Oh, For the Love of Chedder!!

I guess I'm just not used to the Maine Corps yet. You'd think that I'd have warmed up to it after 2 years. Yes, I hit my 2 year mark on July 20th. Anyhow, this particular manifestation is that I AM NOT GOING TO IRAQ. This is finally official and officially final. The team that was going to leave in mid-August to replace the guys that we (the 5th SSCT) have over there is not going to go. The guys who are already there will be staying for an additional 6 or 7 months. They will be coming home in Feb or March of next year, but after that we (2nd Marine Division) are turning over control of that area to an entirely other command, which means that I will most likely not deploy after that either. While this will make it more feasible for Helen and I to get married in May (pending paternal blessings), the deployment was going to provide a little extra money. We should still be okay, I've run the #s plenty of times and she and I are willing to do whatever it takes to make it work, no matter when we get married. I am really very excited about the prospect of getting married to this wonderful young lady with whom I have fallen madly in love. I mean, I'll get to see her on, like, a daily basis! For more than just a couple of days at a time! Yeah, living 1,300 miles appart has it's drawbacks, but it also doesn't really have any benifits. No wait, lemme think....... yeah, no benifits.

I will also not be coming home in early August as I had planned, but will likely come home with my Dad when he comes up here to Rutherfordton (6 hours away from me) for my Great-Aunt Annie's 100th birthday. I'll take 7 days or so to breathe and pretend that I'm a civilian for a little while.

In other news, Lance Armstrong won his 7th consecutive Tour de France. But really, it's France... can he really brag? It just goes to show that we Americans might not be able to put together a winning Olympic team in our own sport (basketball), but we can sure kick their tail on their home turf! We might be arrogant and cocky, but until any other country finds a form of government that gives them fewer civil wars than us, they can keep saluting with their palms showing! (Helpful hint: there is a rumor that America's military is the only military in the world that salutes with the palm facing in toward the saluter's face instead of towards the person being saluted because we have never lost a battle on our own soil. My research, however, finds that to be inaccurate.)

Anyhow, my shift is almost over. I get to work a night shift tomorrow, which means that I have the day-time to myself! I plan on going to look at a truck that I'm probably not going to buy (but God works miracles) and going to Wachovia to buy a CD (no, a Certificate of Deposit, gosh) that has a $50 minimum, but that I have to add $50 to every month. It earns like 3.4% intrest so I'm excited about it. If I can save $100 into it every month for the next 3 years then I'll have... (carry the 1... 3.1415 times the derivative... plus infinity over 2....) $3,765 when I get out of the Marine Corps. And that doesn't include what I earn and save between now and then. Anyhow, I like this Doing-Something-With-My-Money thing. Well, my replacement is here so I'm going to go home and do something for 2 hours before I go to sleep. More later...

My First Real Update...

I have recently been told that I will almost certainly deploy to Iraq in mid-August. I have also been told, fortunately, that I will certainly get at least 10, but possibly 14 days of leave so that I can come home before I go to Iraq. I will be gone for at least 6 months, but possibly 7 and there is no way to know exactly when I will get back. I do not know for sure what I will be doing once I get there, but the guys who are over there have all had their chance to go "outside the wire," meaning off base. Most have done patrols and most have done at least one convoy. Convoys are the most dangerous because of road-side bombs and ambushes. I am not worried in the least about my time "outside the wire" when it comes. I know that my God will take care of me, and of whomever I might leave behind. Most of my time will be spent on the base and, from what I understand, it is not too uncomfortable. I will be able to take my computer and will likely have occasional internet access so I will be able to update you guys here.
Helen and I are still deciding about whether to get married this coming May (2006) or the following May (after she graduates). The decision has been boiled down to one last thing, and it is something that we have very little control over. Please continue to pray for us as we enter this challenging, wonderful, and exciting new era of our lives. This is one of the happiest and most difficult decisions that I have ever had to make, and I'm not done yet. The most difficult part has been trying to tell the difference between the still small voice of the Holy Spirit and my own wants and desires screaming at me. The other difficult thing has been taking into account the needs, wants, and preferences of another person, who doesn't think like a guy (thank God ;-). It has by no means been unpleasant, but it has been trying. Helen and I have had to learn more about how to work together, how to communicate effectively, and how to make tough decisions. I have fallen even more in love with this wonderful young lady through this decision making process. I now know that no matter what we decide, and no matter what happens, as long as we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, He will take care of everything else (Matt 6:33). Anyhow, that's my new situation and our dilemma. More later...

Soli Deo Gloria