Today's Forcast: Sunny, 125 Degrees, With 70 MPH Winds. Have A Nice Day!

By now I'm use to hearing about the sandstorms that rip the hide off of Steve and everyone else.

Today I got to hear about Nature's Heat-Ray Gun.

When the temperature is that hot (soon to be up in the 140's), and with Category One winds blowing the suns rays over any exposed skin, it's like being blasted with a Heat Ray Gun or a laser.

Steve said that just having to walk to do his normal, everyday duties, absolutely wore him out today.   

"Top" is tired.   And freshly sanded.

And he still has to walk to the shower and then try to make it back clean.

And you wonder why Baby Wipes are still Number One on every soldier's list?   

Just in case anyone would like to ship him some, he likes the

Huggies brand that are Aloe and Cucumber (I think).   

And some Beef Jerky would be GREATLY appreciated.

I'll write again once I find out when and where he'll be going to later this month.

Much Love!

Patti

PS...when you think you're hot this summer...just remember:

you really aren't. 

TIME GOES CREEPING ALONG

No news is good news, or so it is said.

No news to me just means that Steve is still guarding rocks and sandstorms; keeping America safe.

Sorry for the sarcasm.   Time is d r a g g i n g  along for the both of us.

The best update that I can give is that he is doing well, but very tired.   

They've been having to do most of their "drills" through the night hours because of the constant sandstorms.  

Knowing what his "drills" are for doesn't make me feel any better, except that hopefully everyone is ready to go and react at a moments notice.

I always think back to when my brother Dick got back from Viet Nam.  

I will NEVER forget being told to not get near him or especially touch him if we saw him sleeping.

It was because if awakened suddenly...he'd instinctively grab you...and go to "hurt" you.  He didn't know that he was home and that we weren't the enemy.  

The things that our men and women have to know and do in order to fight and survive is great while there.

Once home, much love and even greater patient endurance is required for them to re-acclimate to movements and motions that we take for granted.  

*sigh*

I would like to ask everyone who takes the time to check in with my blog on Steve, to take a bit more time and write him or email him, or better yet...send him a little something from home.   

Time for him is 24/7.   

There are no days off.

  

There are no week-ends.   Especially for the higher Ranks.  

 

Thank you for your prayers for him and all soldiers serving around the world.   

I'll check back in when there is any news from Steve.

Love To All!!

Patti
 

QUICK UPDATE ON STEVE

Very quick update!

Two days ago while instructing REMEDIAL PT (yes, I typed it correctly and you read it correctly), he strained one of his knees.   Actually, it's a knee that he needs surgery on and it's re-injured.   

When he went to the doc, the doc was absolutely amazed at his blood pressure: BETTER than the "youngsters" ages 19-25.    

It's just that his body is not fairing quite as well as his engine.

So, please pray for Steve and his knee.

And you might want to pray for soldiers who are already in a WAR ZONE who have to take REMEDIAL PT.   *eye roll*

MUCH LOVE AND SIGHS,

PATTI

Let's Write and Send Stuff To Steve!

Here we are...finally!    I've copied it directly from his email to me:

My mailing address is simply:     1SG Steven Elzy
                                       HHC 219th BfSB
                                       Camp Adder
                                       APO AE 09331 

DO NOT put Iraq in the address it messes things up.

I know that I have already sent out lists of what the soldiers need and like to receive, but if you missed that--let me know.

Also, Steve has particular items that he personally needs, mainly certain vitamins and supplements that he takes to keep his "youthful edge" on his youngsters!  ;)   

If you want to do this--it would be greatly appreciated--so just let me know and I'll let you know what he needs.

Love To All!

Patti

BREAKFAST AT TIFANNY'S, I MEAN CAMP ADDER

I wish that I could give you the actual date when Steve got into Iraq---I think that it was sometime this past week-end.    

All I know is that he told me on a phone call last week that, "I'll be there for breakfast tomorrow."

Where's "there"?

Why Camp Adder, of course!   

My first thought: "Wonderful. He's at a place named after a deadly desert snake.  Great."

Then my next though (of which the Holy Spirit pushed into my head): "Oh, he's at a place where he gets to stand upon and rule over the 'evil snake' of the area.  That'll work!"

Obviously, it takes me a few times to REMEMBER who we are in Christ....

Okie dokie!   Camp Adder....

Camp Adder is LITERALLY in the midst of the ruins of UR of The Chaldees, and everyday he looks at the ruins AND the Ziggarut that was built pre-flood, in order to worship their Moon God.

 

Pre-flood, there was a huge lake there.  The people built a huge Ziggarut in order to get high enough to see the reflection of the moon in the lake.

After the flood, the area became marshland, which drew the Bedouin people to settle there.   

Sadly, now, it is a salt marshland.   Very barren and desolate.

As for Steve, his quarters are in the middle of camp, so he gets to walk from middle to end, from end to middle, and back again, and again, and again.....

He told me that Chow Hall is at one end of the camp, which means that after having to walk back and forth to chow 3 times a day, he walks almost 8 miles a day JUST to eat! 

I told him that he surely wouldn't have to worry about working-out to lose weight!

Because of his Rank, he has his own personal quarters, which is VERY nice this time around.   We can Skype all alone!     

Also, he's in the area where all of the Officers are, which (believe it or not) is a good thing.   He has some VERY good leaders this time around. 

I have been BEGGING him for pictures of the area, but he tells me that because of the sandstorms, it's almost impossible to get shots.   

Whenever he sends me something---I'll post it!   Promise!

Also--once he gets through the next few weeks, he'll be going OUT on Missions throughout the entire country of Iraq to check on all of his troops.

I will not write what "going OUT" entails.   Just know that when I let you know---PRAY FOR HIM!   

I do know more to tell, but cannot.   So please, pray for Steve and all of the men and women of this particular mission.

