My 8 Year Anniversary

8 years ago today, July 15th 2001, I signed over the responsibility of my life to the Army. I remember like it was yesterday sitting down in front of my recruiter (which after some time served realized was so full of shit it wasn't even funny), taking one last look at my mom (I was only 17, she had to approve of my enlistment), and signing my name as a now declared adult.

I signed only a few weeks after I graduated high school. My goal was to enlist as a military police officer and in turn get top of the line training and financial help with my college in order to one day be a DEA agent.

I was on a delayed program and wouldn't enter basic training and AIT (advanced individual training) until February 2002. In between the time I signed on the dotted line and my actual training, September 11th happened. I was so scared that I was going to be sent to war. I was still an untrained civilian only knowing that I belonged to the US government. Yet the scared girl turned into a determined pissed up soldier and when I stepped off that bus at Fort Leonardwood I was ready for whatever they could dish out at me.

Many soldiers I went to basic with had signed after Sept. 11th and that was their motivation. I remember the drill sergeants making comments about how they couldn't get troops signed and trained fast enough. The country had been so motivated to support and fight.

I graduated from basic and AIT at the end of June 2002 and reported to the head quarters of my assigned unit. My MP Company had been deployed to the defense language institute (DLI) in Monterey, CA. Being fresh out of training and in a active duty life style, I wanted to join them. I begged to go. I got the same answer over and over. They are due to come home next month, it would be a waste of time and paperwork to send you now. They didn't actually make it back until October 2002.

By then I had somewhat fitted back into the civilian lifestyle and had reconnected with my friends. I was happy being home and just in time for an upset. Orders had come down in December 2002 that we were being deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In February 2003 we found ourselves in Fort Lewis training and certifying and by May 2003 my platoon was in the heart of Iraq.

We finally made it home the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and after a short visit home for the holiday, spent another month in Fort Lewis turning in equipment and signing more paperwork.

Since then, the Army has given me the opportunity working with the Nevada Counterdrug Taskforce teaching young kids the dangers of drugs and eventually led me to my current occupation. I absolutely love my career and wake up every day feeling blessed.

So yes the Army challenged me in ways I never thought I possible and I didn't always like it BUT I am very very thankful for my journey.

Out for a Ride

A couple of weekends ago, Chi and I were out at my mom's house. I decided to take Chi for a horse back ride. I saddled up Shane and Candy, threw Chi up on Candy and away we went. We were gone for a good hour or so before we made our way home. I forgot how relaxing and soothing a good horseback ride out in the empty desert is. Plus it was great to have Malachi by my side and have small talk with him.

Afterwards, Malachi help me dress down and brush off Ms Candy like a good lil man. We have both decided that this will have to be at least a monthly occurence from now on...

A Picture Worth a Thousand Words

Malachi's 'oranges' finally dropped.

Sorry... I couldn't resist. I was dying laughing in the grociery store and the poor lil guy had no idea why.

A Great Accomplishment

I don't have your typical best friend. Not anymore anyways (another story I do not care to discuss). I don't have a girl I run to or call about every single issue who knows my life story almost better than me. Don't get me wrong, I have a few great girlfriends that I trust with my life and whom I gossip with almost daily. However....

My best friend is..... a man. He is the third greatest man I have ever known (after my grandpa and father of course) and I cherish our friendship.

Jeff and I met in Army's basic training in 2002. It was the first couple weeks we were there. We were still in Hell week (which is NOT just one week!) and the drill sergeants were running us to death. We were probably about 3-4 miles into a smoke session (a heavy physical training session) and I thought I was going to loose my motivation and just quit. Just about then I heard this rather annoying voice in my ear... 'keep going, don't give up'. What the...?? Who the hell is this guy? My thoughts were aggressive and I felt myself getting pissed off. A few minutes later, again I hear the voice. His energizing ass lapped me and was there talking to me again. This time he said 'breath in your nose and out your mouth.... try to pace it with your strides'. Ok, this guy needed to beat it. I was almost dying here and I didn't necessarily need any witnesses nor anyone telling me what to do. After he passed me, yet again, I decided to try it. (I know, us women thinking we know everything and can't be told wrong.) Well little by little my running got easier and easier. I didn't see or talk to this 'voice' again for at least another couple of days and I'm not even sure how our next conversation started. I just know from then on, whether he knew it at that time or not, he was my strong shoulder I so often lean on.

Since basic training and AIT together, he went off to airborne school and was stationed in Fort Bragg. The place fit his ego. 'You guys are the best... blah blah blah... No one is better... blah blah blah... Airborne, Hoorah!... blah blah blah.

He would try to front this macho airborne MP persona around me but I knew him better.

Soon after we found ourselves meeting in Iraq. It was fate I tell ya! He was on an escort mission with JAG and I was stationed at a prison. He saw the Nevada flag posted and thought to ask around. Next thing I know a familiar voice is yelling up the tower I was working in and I'll be damned!!

Jeff has seen 3 additional deployments since. He has spent more of his life in Iraq over the past 7 years then he has in the states. I would joke with him during my rare phone calls with him, 'why don't you just find a nice Iraqi woman or 5, settle down, buy some land and stay a while?' I would get the typical F*&K YOU. He has seen a lot of bad things, a lot and yet this man manages to always find the good in things. It's amazing and inspirational to me.

There are many other accomplishments I could talk about that he has surpassed, but what brings me here today is his latest.

On June 10th, my best friend, Jeff Ransick became Drill Sergeant Ransick!!! And he will now be stationed in the very place we first met. I am sooooo incredibly proud of him and I know that he will have such a positive touch on our upcoming soldiers. He can now use his experiences and unique education in a positive way, just how he always unknowingly has...

First Semester of Skate Class Over

On June 22nd Malachi had his last skating lesson of the semester AND his big test. He had to pass a series of tasks in order to get his certificate to move on to the next level.

Chi had to skate across the rink, skate three strides and then hold, skate three strides and then dip down and hold, skate three strides and then stop immediately and lastly do this sort of wiggle across the rink with his feet together.

He did sooooooo well and passed everything!! He got a little certificate which he immediately brought to me. He was so proud of himself and I was just as proud too!

My little man is quite the athlete!!

The End of Soccer Season

June 13th was Malachi's last soccer game for the season. He has grown so much since his first practice. He is by far the fastest kid on the team and in my opinion the most competitive. Chi usually has to sit out a few minutes of each half in order to rotate all the kids in. This drives him absolutely nuts! He wants to play every minute! Chi is definitely a offensive player though. And when his partner in crime, Ben an awesome defensive player who can get the ball away from anyone, and he get together... No one can stop them!

His last game he scored 3 goals and the game before he scored 4!!

Malachi received a trophy for his participation and I think he is starting his own kind of messed up tradition. Just like with his baseball trophy... Chi managed to drop his soccer trophy but minutes after receiving is and busted it is 3 places. It's a good thing I have a large supply of super glue and I put it back together again. Silly boy...

Who's the Boss?

Recently Malachi has decided that he likes to give you permission to do things. Usually this comes when you have already started to do something. Such as:
I'm in the middle of pouring myself a glass of juice.
Malachi says, "Mommy, you can have some juice if you want to."
or
I get into the doggy cookie jar to give Diesel a cookie and as I'm giving Diesel his treat...
Malachi says, "Mommy, you can give bubba a cookie if you want to."
I think it's very cute that he has the need to feel like he has some power over things. However I do have to remind him of the actual rank structure in the house. This is how it goes:
Mommy: "Malachi, who's the boss?"
Malachi: "You are mommy."
Mommy: "Why am I the boss?"
Malachi: "Because you're a woman."