1,000 mark!

Wow, as I return from a fun filled day of Chuck E. Cheese and sledding; I notice that my blog since July 1, 2010 has reached 1,000 viewers! This blog was only served to keep local family and friends updated on the progress of Jonathan while being deployed. I am overjoyed to look at that number and seeing nothing but the outpouring love that so many of you have given not only to Jonathan but myself. I pray that this blog finds you full of appreciation of ALL of your service men and women. It is truly a gift that there are so many of you praying for his safety and well being during this difficult journey. And a difficult journey it has been thus far. This blog has given me tranquility, relaxation, and the release of stress. So many times it's so hard to share my true emotions of how I feel. When coming here, I feel like it is an escape to get everything that I think about during this time. I am thankful that God is working through me during this experience! It has been a difficult one, but sooooo rewarding for so many reasons! :)

Since there are so many people that have reached out to this blog, I am beginning to think that this could be something I could get in tuned with as the new year approaches. Why not right? Just finishing my Masters a few weeks back, I feel like I will have a lot more time. My plan was to stop the blog once Jonathan was out of Afghanistan. However, since so many people are interested, I may in the future turn it into a photo blog that captures Jon's time in the military as well as our time spent together. Who knows? I think it would be a great way to look back in the future and see the blog and how much both of us have grown.

So, if you start to see the blog change a bit in the upcoming year, don't be alarmed! It's me trying out my new creativity.

Please continue to pray for Jon while he is on this dangerous long mission for the next twelve days. He has contacted me and seems to be doing well "virtually." I know that it is very dangerous where he is at, but I also know God is working in and through him!

I pray everyone has a safe and prosperous new year!

Love and Prayers,

Kristine

Holiday Photographs

Here are some pictures Jon's sister took right before he was heading to the airport. Some of my favorite ones captured our happiness together! :)

Safe

This morning I received great news that Jon is safe! It has been three days since I have talked to him and he was not sure if he would have been able to call at all. However, when I awoke, I had a missed call from him saying that he was doing well and was safe! I needed that little reminder today to get me through the day. The past few have been pretty rough. It is so hard thinking that the one you love is in harms way and you don't know what is going on, what he is doing, or what is he thinking. I am so grateful today, as I start a new day for Jon's sacrifices and dedication to our country so that all can remain free here in the United States. Please Lord, continue to watch over him and his unit and keep him safe through the rest of this mission.

Love and Prayers,

Kristine

Rough Stuff

Christmas has gone and past. What a wonderful day it was merely for celebrating our Christ Saviors Birth! Time spent with family, joy with one another, and sharing old time stories from the past. However, something was missing, and that was Jonathan. It was a very emotional day. We tried numerous times to talk to him and be able to just say Merry Christmas, but deep down inside it certainly was not the same for him or for us. Failed connections via Skype, dropped phone calls made it even more frustrating. It broke my heart talking to him, knowing that of all things he just wanted to be home with family, and he couldn't. The Army did provide him with a nice hot meal which was nice to hear. I think that's the best thing I have heard the Army do since he has been deployed.

Today marks the first of fourteen days that Jon will be on mission. YES, this will be the longest that I will go without talking to him! It certainly will be a long two week. Especially when he is so sacrificial to call home or send a message to let us all know how he is doing every 1-2 days. However, this mission is different. 14 days gone with no communication. It is dangerous, unknown, and life risking. I would say this is the most intense mission since he has been in Afghanistan, and I know there have been quite a few already. I pray that God will continue to protect him and keep him focused and aware of his surroundings at all times. He could not share much with this mission, which is totally understandable. Please keep him in your prayers through another difficult task. I could only fathom the cold weather, deprivation, depression, and anguish he must be going through to know that he is stuck on this mission for 13 more days! It breaks my heart. I want him back to his FOB safe and sound with a nice message saying "I'm back safe, Kristine." Until then, I will patiently wait and continue counting down the days, hours, and minutes.

On a brighter note, the new year is fast approaching. I hope you have all your resolutions set and stick to them! I'm looking forward to a new year in that Jon will only have 5 more months left! Thank you for all your support and prayers. Happy New Year!

Love and Prayers,

Kristine

It's a Cold one

Wow! It surely is getting cold. The hustle and bustle is taking place everywhere you turn. People rushing for the perfect gift, on fast forward, with no time to stop and think about the real meaning of this holiday season. Our world is so caught up in the societal view of what everyone else is doing...in my words all I can say is "grrrr!"

I was able to spend time with family tonight and head into Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY where we took in the beautiful sight of God's creation! It was incredible! As we were driving home, an awesome song came on that reminded me of Jon as well as the rest of the soldiers fighting around us. I miss him terribly but was happy to be able to talk to him today! Man, do I loooove skype! Great communication tool...especially when it is built into your cell phone :) Anyhow, a quick note to share this video with you all! Merry Christmas!

