3 Years!

Well today marks our 3 Year Anniversary, and it sure did come fast!  What a wonderful 3 years it has been!  Yes, it's been a little bumpy at times, especially with my deployment to Iraq, but it's all been so worth it.  There are many, many more years to come and many wonderful experiences await us just around the corner as we will be starting a family soon!  I haven't written a post in a while so pardon me if I jump around a lot...  Kelli's finishing up nursing school (thanks goodness!) and has all of her tests behind her.  She's just got to pass the NCLEX and she'll be working at Forrest General.  Since I've gotten home from Iraq I started working with a friend of mine, Tim McLemore, building Mobile Kitchens/Catering Trailers.  It's a stress free environment and I'm enjoying it.  I also bought a Metallic Blue 2008 Chevy Silverado 4x4 with 40,000 miles.  I paid cash for it and got a really good deal.  I've been looking into going into law enforcement and would like to join the Highway Patrol if possible.  Kelli and I got another Weimaraner puppy, Kaiser, about 7 weeks ago.  He's growing so fast and is so beautiful.  He is silver colored and has a broad body build with big paws.  His dad weighs around 95 pounds and I expect Kaiser to get up near that.  I've been hunting about 25 times so far this season and have only seen a deer 2 of those times.  Unfortunately I was unable to get a shot off either time, but I know I'll get one soon.  I got a game camera for my birthday on Nov 1st and boy what a difference it makes!  My dad and I planted a big "V" shaped food plot this year right outside of Petal.  We've finally got some rain so hopefully it's coming up good.  If I had a scope for my rifle I would hunt that food plot but no scope means I'll be hunting with my bow all season, but that's okay because I find bow hunting more enjoyable anyways.

Almost Home!

Well it looks like then end is drawing near.  Only 20 days till I ship back home and it can't come soon enough.  I've already begun packing up my belongings and throwing away excess stuff I've collected throughout the deployment.  Looking back over the entire deployment it has been both slow and fast.  The weeks and months seem to zip on by, but the end seemed like an eternity away.  Christmas was really hard.  However, I was able to spend the day via Skype with Kelli and my family as they opened their gifts.  Leave really helped a lot as well.  I've learned a lot about all of the communication systems in the Army, a knowledge gained that will slowly fade because I wont be using it ever again when I get back home.  I'm pure Infantry, but was put in as the Commo Chief for this deployment.  I was submitted for both the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal for out performing all Commo Sections in our Battalion, and out performing all other sections in our Company, at which all of these sections were lead by Staff Sergeants (E-6).  However, both of my awards were downgraded to Army Commendation Medals.  Speculation is because of my rank: Specialist (E-4).  When I get back home I'll only have 2 1/2 years left in the Army, and I can't wait until that countdown is completed.  I'm pretty excited to getting back home and returning to the normal life.  I love normal.  I'm planning on buying a truck when I get home and getting back to work for a short while until I start going to school at the beginning of next year.  Kelli has been staying very busy with Nursing School throughout this deployment.  She'll only have one semester left when I get home then she'll be working at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg.  We've been talking about starting a family in the near future and we both look forwards to having children.  Can't wait!