Hey there!  Sorry I’m so slack about posting, like Lynn, I’m not very good with technology!  I am glad to hear you made it to the desert.  I can only imagine what it must be like over there.  I wouldn’t have suspected it would be so cold.  Be on the look out for a box.  I haven’t quite mailed it yet, but I have the best intentions!  Let me know if there is anything specific you want/need.

Things here are going well.  We are getting ready for Christmas.  The boys are very excited.  I had to stop using the old, “do you want me to call Santa?” when they are naughty because I don’t think that will work for me in February or June!  We sure will miss you over the holidays.  We will have a big time next year when you are home. 

We are very proud of you.  There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t wonder how you are, or where you are for that matter!  Please just be safe and smart!  I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to talk to you before you left.  I had all these great things I was going to say in the voicemail, but I started to cry when I heard the beep!  Typical, I know!

Take care dude and we talk to you soon! We all love you bunches!

Devin's in Iraq!

Hello everyone, hope all is groovy in the hood. Things are good here. Can’t post on the Internet where I am or what I’m doing. Just know It’s sandy, windy and cold as hell.

Thank you for all the support! It feels good to know that I have family and friends to come home to. I have guys with me that don’t have families waiting for them. I feel great about the guys I’m with. You know it’s true what they say when you make a bond with the guys you’re in combat with. It’s a different kind of bond. I know that the guy next to me will take one for me if need be and I’d do the same, well… most of the guys!

I really don’t know how to reply to y’alls comments. I was never really good with words. Just know all of y’all are here with me… freezing our asses off right now B/C your 1st Sgt told you to pack them and send them ahead of you and now you don’t have them, so we are all cold as hell and you can’t say anything B/C he’s the 1st SGT. hahaha

Please every one keep writing B/C it’s nice to hear from home and to hear what everyone is doing.

Jarrett, you are with me bro, in this foxhole we dug all damn day! Grammy, thanks for the letters, I have them with me and please keep them coming. Papa, I feel honored to be following in your footsteps. Cat, Thanks for being my motorcycle buddy. Maybe we can hit a race when I come back. Lynn, I love you for being the great and loving Aunt a nephew always needs and tell Pat I won’t let him down. We will finish the job he started all those years ago. Karen, tell the boys I’ll send them some “way cool” stuff from the sand box and tell Troy to keep it up with the hunting. I look forward to having some deer when I get back.  Maybe we’ll take out his 4 wheelers.  

Mud and Dad… I don’t know what to say… some kids don’t get the chance to grow up like a normal kid should. I guess I was one of the lucky ones and Mom, thanks for giving Dad that second chance on your first date.

Love everyone from the “Box”

PFC, Carey

1-505 PIR 82nd Airborne Division

Hey there nephew, I finely learned how to put a message on your web site. You know your Aunt Lynn, not very bright with a computer. OK, about you, Pat and I are very PROUD of you. You know that Pat is especially proud, for you are doing what he did for 27 years. He was right where you are in 1991 in Iraq. There’s not much for me to say except that we love you. Please be safe over there, don’t do anything stupid and come home to all of us in one piece.
Love You Nephew,
Aunt Lynn

Well…here we are.  My little brother going to War.  I guess i have got a lot of emotions flying through my head.  

I wish I could follow him. I wish that I could share a foxhole with him.  I wish I could be there to kick anyone’s ass that has the yarbles to mess with MY kid brother.  I guess thats the Big brother in me.  Only i am allowed to pick on him, beat him up, or otherwise give him hell.

I guess I should realize that he can take care of himself from now on.  We’re not 12 years old anymore.  I dont have to defend him from the bullies on the bus.  He is now going to defend ME from the bullies in the Mid- East.

So here it is.  Devin…I am more proud of you than any big brother has ever been.  I’m proud of the man you are.  I am proud that you are my brother. 

I have a set of your dog tags.  I’m not taking them off till you get home.

better hurry…cause they chafe like hell

jarrett

DD,   You know we all love you. You know we are all so very proud of you.  What you need to keep in your mind, is far more scary than where you are going…..VERY IMPORTANT. If you don’t be careful, if you get even a scratch on your beautiful sweet self, there will be a long line to kick your bloomin arse…. THEN  We’ll make you spend loooong loooong days in your fathers company (with no Mud for a buffer) and  with no breaks!!  24/7.     (Love you big brother, but that should scare him safe….

When we can I’ll send PICS of the winter here in Colorado.  Snowed Thanksgiving night and all day Friday, cold as heck Saturday and it was 60 and breezy today.  I love it here.  Have pics of my ‘house of misfit pets’, too, of course.

Post when you can and please be safe. We love you and pray for you and all your mates. HEY, if it occurs to you, tell us what all you guys can have and share….and who has no one writing to him/her and we can introduce ourselves and spread around the friendship, pride, THANKS and wishes.  It’ll be fun!!  My co-workers at the PD can ‘adopt a soldier’!!  COOL!  I’m sure you’ll be a bit busy, but when you can…..

Love you DD and our thoughts are with you all, ‘n hey, just cuz everyone else jumps outta planes, doesn’t mean you gotta be a lemming….

Yer favritist Anty on yer Pa’s side, ever ever ever,

The Cat

Devin, we are so incredibly proud of you!! Okay…well, actually Austin and Dylan just think you are waaayyyy cool!!!  They especially like to see your pictures. I think Troy is just jealous that you get to carry the big guns and throw grenades and stuff )  Or maybe the truth is he is jealous that I think you look smokin hot in that uniform – hee hee!

Your mom and dad do a fantastic job with this site, we’re so glad to be able to keep up with you and all of your achievements! Life here for us is ordinary, we certainly aren’t doing anything nearly as interesting or honorable as you so I will just tell you that Troy and I keep you close in our thoughts and prayers and will continue to do so.  Stay safe, remain strong and full of courage, keep positive thoughts and continue to smile!  Always, always remember that we are here at home supporting you. We miss you, we love you to pieces and we are sending BIG cozy bear hugs your way!!  Thank you for your service, sacrifice and dedication!!!  With much love and admiration – Troy, Karen, Austin & Dylan ♥

I am used to doing hard things. First of all, there’s that whole pregnancy and birthing process. I learned how to clean a dirty diaper, clean up barfed milk and hotdogs, bloody noses, cuts and bedrooms. I’ve had to guess who had the toy first; I’ve tried to decide who pushed who first and who took the last cookie. I’ve held a crying child because they were sick, was picked last on the playground, or a friend wasn’t quite as loyal as thought. I’ve seen all my children drive away by themselves as they try out their driver’s license, I’ve made many trips to the hospital as a result of car and motorcycle wrecks and made many, many calls to the insurance companies. I’ve been there to see my children pick life mates and see them walk down the aisle or wait nervously and anxiously at the end of the aisle. I’ve watched my children struggle with raising their own children and keeping my mouth shut.

Like I said, I’m a mother, I do hard things. Sunday, I had to hug my youngest child and tell him goodbye because he is doing a hard thing.

I think back and wonder – did I hold him enough, did I discipline him enough, did I teach him everything he’ll need to know – did I love him enough, does he know how much I love him? But, this I do know, I raised a fine, respectable, honest American boy to manhood. This is Devin’s decision and I am here to support it. I want it said here that he is not doing this to make any political statement or to support “George Bush’s” war. He is doing this for his love of his country. He is following many great men and women who have served their country honorably, including both of his grandfathers.

I’m a mother, I do hard things, I love my children so much that their dreams become my dreams.

I love you, Dude, be a good boy…….