for our day off to get acclumated. This is the first time i saw my room which i post pics once i get some. But our rooms are a open bay with wall lockers seperating them into rooms. I have the smallest room in there. But i am glad of who i got to room with :). I got there unloaded my stuff. This felt nice cause i knew i would not have to pack it up any time soon. I am here to stay for atleast 10 months. So after we got our room situated it was time for bed. So i laid down and went to sleep. The next morning (today) i got up at 0430 to eat breakfast and go to briefing till lunch time. After lunch we went to tour the area we are going to be working in. And now we have the rest of the off and so now its time to work out. so i will keep yall informed and updated.
thanks
xoxox B

More in New Mexico

Woke up the next morning from a very emotional day. While at Bliss we went through SRP (Soldier Readiness Processing). This consisted of making sure all our finical papers are good. Also that we are healthy enough to deploy. We also had to get some shots. Which are
                                            small pox (which doesn't hurt but is a pain to keep clean)
                                            anthrax (which hurt for a couple days after)
                                            typhoid (which didn't hurt at all)
Not only was there shots we had to do blood work and females had to do a pregnancy test. Most of us got all green and get to go. However there are a few people that cant join us. : (
After 4 days at Bliss we moved to the Alamo (sounds cool i know). its actually in New Mexico. All the females stayed in a open bay. They are nice and we have showers that have curtains which are nice. We have a nice little hike to the chow hall everyday. Its about a mile one way (Good PT). Its about the same ole routine every day for me here i wake up and just get on the computer and take some online classes. Then workout and head to Lunch. Then come back for some more classes then dine, then workout again. I am getting in good shape while i am here which is really good motivation for my PT test i take in 5 days. Being here in between Texas and New Mexico is making Kuwait look better and better, i am looking forward to being over there and be settled.

The see ya later not goodbye

Sorry its been a along time since i posted an update, so here it goes: The morning i leave:
I woke up bright and early to say my farewells : (. My emotions are going crazy. i wanted to go but hated leaving everyone behind. Making sure i had all my bags packed and loadedin my dads truck. My dad and my younger sister Angel and I adventured to the City Cafe to meet up with some close family and friends. When we arrived to the restaurant my bestest friend from hight school (Leslie) was there with my Momma Bradford and Me Maw it was great to see them there. Shortly after that Dusty a friend from the american legion showed up. Then Yanni another best friend.  After her Steph and Adam showed up. Last some more friends from the american legion showed up which was really nice of them. While we waited on our food we had took some good pics and just goofed off.

Then after we enjoyed our amazing food Yanni, Angel, Steph, and I went for a walk around down town after saying see ya later to Leslie (she had to go to work). After all that we rode over to the armory for our formation. Man the armory was packed. So me and Steph got in formation while i could see the pride on my dads face as he just watched us just standing there. After formation Angel and Yanni came in late but they suprised me and Steph with some balloons which was very sweet of them.  I got the bubble bee
and Steph got thew snail. They had also got us alittle charter out of a gum ball machine. Mine is named hickory. I carry hickory with me everyday. Also i will hang the beein my room whenever we get settled in. Then we had to get in another formation. This formation was all our chain of command giving a speech and higher officials saying there farewells and saying they are pround of us as a unit. Then at the end  they surprised us with bagpipers. which this was very emotional for me. they really touched me. Then after the formation was over Angel came and gave me a hug. She was bawling and her crying made me cry. Angel is the one i think all this effected the most cause she cried the whole time and every time I looked at her I cried too I dont like seeing my baby sister hurting. While i was shugging angel one of a family friend farmer came up and gave me a talking cause he has been over there and he knows how it is. Which meant a lot that he came to see us off and he wants the best for us. Also i ran into some really good friends that are in our unit that cant go with us. Like Fio and Bloodsoe which both where crying., I really wish they could of came with us. Also ran into some people that use to be in our unit like Stan. Which was great knowing that he supported us. Also some others and forgive me if i forget your name.  So there the waiting begins. While we waited Adams dad got the news people over there and they interviews me, Steph and my dad about twin sisters deploying. That ws rough because Angel was crying in te background so i was crying trhrough the whole interview. Well they ended up putting that on the news <object id="flashObj" width="320" height="240" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"> <param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/23319445001 ?isVid=1&publisherID=981571769" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /> <param name="flashVars" value="@videoPlayer=742650966001&playerID=23319445001 &domain=embed&" /> <param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /> <param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /> <embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/23319445001 ?isVid=1&publisherID=981571769" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="@videoPlayer=742650966001&playerID=23319445001 &domain=embed&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="320" height="240" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"> </embed> </object>
 here is the link to watch it.

