Praises

Exactly 2 years ago today my grandpa was swearing me into the USAF! Wow time is flying and I can’t believe it’s been that long already. I don’t pin on 1Lt until next Monday though b/c the AF does this weird thing that your date of rank is actually the average between your commissioning date, and the date you entered active duty (meaning the date that I started driving to my new base).
Tonight I gave TSgt W his going away presents. I went and picked out a dagger from the bazaar here and had it engraved with his name, office, and dates. He loved it and said that he’s going to put it on his desk at work! In addition to that, since his wife is having a baby, I made him a purple baby blanket. He was really surprised by that too and so I’m glad that we could get him some personal gifts. Moms-thanks for sending the yarn and crochet hooks so I could get it done on time!!!
I finally got to sleep through the whole night last night and that was such a relief! I feel quite refreshed today and I even volunteered to take the late shift so TSgt W could go home and start packing. I realized that I was having such a hard time with it all yesterday because I don’t like uncontrolled change. I can’t change the dates that people come and go here, and that makes me sad b/c I learn to care about people, and the next thing I know they’re gone! I guess I should get use to it though since that’s the military way! At least I’ll always have Joe and family.
In church today we were challenged to thank God for what we have, and by doing that we’ll grow closer to Him because we’re concentrating on the positive aspects, not the things that are going wrong in life.

Things I’m thankful for in Iraq:
-My own ½ of a trailer (don’t have a Bunkie)
-I get to wear the same outfit every day (I don’t have to stand in front of a closet and pick outfits)
-Time to work out most days
-Work with GREAT people who care about what they’re doing
-I get to go to church every Sunday (some people out here never get to go b/c of where they work)
-Great packages sent from home (I’m taken care of better here than I was in Ohio hehe!)
-Sam gave me my first Reese’s peanut butter cup! (I haven’t had one in over 2 months and wow was it good)
-Someone else does my laundry and folds it
-Free meals, and I don’t have to make them (even if the food isn’t very good and is redundant)
-I’m learning a lot, even if it is challenging every day
-There is just something AMAZING about being in Iraq – the area that was once Babylon!