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."