Last post for a while

Well, it is off to BCT (Basic Combat Training). Pleaes keep me and, especially, my family in your prayers.

I will post more when I get back in about 10 weeks.

Dan

Aloha.

War

We continue to be a country at war. While our day-to-day lives have not changed drastically, say as they did during the ration card days of WWII, we are, none the less, a country at war.

Below is a link reminding us of that fact:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/22/marine.recall/index.html?section=cnn_topstories

While 2500 is a small number compared with the numbers of people who have served a tour or tours in the various combat zones around the world, this represents 2500 people, 2500 families, who just had their lives altered, some of them forever.

The fact that we can be a country involved in major military operations around the world with such little impact upon the civilian population is amazing. It is also tragic, as this means that most people don't understand the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform.

As one of those men in uniform about to deploy (albeit for training and not for war), I am beginning to fully grasp the sacrifice involved.

Let us all remember the cost of war and the cost paid primarily by our troops. Let us pray for them and their families.

Aloha.

Fat pants

Ok. Anyone who has lost a lot of weight probably has "fat pants" or clothes that they wore before losing so much weight. I have lost between 80 and 85 pounds and Cherith has lost almost 100. Please note that in the picture of Cherith, the pants she is holding are not pregnancy pants.





Aloha.

In fairness, pictures of me

Here they are:

More Family Pictures

Really, this is just a couple of pictures of my wife. I wanted to post one of her earlier, but wasn't sure she would approve. So, I finally have the authorization to post a couple.

Here is my wife in her wedding dress, after 13 years of marriage:



Here is one a little closer:



Aloha.

A Blogthing

Your Career Personality: Independent, Insightful, and Ingenious

Your Ideal Careers: Architect Artist Business strategist College professor Computer programmer Mathematician Neurologist Philosopher Photographer Video game developer

The Quick and Dirty Career Test

Family Pictures

This one is for Scott. Mara is wearing a pirate hat and making her best pirate face:





Mara on a fire truck at the Ionia Free Fair:



Picture of Daena in a high chair at Great Grandpa and Grandma's house. I sat in that chair when I was Daena's size, and probably my mom sat in it when she was young too.



I really love my girls, and will miss them terribly when I am gone. Thought I would share the cuteness.

Aloha.

13 Years and Counting

After the post by Captain Cal celebrating their 24th anniversary, I couldn't let my 13th anniversary go by without posting.

I have been married to my wonderful wife for over 1/8th of a century. Any wife who would let her 32 year old husband join the military to become an infantry officer during a time of war has to be a very understanding woman. Of course, she is and I love her dearly. I look forward to many more years with such a wonderful woman.

Aloha.

Not for the feint of heart

Warning. The link below is to a very difficult post in another blog. If you are interested in some of the most difficult thoughts that soldiers have, follow the link.

Don't let the title throw you. Read the last paragraph if it throws you anyway. I must admit I was close to tears as I read it. As a father, it really hits home.

Update: As I reread the post, and the comments, especially by tripper (Aug 10 at 10:55 pm) the tears came. I am powerfully reminded why I am where I am, militarily.

Again, not for the feint of heart.

http://www.blackfive.net/main/2006/08/on_the_virtues_.html

Apparently, we have a reputation...

To quote from another blog with a post titled "If Star Wars was a Porno . . ."

"Let me further state that I'm glad I no longer attend Cornerstone University, as I would have a hard time explaining any of this to the IS department when they recieve the flags for everything I was looking up in order to do this post."

Glad to know we are on the students' radar.

Aloha.