Merry Belated Christmas From The Sandbox

NOTE: Trying to get pic to load and failing- will try again soon, I hope.

It's amazing what the money of an oppressed people can buy- but in the end the guy wound up in a ditch, and hung like a criminal.

I'm sure "it's good to be the king," but it's amazing how fast the king can fall. His brainwashed and power-hungry followers are still lobbing mortars in our direction... scrambling in vain to take back control.

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Christmas was a long day, and so was the next. I really need to try to get more sleep, but I wanted to write now that I'm finally up and running again. Out of concern for OPSEC (Operations Security for you non-military types), I can't discuss any details or specifics about what I do, where I am... or even info about attacks I've made it through other than to say, yes, I do hear fire from time to time, and in the past couple weeks I've felt a few shakes (there's a lot of sand here, and I don't want to let the enemy know if he's close or not to my patch of it!)... I'm sure you understand, but I will try to post pics of some sites from time to time, and keep you posted on morale and some feel-good stories like the following:

I wasn't able to get my address to my family in time to get anything from them for Christmas, but a group of ladies working somewhere in Florida made stockings and sent them over filled with toiletries and goodies- and a hand knitted watch cap! I got handed the stocking by a general. :-)

The best present though was a random letter from a girl in high school, who told of how her father recently died of cancer and how she wanted to be strong for her family... she then went on to thank us for our service, for our bravery and strength, and said how she didn't think she would be mentally strong enough to do something like this. I wrote her back saying she already was. She called us heros, but anyone who can face what she faced, and have the courage to face the situation, and make the decision to be strong for the family is a hero in my book.

She said we gave her hope for the future, but she was an inspiration. Reading her letter reminded me of why I'm here- to help out in some small way, to be a part of something in hopes of making a difference for people.

Before I was here, I was in Washington DC where thousands of people marched chanting hateful things about the troops and those serving- and it seemed like every time I watched the news there would be more discouragement. Just hearing her thanks made everything I've been through and everything I will go through worthwhile because it is a reminder that people back home really do care, and they pay enough attention to know that we really are trying to do good things- and succeeding!

I want to send a special thanks to Souljourner for sending me a copy of their cd to enjoy. I got it today and have really enjoyed it- and know I will continue to! They're on myspace, so go look them up and sample some awesome music!