This mission is suppose to be THE ONE that "Shuts the doors and turns off the lights."

And we all know how these things can go--when politicians get their noses in there.

If you are curious, get on-line and check out UR of The Chaldees (or go to your Bible), and also look up Ziggarut.

He is officially in Tallil, if you want to look it up on a map.   

It's in the basin area of where the three rivers meet--literally within the area of The Garden of Eden.   

This Tour of Duty is a rough one, but it is also such a God One!   We're both excited to see what things the Lord will do!

I'll post his address on my next blog for you.

Much Love To All!

Patti

PS...Steve TOLD ME how to spell "Ziggarut" like it's spelled there.   So don't be yelling at me that I spelled it wrong!  ;)

And for MORE info, just Google "UR of The Chaldees Ziggarut".

First Contact

At 4:30 this morning...STEVE CALLED ME!    (yawwwwnnnn!)

I must say that, for me, being awakened that early, it could only have been my honey on the phone.

He is in Kuwait and will be for at least another two weeks.   So for now, he is 7 hours ahead of me (EST).  Once he gets to where he's suppose to be in Iraq, it should be 8 hours ahead.   Doesn't seem like it by looking at the map; but what do I know?!  

We couldn't talk very long, so I don't have much info to share with everyone.

As usual, the 16 + hour flight was rough on everyone's bodies; a lot of fluid retention, making for puffy and stiff extremities.

He said that he was going to go get a bite of lunch and then go and work out.   He needed to work on getting acclimated and get "the puffy" out.

That's about it.   Like I said, he didn't have long to talk.

I'll post again when he calls.

Until then...don't forget to pray!

Sleepy-Eyed Love,
Patti

It's Mother's Day. Do Something Different For God's Sake!

Yep.   It's Mother's Day again.   

Time for homemade cards with crayon, water paints, or maybe some kind of pasta & glue.

Time for Hallmark to rake in another bazillion bucks.

Time for emailed cards for those who either can't draw, paste, or get to a Hallmark store.

Time for beautiful, heartfelt gifts for mom.

Time for d***it, I have to do something for mom, $%^&*(!!!

Time to share your true heart with your mom.

Time to be guilted into giving-doing-being something for mom.

Time to dress up and help FTD, 1-800-Flowers, or Pro-Flowers, rake in the bucks with flowers from Ecuador that will die in less than a week.

Or to buy the 50% off wilted rose from Wal-Mart because Lord knows you ''HAVE'' to get something.


Some of us still have our moms...and wish we didn't.


Some of us don't....and wish we did.


And for a great many of us, believe it or not, just wish this day didn't exist because of the pain it causes us.


I've seen some of the most callous and clueless acts thrown as emotional javelins through the hearts of mothers--in church over the years, that--not only I--but a host of mothers just don't show up on Mother's Day because it hurts too much. 


Well, unless they're guilted into it.

Or the mother makes DEMANDS on their family.


As for me, having miscarried too many babies, I've endured
far too many Mother's Day Services than I should have had to.

Not that I have minded giving and serving others; that part was dear and sweet; no, I'm just speaking about heart's like mine today.  


And my best friend, sheesh!, you could write a horror story about the things she's had to endure.   And NO, I'm not kidding.


My best friend and I have both suffered together through some BAD M's Day.   *shudder*

Which brings me to today's Mother's Day. 

My best friend and I have both ENJOYED one of the BEST Mother's Day ever!   Sweet!

Even though my mom is with Jesus, and I do not have any physical children...I have hundreds of spiritual kids all over the nation.   Wherever Steve and I have pastored or he's served in the military, we have "children".

Yesterday, as you know (if you've read my blog) my honey was on his way to Iraq, and is now there--somewhere.

And yesterday as I went to dinner with my other friend Angie last night, I opened the perfectly timed arrival of the cards that Steve sent me.   They were both Mother's Day cards--from him to me--celebrating ME as HIS Proverbs 31 woman.


Then when I got home I opened a large envelope (thought it was ??), and it was a gift from my honey!   A black leather bracelet with a lovely thin bar with the inscription: "Love you more" on it.     And yes, there is a story behind that.    I'm still smiling...

My friend's mom is with Jesus too, as is my friend's husband; but she has been blessed with two way cool sons.  And when I found out what her youngest gave her for her Mom's Day gift, I couldn't stop laughing!

Both because it shocked me and hit me funny, and also because it was just...SO...Joe, her youngest son.   

He got her a gun.   And now they can go target shooting together.  (Sitting her laughing as I type!)  

I wish that you knew all of the nuances and variations-on-a-theme to our friendship, because it's the only way to bring you into just how wacky this is.

And why it made it the PERFECT Mother's Day.   

For her...and for me.

Naturally, we BOTH did NOT go to church today; me in Indiana or her in Texas.   

And no, we did not miss anything, nor did anyone else.

Our Heavenly Dad blessed us both with what we NEEDED to sooth and to minister to OUR hearts--NOT the expected standard.

I'm writing today to celebrate freedom from the expectations and demands of a tight-assed church, locked into the confines of their own individual religiosity.

(Yes, Virginia; I just typed, and you just read what you thought you read.   Get over it and get over yourself.)   


I LOVE my life in Christ.   And I love that I can speak plainly in order to get a point across.   

I pray that everyone had the Mother's Day that they DESERVE--
--NOT THE ONE THAT THEY HAVE TO ENDURE.

And I pray that perhaps my itty-bitty-blog will smack you right between your double-lidded eyes, and you will start to SEE and REALLY honor your mothers and wives and sisters, as The Father would have you to do.

For God's sake!   DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!

Do something inspired by the Holy Spirit!

Go against the mundane and typical.

GET REAL.

Loving You Like The Mother I am,
Patti