Military Moments

 At the time we married the thought of the military life had never crossed our minds. In fact, we were much closer to hippies then "hooah".
 But just a few months after our wedding Andy's grandfather, who had spent his life in the military, passed away. A few days later while we were getting dressed for his funeral we turned on the TV and watched an airplane fly into the second tower. September 11, 2001. Andy insisted that his grandfather would have put his uniform back on and said, "How can I help?" Andy said it for him.
 He spent our first Christmas in Basic training, and we have never looked back.

 Some of our travels include:

 Basic Training, Lackland AFB, TX

 Technical Training, Shepherd AFB, TX

 First duty station, Beale AFB, CA   Crew Chief on U-2 "Dragon lady" Airplane
 April 2002- April 2005

 Deployed- Undisclosed location, Spring 2004

 Osan AB, S Korea, Worked Debriefing pilots after flights
 May 2005-May 2006,

 We found out I was pregnant with Zion less then a week before he shipped out for Korea. Canaan and I were able to visit for 30 days in the middle of his tour, before I got too pregnant to drag myself around the world. He was then able to arrange his "mid-tour" to be a little late, just in time for delivery. I was about six months pregnant in this photo, and Canaan was 2. 

 Pope AFB, NC   Crew Chief on A-10 "Warthog" Airplane
 May 2006- Sept 2007,

 Deployed - Iraq, Spring 2007

Sunset in Iraq

Abraham's Oasis, beauty in the middle of the desert 

 They made use of facilities that were already there, so this is what you call a very tight fit...

 You didn't want to have that tow job! 

Moody AFB, GA
 Sept 2007-Dec 2010

 Deployed - Afghanistan, Spring/Summer 2009

 Sunrise in Afghanistan

 Andy's girl

 Andy wanted to share this one... 

 Yes, they caught it, tied a string to it, and played with it. 

Don't ask. Men are beyond comprehension. 

 There are several little TDY's mixed in there. A couple weeks in Vegas, NV, several in Yuma, Arizona, and even several weeks in Thailand. He stays on the go, but always comes home eventually!

 After lots of prayer, and waiting and finally some absolute confirmation from God we left the Blue behind, and joined the Green.
 In Feb 2011 Andy had his last day in the USAF and immediately following, his first day in the United States Army.

 After three months of intense training, of the body, mind and spirit as well, he graduated from OTS at Ft. Benning, GA and officially became an Officer in the United States Army.

Through all the training I believe his goal remained the same: to become the kind of leader that will be respected because they earn it. The kind of leader that he respected most during his time as an enlisted service member. I love him for that. For remembering what is important.

We were able to join him for his next set of training, at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, for four months of 2011. During this move was when I wrote one of my favorite stories of "military life", and how it makes me slightly lose my mind.

 Andy stopped back at Ft. Benning for Airborne school - three weeks in and out - and he didn't lose his mind. His lifelong fear of heights is still there I suppose, but jumping out of the plane is his job, and he did it. I think deep down inside he enjoyed it!

Ft. Bragg, NC. Nov 2011 -Dec 2014

Deployed - Afghanistan,  Aug 2013- April 2014

Ft Leonard Wood, MO. Jan 2015- June 2015

Fort Carson, Colorado July 2015-Oct 2017

Troy University ROTC, Troy, Alabama Oct 2017- 2021

 Some of my favorite "emotional" moments through out this journey:
Camo - Pre-afghanistan, the first time around
Laundry on the Line - loving a grease monkey
Where are we going? - Not becoming an officer
It's Raining, It's Pouring - Becoming an officer
Fresh, clean socks - Afghanistan, the second time

Andy retired from the Army at the end of 2021 but after 20 years in, you never stop being military. :) 

 Now our older son, Canaan, has taken up the mantle. The circle continues.