Now its time to see the first chalk off (which Steph is in). It was sad even though i knew i was going to see her in a day. Adam cried he didn't want her to leave. My Momma Bradford and Me Maw and Angel was also crying. Which in all this Steph was crying too. So as we wavied her bye. Then the reality hit I was next. So we waited around for 30 min to send me off. Before I knew it, it was time for me to leave so we lined up in a formation waiting on them to call our name to load the bus one by one. There was my name about half way though the list. As I walked over to the bus my dad meet me half way and gave me a HuGE hug. 

Then I made my way over to Angel, Yanni, Momma Bradford, Me Maw and Adam. That by far is one of the hardest things I have every done. As I was on the bus I couldn't hold back my tears and emotions as a sat by my battle Ashley Comer.  both where sad but ready for all of this to begin a new chapter in our life's. The busses started to pull off as we waived by to everyone there. and there we go escorted my like 15 cops cars all the way to the airport  The escort was awesome.  the busses had the CB radios on so we can hear what the truck drivers are saying. Man that lighened the mood which was great. It was also very funny. Finally we arrived at the airport. We got to entrance from the back of the airport. Man I felt so specail. so we laoded the plane and had sack lunches on the seats waiting on us. We took our seats and had to do some moving around due to weight on the plane. but finally we where off. I slept the whole plane ride. Once we landed at the Airport at Fort Bliss, Texas. We went into a gym and had a briefing. Then went and had diner then to the rooms to call it a night.  I found out that my lovely roommates, for the short time we are going to be there, had already got my bags. My roommates are Steph and Sgt. lungcharoen (think thats how you spell it). But man let me tell you what a day every emotional.

The Pressure is ON

So tomorrow is going to be an emotional roller coaster. I am leaving my family and friend behind as i leave to serve my county. i am so ready but yet so nervous. because this is my first deployment so i dont want to forget anything and make sure i am well prepared. i am going to ball my eyes out.


                           








the one thing good about this is that i get to bond better with my unit which are like family. i have some life long friends. Well got to get to bed now up at 530 tomorrow morning to have the last breakfast (for a while)with some of my closest family and friends.

wish my luck,
xoxoxoxox B

Some GREAT family time

So today was a very long but yet productive day. It started of by going to Wallie World with my dad and a friend (Jamie). Got most of everything that I needed. Of course my dad did his thing (embassring us). He did this by annocing over the intercome that we have two soldiers (Elizabeth Lockhart and Jamie Smith) that are leaving saturday for Iraq. Man i dont think our faces could be even more red. Good thing we didnt have big name tags on. But thats my dad just being proud and thats why i love him  :  ).

Then it followed by eating Soups On...Yummmm. There a guy named Ron was so proud if us that he gave us a free cupcake (I got red devil one). Then it followed by that some packing and bounding time with Angel my younger sister. It was great then we went to gospel singing at the Legion with my dad. Ate some good chili and cornbread. Following that came home and made bracelets with angel and watched TV. that leads me to now writing my blog. Today was great and well needed i love my family and community they are what are going to make each day in Iraq easier.


Life is What you Make it,
xoxoxoxox B

Off on the wrong foot

So this morning got off to a rough start. It all started with getting a flat tire in Jamies rental so we missed church.  We ended up pulled off to a gas station to wait for Thomas to helps us out. While we waited we went and got McD's and missed breakfast by 10 min : ( But the day turned around we went to a friends house and watched some Sunday football. wohohooho it was interesting but the Falcons won wohoooo. Also the situation with my family is taking a baby step in the right direction. i also had an amazing nap. then followed by a good healthy diner and some Boston Med. 

The one thing that i have to keep telling myself is that everything happens for a reason and God has a plan for everything. i am just going to grow stronger every moment.

Now i am wrapping the night off by a hot shower and now a new Blog : )

Step by Step make Everyday the Best Day : )

xoxoxoxox B

Stuck in the Middle

So today is the week mark till i leave. Wohohooh i am so ready for this however i cant help to feel like my family is struggling more than ever right now. The one thing i keep asking myself is Why?

Why does it have to be this way?
Why is "love" so blinding?

Why does it seem like everything i say no one listens?

Why does she not take into heart what we say?

Why does she not realize how important family is?

Why does she not see what she is doing to our family?

Why can she not maker her own decisions?

Why does things have to be about him?

Theses questions are what i am stuck in the middle of. I really need this question to be answered and solved before i leave. I hope and pray everything works out.


Everything happens for a reason,
XOXO B