He's gone...

Well, John left yesterday for a year-long deployment to Afghanistan. This is the worst time, when he first leaves. I think about all that will happen that he will miss, all that I will want or need help with that he won't be here for. He won't be around for conversations at the end of the day, or to wake up to in the morning.

A year is a long time, but I suppose as I get older they go by much more quickly. I think about how it was just a minute ago we were coloring eggs and then we did it again! He'll be home just after we color them again next year.

My eyes are burning from moments of crying. It's not a continual flow, just moments when I hurt and wish it wasn't really happening. I know he misses us when he's away, too, and that may hurt me more than anything. I can't stand to know that he is hurting. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. We need him to come home safely.

Love you, babe, hurry back!

John's OIF III Video

This is Operation Shoe Shine and other clips from John's work during OIF III. Our family group was able to collect 1,300 pairs of shoes and about $1,400 for the postage to get them all to Iraq. John made a little size board and sorted the shoes out by size. The kids and adults would come and have their feet sized and he'd give them shoes. It was an incredible experience for everyone. Meanwhile, while serving as a Medic he was able to make a big impact on those that he came in contact with. I am very proud of him!

John built the aid station that you see in this video, by hand (no power tools!). He put a red cross on the door and even built a little bird house! This aid station was about 20 miles from the city or Ur, where Abraham was born. This was during the last 6 months of his deployment with the Georgia National Guard's 48th Brigade Combat Team. That group just returned home from a year-long deployment from Afghanistan. My heart was with those families, as we knew so many that were serving again and even some whose soldiers gave the ultimate sacrifice.

As deployment to Afghanistan looms in the all-to-near future, I know that the people John meets will be better for it. Hurry back, babe! Love you so much!

Family Portraits 4-12-10, by alesia o'keefe

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Welcome, Spring!!

Yes, it's been awhile...I recognize this. I know my weaknesses, let's not rub them in, shall we??

We've had a lot going on in the past few months so I'll get right to the point. I had my surgery on December 9th, 2009. It's been almost 4 full months and I have lost about 56 pounds! As you see from the top photo, I've changed a bit!

John's getting ready to leave...again...this time to Afghanistan. He'll be gone for a year or so and we are very blah about the whole thing...ok, I am very blah, I don't want to see him go and quite frankly, Afghanistan scares the hell out of me. There. I said it.

Here he is with two of his sisters who came to visit for his birthday (which also happened to be Easter Sunday!).

His nephew, Josh, is happy to be in the background!

We had family up for the holiday weekend and it was really fabulous. John's sister Kathy came. Her son, Brian, came with his wife, Lori and their son, Aidan. John's sister Maggie and her hubby Steve, their grandson, Sklyar, and their son Josh and his girlfriend, Angie all came to visit for a long weekend. I have missed having family around and enjoyed their visit more than I can tell you.

We had a fun Easter egg hunt with Aidan and our Cecilia...the two that qualified as young enough to hunt eggs. Sammi and Lori helped color the boiled eggs and loved getting their fingers blue, purple, pink...a serious rainbow!

We had a great big Easter feast that was absolutely fabulous. I loved having family around and seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter and conversation. This is what I miss about having family around. I miss my family and I miss his. Sniffle...

We also celebrated John's birthday. He turned 47 on Easter. We got him a horsey cake that he seemed to enjoy!

John also enjoyed spending the days out with the horses and showing his family his world there. It was fun for everyone to get to hang with our critters!

You can see more pictures Family Visit April, 2010'>here!