Love and Prayers,

Kristine

The True Meaning of CHRISTmas

Love and Prayers,

Kristine

A Long Week

Boy what a long week it has been! I was stuck in Detroit for nearly 2 1/2 days due to lack of staff, weather and various delays! I was supposed to be home Sunday morning in time for Morgan's production in the The Story of Christmas at the Chapel; instead, I got in Tuesday afternoon! I was surely be tested, but was overjoyed to be able to use patience and see how God was going to use me with other people around me. It was great experience to say the least!

I hardly talked to Jon at all this week. He went on missions Tuesday and I was not able to talk to him until this morning. 4 whole days! I know, you may think that's nothing, but when you love and care for someone so far away it's torture! I talked to him this morning and he seemed very tired. I know that he has been working hard and the weather is getting very cold at night. During his four day mission, he had to sleep outside in temperatures as low as 26 degrees. To hear that, breaks my heart. Why is it that we dare sit here and complain about what we don't have, and instead be thankful for what we DO have?! The conditions that I see the soldiers go through are retch-id. Unfair. Agonizing. You have people like Jon who give their life to fight for our country but are still not being treated right. At one point today I broke down in tears because of this exact issue, but more because of the holidays. I am sad to know that Jon wants nothing more than to be home with his family right now and how much we all want him to be here with us. To know that he can't, kills me inside. He deserves to be here with his family. During times like these, I am thankful to know that he has chosen to be so selfless in helping others and giving back to others. His determination, strength, and faith never seizes to amaze me. He is a courageous and wonderful man! So as we approach Christmas this week, remember those who cannot be with their families this year. And please remember the TRUE meaning of CHRISTmas! Happy Holidays!

Love and Prayers,
Kristine

Great News!

Jon has made it back to Afghanistan and is adjusting back quite well. He began his first mission today since being back. I know it was VERY hard for him to leave home and head back to a place where the conditions are beyond horrible. However, I know that he will be strong and God will continue to wrap his arms around him and keep him safe.

With that being said, Obama had made a recent visit to Afghanistan while Jon was on R&R and made an announcement that he wanted to start pulling troops out by July 2011. How awesome! It is even better that Jon has heard that his unit will be finishing up missions in May and will be able to leave towards the end of May from Afghanistan and head back to Germany! What a blessing that would be. Once he gets to Germany, he will then take his leave at the end of June or beginning on July! This news yesterday made my ENTIRE day, week, and the rest of the year!

I feel that all the troops deserve this beyond words can ever express. I am thankful each time the phone rings that Jon is safe and the rest of the men and women in his battalion are as well. This journey has really strengthened my faith in Jesus! I am overjoyed with the many blessing that he has continued to provide! Please continue to pray for Jon's safety and strength for the next hopefully (finger's crossed) five months! Wow that sounds so awesome to say!

As the holidays approach, please don't forget to remember the REAL reason this holiday season! It is not about gifts, but the gifts you can offer to one another who are less fortunate.
Love and Prayers,

Kristine

A lovely trip home

Almost back

Jon made it to Kuwait today and shall be back in Afghanistan by tomorrow. Please continue to keep him in your prayers...and may this be another quick six months until he is out of there and back home safe!

Love and Prayers,

Kristine

An amazing visit!

Good evening! As we approach the holidays I would like to say how thankful I am as well as most of Jon's family and friends were to have him home for about fifteen days! It was time well spent and I could not have asked for a better two weeks. He arrived home on the 18th of Nov. In such a short time, we were all able to do so many fun and exciting things. Thanksgiving was an amazing time spent together with an amazing dinner cooked by his mother and sister...then you have us few that brought our dishes to share and pass along. Jon was able to meet most of my family and I was so blessed that they enjoyed one another's presence together. I have to say, Jon sure is open minded and welcoming in all situations! He truly is soooo selfless! We enjoyed dinner together at a Buffalo's favorite...Mulberry's in the Southtowns! Delicious Italian food! Yum. Many days were spent to having quality time together with one another. I truly cherish the nights we played games or just hung out and watched movies with the family. We were also able to go to Buffalo Bills game, shopping, movies, lunch, and a short, yet crazy trip to NYC for a few days! We had an INCREDIBLE time laughing, joking, smiling, grrrr-ing, and teasing one another. Yesterday, we all had to say goodbye as he left for his second half of his deployment in Afghanistan. I thought this second time would be much easier to say goodbye for a short while. However, I get so emotional thinking about the conditions that he has to go back and face on a daily basis. However, I have trust and hope in God through all battles that he is bigger than any situation that I face these days. I truly cannot wait until he is out of Afghanistan and back to Germany. For some reason, being away from home but yet safe and enjoyable brings me more peace and ease. Thanks for all of you who were able to send cards, letters, and care packages to Jon for Veteran's Day! He was truly surprises and overwhelmed with how many are truly thinking and praying for him during his deployment! And as always I thank each one of you for your love and support as we together go through this journey! I will post pictures soon.

Love and Prayers,

Kristine