Happy Turkey Day!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends! It was nice to get away and come to my parents for the long weekend. We had a wonderful dinner... just me, mom and dad! It was so hard not to have Dano or my brother here. It felt like we weren't complete... I love Thanksgiving... I am always thankful for the Lord's many blessings... but Thanksgiving just opens your eyes to everything you really are blessed with! I am so thankful for my family and most of all my husband.. I can't imagine my life without them!

Time is flying by! Wednesday marked 3 months since Dano has been gone... there are days when it feels like forever and then days when it seems like he JUST left and time is flying! We are crossing our fingers for a homecoming before March... there has been a lot of talk about it... but we aren't getting our hopes up just yet! I would be one happy girl if I got my hubby back sooner than expected!

He is doing great! It was very hard on both of us to be apart on Thanksgiving.. but now we have that behind us... we can mark that off of the countdown! We got to talk on Skype for a while on Turkey day so that helped! He seemed really sad... and it broke my heart! I can't imagine being alone and knowing what is going on back home... I know that Christmas will be another tough day but after that we are on the last stretch before he comes home! YAY! I keep thinking about homecoming and imagining what it will be like... I really don't think I can even wrap my mind around the excitement and feelings that we will have!

Here is a link to Dano's Christmas card that he recorded for us! I was so excited when he sent this to me! :) I am hoping to get to see this on TV... that would be so awesome!

Well, I hope that November was a great month for all! It feels like yesterday I was excited that November was here... and now we are in the last two days! YAY! December is going to FLY by! I'm heading to Disney, school will mostly be fun with crafts, etc., two of our best friends are getting married this month and I'm heading to my grandparents on the 19th! Before I know it, January will be here! I am so thankful to be busy and that time is flying by! I can't wait to start the next chapter of our crazy ride together! :)

Love you all! Thank you for your prayers and encouragement! Don't forget the birthday cards for Dano if you get a chance! :)

Almost turkey time!

I can not believe that next week is Thanksgiving! I feel like it was just yesterday in August when I was standing in LeJeune waving goodbye to Daniel... and Thanksgiving Day will be our 3 month mark! It's insane! I really can NOT believe how quickly time is going by... it will be January before we know it! YAY!

Dano is still hanging in there! It's starting to get cold over there so he is trying to adjust from the heat to the cold! Other than that... he is staying busy and counting down the days! He has been traveling back and forth a lot.. doing a lot of day trips... but the Lord has provided safety for him and the other Marines that are traveling with him! He had the opportunity to hand out blankets to children and elders the other day on one of his trips.. I know that this really touched his heart and he felt like he was able to reach out to them and fulfill one of their many needs. We don't realize just how blessed and fortunate we are... when he shares pictures and stories with me... it just amazes me how blessed we are... just the little day to day things that we take for granted are HUGE blessings! I am so proud of Daniel and thankful that he has been given this opportunity ... it definitely has opened his eyes and made him thankful for all that he has here at home!

Daniel's birthday is December 22nd... and I want to make it as special as possible for him while he is over there! If you get a chance, take a second to send him a birthday card... nothing fancy or special... just a note to let him know that you have been keeping up with what's going on with him through this blog... and that you wanted to wish him a happy 25th! (yes, he's a quarter of a century old this year... ) :) I know that it would make him smile and brighten his day! His address is:

SGT PEAL JOSEPH D 2526
2 MEB G-3 ANSF
UNIT 73010
FPO AE 09510-3010

I know it would make his birthday really special... and I would really appreciate it, too! I know that he is going to really want to be home that week with his birthday AND Christmas... so I am trying to reach out to him from across the world and make him feel special.. :)

Thank you again for all of your encouragement and prayers! The Lord has had His loving arms wrapped around Daniel since he left... and I know that He will continue to do that until he is back home again!

Happy 234th Birthday!

Today marks the 234th birthday of the Marine Corps! Even though we won't be at a ball this year celebrating, it still makes me really proud to have a Marine for a hubby on days like today! (and everyday, of course!) I know that he has enjoyed celebrating (and eating) with his buddies today! I was lucky enough to wish him a 'happy birthday' this morning before work! I'm so thankful today for my husband, and all of the other Marines, that have dedicated their lives to protect our country and our freedom! Semper Fi!

Ronald Reagan once said, "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But the Marines don't have that problem." :) What an awesome quote!

Along with the Marine Corps birthday this week, we also have Veteran's Day tomorrow! My kids have been super excited about Veteran's Day this week with our school celebration tomorrow and letter writing to Veterans, along with a few Marines, this week! This is the poem that we will be working on this week... and I thought that it was too cute and wanted to share it!

Veterans Day
by Cheryl Dyson
On Veterans Day we honor all,
Who answered to a service call.
Soldiers young, and soldiers old,
Fought for freedom, brave and bold.
Some have lived, while others died,
And all of them deserve our pride.
We’re proud of all the soldiers who,
Kept thinking of red, white and blue.
They fought for us and all our rights,
They fought through many days and nights.
And though we may not know each name,
We thank ALL veterans just the same.

