missdates

My sister leaves for Qatar tomorrow.

This is what I e-mailed out to some friends. I just thought I'd share it with you all and just have it in my journal for sentimental value.

Hi all, I know some of you know my sister, or at least know me well enough that you've heard about her and know she's in the military. Anyhow, she's headed to the desert tomorrow. I ask that you all keep her in your thoughts. Maybe send her an e-mail sometime if you know her well enough (probably just not anything too racy because I think she said there's a pretty strong filter).

She's going to miss all the major Holidays and everyone in our family's birthday except Jason's. This includes, our mom 9/26, dad 10/28, brother 9/29, mine 10/30 (feel free to mail gifts, lol), the twins 11/7, our nephew 12/27, her hubby Joel's 12/21, and her own 11/6, not to mention several aunts, uncles and cousins!!!

I'm gonna try to send her a letter a week and care packages occasionally.

She's going to be in Qatar and is really looking forward to it. If any of you have seen Armageddon, you may remember this quote... "I'm 99% Excited and 1% scared, or maybe I'm 1% Excited and 99% Scared." She told me today that this was how she felt. Although, she said instead of being scared, she was nervous. You know, since she's not landing on an asteroid in outer space and is actually staying on planet earth - she thinks "scared" might be too strong of a word!

But all joking aside, as a family member, well as her sister, there's really not a lot she can say that will ease my mind completely. But, we all try to take her word for it that she's going to work less, and be safe. We try to let her have this experience without putting any added pressure on her by making her feel guilty (which I did try to do, by the way). This was something that she told us would happen. I remember the day my Mom called me and told me she had been fitted for her gas mask for chemical warfare. It was quite a while back, maybe 2 years ago and I cried like a baby, just at the thought. I actually thought she may get passed up for a rotation in the desert because she's going to be starting her Masters program soon, and when she does this, she won't be actively working. Well, my sister made sure that didn't happen. She made sure they didn't forget about her!!!

I thank God that she's in the Air Force and not the Army and having to spend much more time there. I thank God that she's going to a place like Qatar and not to the middle of Baghdad. I thank God, too, that she's realizing her dreams and doing what she wants to do with her life, even if it's kind of painful for us here back home.

Thanks Guys, for "listening" to me for a few moments here! Maybe it's time to get to bed.

Yeah, so I'm bummed out for that... In other news... my classes are kicking my ass.

A very close friend of Jason's Mom passed away who is also his Godmother. We've been helping out with taking care of our Godkids on Tues & Thurs since their Grandmother used to watch them quite a bit.. I think they help us out more than we help them out. They're at that age where they enjoy entertaining the twins.

I had my interview which went well, but I'm not counting on anything. I never told my boss I applied for something else. I'm chicken-shit I guess.

J's in the Academy now and things are moving along with that! He gets all the holidays off and will even be off for a week during Christmas!!!!

My kids are getting brighter and more brilliant and hilarious every day. They make me go between cracking up laughing or wanting to take crack to cope, hahahahaha. No just kidding! I don't do drugs, but that sounded funny in my mind.

So, I should've been studying all this time, I'm going to get to bed now. I need to be up at 5:30 in the morning, and I usually don't function well on less than 7 hours of sleep. Tomorrow's going to be a rough day for more than one reason!!!!

Nitey-nite!