Aug
20
2010
And something that always makes me smile

In honor of the official roll-out of combat troops from Iraq, I thought I’d share this.

It’s a comic strip written back at the start of the war. OEF…yes, that’s right OEF – not OIF.

OEF = Operation Enduring Freedom (the first wave in)

OIF = Operation Iraqi Freedom…part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part…what are we up to now? 10?

While I can’t remember the name of this cartoon series, at the time I couldn’t stop laughing at it & how much I could relate to it. That could honestly be me.

[Shh...don't tell anyone but my sister & I never really learned how to share.]

So, in case it’s too small to read…here ya go:


Daughter:        Daddy…do we have any cherry bombs I can use?

Dad:                     Uh…no, Danae

Daughter:        How ’bout some M-80′s?

Dad:                     Nope.

Daughter:        Bottle rockets?

Dad:                     No.

Daughter:       Well…how I am supposed to liberate Barbies from oppression without explosives?!

Dad:                    Just leave your sisters dolls alone.


Happy Friday!

PS – Raise your hand if you know what M-80′s are.

PSS – Ok, now raise your hand if you’ve ever accidentally shot them off when your friend was too close & not paying attention when you yelled “FIRE IN THE HOLE!” and she ran screaming back inside the house never to go near fireworks again.

Aug
19
2010
And storming nights

About a week ago the rice began to appear in the fields.

A sign that summer is almost at an end here.

Which would be really great because it’s done nothing but rain non-stop for the past week.

We had a really big storm slowly roll over us a couple of nights ago.

Big booming thunder & sharp cracks of lightning – right on top of us for a good hour or so.

It’s been so long since Maggie’s heard a thunderstorm that it really started to scare her.

We just don’t get big, loud roaring storms here at Humphreys.

So when a huge clap of thunder woke me up about 4am I looked around for Moo-Moo.

“No Mom…don’t tell ‘em….it’s too embarrassing!”

I found her out on the couch on the top landing…visibly shaking.

Terrified of the storm.

Which is going to be a problem if we ever get back to Texas.

I know not to comfort her when she’s scared – it only reinforces that she should be scared.

So I sat on the couch next to her & tried to remind her that she was born in Oklahoma in the Spring.

Aug
17
2010
And changing perspectives

I’ve been in Korea 460 days of as this moment & in looking at the countdown I’ve got another 476 to go.

Closer & closer to the halfway point.

Life was such a culture shock those first several months.

Everything  felt foreign – even my home.

If I had brought more of our furniture – more of our things, maybe I would’ve been able to find a little comfort in the day to day routines.

But you can only bring so much when you get orders for Korea.

But about a month or two ago I noticed a shift.

Eric & I were driving back home from base (a short 5 minute trip) when a thought struck me.

“I’m going to miss this.”

{{{{{ wait – what? }}}}

Yep – those very words went through my head.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are definitely things I’m NOT going to miss. But I began to recognize the things that I am going to miss.

So for all you wives heading this way or for those recently off the boat (so to speak), mark your calendars.

About halfway through your tour your perspective will begin to change & day to day life will be much easier.

I promise.