This poem, as simple as it is, brings it all back to why we should be thankful. We take for granted the freedom and rights that the veterans and service men and women fight for everyday. The sacrifices that they make... both big and small... often go unnoticed and unappreciated! Take the time this week to thank any veterans that you know or come in contact with! We need to show our gratitude and appreciation for these brave men and women that make these sacrifices so that WE don't have to!

On that note, Happy Birthday Marine Corps! and Happy Veterans Day, too! :)

Already November!

If someone would have told me that time would have gone this quickly... I would have NEVER believed them. I can not believe that we are already done with the first week of November! Thanksgiving is JUST around the corner... and we all know how quickly time goes between Thanksgiving and Christmas! It's hard to believe that we are 11 weeks into this thing! It's been hard... believe me... but I have been strong and stayed positive thanks to MANY prayers and depending on the Lord! Nehemiah 8:10 says: "The joy of the Lord is my strength"... this verse could not be MORE true for me... I have found strength to face this deployment because of the joy that the Lord brings me everyday... I am so thankful for daily blessings... things that we all take for granted that the Lord provides for us everyday! I am so thankful to have His peace and comfort!


Daniel uploaded a bunch of pictures the other day... here are a few that I wanted to share!

This is my Marine on the back of a truck that he uses to get around in... Not sure if it was raining or his camera lens was dirty... but it looks kinda fuzzy!



This is a picture of Daniel from one of his trips that he took with the officers that he travels with. I posted a while ago that when he travels with them... they insist on serving him fresh fruit and hot tea... this is Daniel being 'spoiled' in Afghanistan with fresh watermelon! :)

Here are few he posted from traveling around... I thought that the picture of the desert was crazy! You know they are in the desert and hear about it... but this was just crazy to me!

This is a picture taken from the sky.. looking down on the mountains he was flying over!

Other than that, Daniel is doing great... been VERY busy! He hasn't been able to call or e-mail as much ... but I hear from him every day in some form... either through e-mail or hearing his voice :) I am so thankful that we have been able to keep in touch so much! I am so spoiled now... I know that he is going to find someway to get in touch with me everyday.. I'm a lucky girl! He told me this week that they got a flight window for March... when it gets closer and we know that it's definite.. I will give more details... but I don't want to post something and have to change it once they decide to move it again! But for now... he is going to be back in the states sometime in early March! :)

The most amazing thing happened this week ... I was talking to Daniel on Skype (webcam) early Thursday morning before heading into work. He asked to see the dogs and I had already put them up for the day... so I went to get them from their cage... When I came back I noticed that Daniel was looking behind me... He said, " you are never going to believe this!" I was kind of confused because I didn't understand what he could have seen... He said, "I just had this feeling to turn around to see if David Paul was in here... " (David Paul is our family friend that left a week or so ago to head to Leatherneck) About that time Daniel moved his head to the side and asked me if I could see him... In the background, David Paul was sitting in line waiting for a computer to open up! They had not found each other yet... so Daniel got his attention and David Paul came over to the computer! so I got to see their reunion on Skype! :) It was the best moment... they were both so happy to see each other and you could tell that David Paul was relieved to see a familiar face! It gave me cold chills and I got all choked up.. I was so thankful to be able to see that moment... and thankful that they now have each other there for support!

Please keep Daniel in your prayers... he has been traveling all weekend and then will head back out to travel again in a week or so for about a week! It's hard when he leaves Leatherneck because he can't give me any details on where he is or what he is doing... just leaves me with a very strange feeling! I know that the Lord is with Him no matter where he goes and is guiding his every step... but it's tough not knowing where in the world your husband is!

Thank you so much for your support... please continue to pray and encourage both of us... we are getting ready to face the toughest part of this whole deployment with the Holidays coming up... We are both very big into Holidays... especially Christmas... and it's going to be very hard to be apart on those special times with family and friends. But with the way time has been flying by... it will be March before we know it and we will look back on this and be thankful for all the blessings that have come from this deployment! More pic tures to come soon!

so proud of my hero! :)

Just wanted to post a video of Dano :) He was a part of the opening ceremony for the academy that he had been working with ... they opened the academy and Dano was one of the Marines that helped to raise the flag for the ceremony! If you play the video, you'll see him in the very beginning, raising the American Flag on the far right... Super proud of you DP! :)

Other than that, he's doing great! He called and talked to the kids today.. which was neat because they were all (including me) in costumes... so he got to see us all dressed up! :) They were all so excited.. he hasn't been able to call them in a while.. so they were flipping out! It's so sweet to hear them ask him their questions and to hear him try to sugar coat everything for them... One of my little girls asked him today if there had been any damage there... and you could tell he got a little choked up and he said, "No Claire, no damage. Just a lot of people here trying to make this a better place." It was just so precious. After school, he called back and we talked for over an hour on the webcam! He seems to still be doing great... Ready to come home, but thankful that the time is going so quickly! We can't believe that October is over after tomorrow... looking forward to March.. if not sooner! :) It doesn't seem that far away at all! Once the Holidays are over, he'll be home in NO time! WOO HOO!

So for now, we are both just taking it day by day! I know that he is looking forward to David Paul making it there within the next week or so... he left last night to start heading that way! Please keep their family and David Paul in your prayers... it's crazy how quick time has gone... it seems like yesterday Dano left and David Paul had two months before his date... now he's already gone! I'm thankful that they will have each other for support... and to ease our minds back home!

Thank you so much for your prayers, words of encouragement, and sweet letters/packages! I know that it means the world to him because it means the world to me! :) Keep us in your prayers.. they have worked wonders so far! :)

2 months down already! :)

Tomorrow is our two month mark! YAY! I can't believe that October is already gone! The time is just flying by... before we know it Thanksgiving and Christmas will be gone and we will only have just a few weeks before we're done with our first deployment! YAY! :)

Dano is doing pretty good... traveling back and forth all week from place to place.. so please keep him in your prayers. He enjoys being able to travel and see new things but it always makes us a little uneasy... He went to Payne earlier this morning... normally when he goes there .. he has no access to phones or internet so we were planning to talk again at the end of the week. I was surprised when my phone rang this morning around 7! He said that he asked around when he got there and had a couple of guys show him where they had gotten 4 phones... and he called to let me know that he had made it ok! I was so happy to hear his voice and so thankful that he was able to call! I always have such a hard time when he goes there because I never know that he made it there ok until he's already back from the trip! The Lord is so good and so faithful... I am just so thankful that He has provided us a way to stay in such close contact throughout this deployment. I am so spoiled and I know that Dano feels the same way! We never thought we'd be able to talk/see each other this much but technology has caught up to those guys for the most part! I am so thankful.. and we are so blessed!

He said that on the flight there.. he noticed there were pretty bad dust clouds and then it felt like the plane was starting to go out of control... he said that he just started praying... asking the Lord to take control of the plane and to keep them all safe... he said when he finished praying and opened his eyes, it got really quiet and calm... and once the dust settled.. he realized that they had landed!! :) It was too funny to hear him tell this story... I told him, once again.. God was showing him that HE is in control! :) He thought that it was funny that they were landing all along.. and he thought something bad was happening! He gets really nervous flying around everywhere.. so I can only imagine his nerves when that started happening! Thank the good Lord that the plane was just landing... I know Dano was very thankful! :)

Please keep the Lawson family in your prayers... they are VERY dear friends to us and their son, David Paul, is leaving this week to head to Afghanistan (to the same base that Dano is at!) They had a "see you soon" dinner tonight at their house... it was tough to face that again after having to go through it with Dano.. but we are all so thankful that they are going to be together over there... I know that Dano is excited to have one of his buddies with him over there... it will ease our minds and help to pass their time... (Love you Mrs. Sherri) :)

Other than that, all is well! I am staying busy so that time continues to fly by... looking forward to going to my parents' for Thanksgiving and going to my Gram and Pap's for Christmas! YAY! It will be so hard to face the holidays without Dano but I am thankful that I will be able to spend time with my family! I am ESPECIALLY thankful that the Lord has helped me to stay so positive and encouraged ... I don't know how people face things like this without Him! We are on the home stretch now... almost half way there! WOO HOO! March can't come soon enough... I can NOT wait to make that trip to welcome him home!

Time is flying by!

I can't believe that we are a week away from our 2 month mark already! It has flown by.. and I'm so thankful for that! Before we know it the holidays will be here and after that.. he'll be home! :) I can't wait for that day.... it will be so amazing!

Dano is doing great! I've heard from him everyday... sometimes more than once a day! We are so blessed that he is at a base with phones and internet! I am so spoiled now that I have heard from him so much! It's definitely helped to make things better. He is still staying busy... traveled for the most part of this week. He made a CD to send me in his next package with over 300 pictures... so I am waiting for that to arrive! I can't wait to see some of the things that he is seeing... I can't imagine! He is setting up pen pals for my kids this week with the Marines at Leatherneck! We are going to swap pictures so the kids can see their Marine and the Marines can see the kids... and hopefully they'll be able write back and forth several times before its time to come home! They can not WAIT to see him... it's like he is a celebrity! Seeing their reactions when he finally comes to meet them will be priceless!

I am so thankful that the Lord has protected him and been with us step by step while he has been over there! We can both tell that this is all working out for the best... and we're so thankful that he was given this opportunity! We know that God has a plan for us and that this is a major part of it... it's so amazing to look back and see God's hand in it all! I'm also thankful that I am staying busy and time has seemed to go so quickly... I am getting so anxious for him to come home.. I know we still have a little while to go.. but in about 18 weeks he'll be home for good! :) YAY! We are so ready to see where our lives take us next and to be together again... he's trying to decide on a good vacation for us to take for Spring Break when he gets home... I can't wait to see what he plans for us!

Other than that, I've been very busy with work and LOVING this change in weather. It's so nice now that it has cooled off a bit! I can't wait to post some of his pictures once I get the CD! Thank you again for your support, prayers, and encouragement! We are so thankful to have the support of our friends and family... through packages, phone calls, and prayers.. you guys have made this so much easier on both of us! Please continue to pray for us as we seek the Lord in all that we do!