A Day in the Life

I figured I would update on Derek. He seems to be enjoying his job and basically working around the clock. Only time to eat and sleep (about 5 hours). He still manages to squeeze in a Skype call or phone call just about every day and if he can't he'll usually send a quick email. 2 months down, 4 to go. These past two months have been extrememly slow. He's been on two deployments before that were 3 months long and I don't remember them feeling like this. Probably because we still have so far to go.

I'm not exactly sure what he's doing over there. It's one of those Top Secret deals. Like I said, he's enjoying whatever is he's doing and feels like he's making a contribution. And it's a hands on job, which is what he truly enjoys.......although he is now going to be taking on a leadership position on top of all of whatever he's already doing.

Our life prior to the deployment was crazy too. With his job as General's aide for much of the time we were in Texas we barely got to see him. He had to work long hours and was gone a lot (an average of 3 weeks of every month). We would still get to see him most weekends though, thankfully. After his aide job was up he left for Squadron Officer School (SOS) in Alabama. That schooling was 8 weeks long. We did meet up once in Houston to break up that time........and celebrate Blake's 1st birthday. THEN, when he got back he was doing several different training classes for the deployment that sent him away for long periods of time between October - early December, even missing Thanksgiving......and obviously he missed Christmas. I am SO looking forward to us being able to spend more quality family time together. Hopefully this next job allows it!

Here are some pictures, the first is recent and over "there" and the others are from SOS this past summer/fall.

The Grasshoppers. The guy on the left, NIMo, is one of the Commanders out there. Derek will be working with him in his new leadership position. He also was General Heitholds Aide a few years before Derek was. The girl in the middle, Kaylee, also worked with Derek and General H. She was there visiting for a couple days.

These next three pictures are of Derek's squadron at SOS. One in their blues, on in PT garb (they made and designed their t-shirts, and in their daily BDU's.

One weekend Derek and this guy went over to Atlanta, where this guys Dad works with Boeing. They were able to get into the flight simulators and do some flying.

Derek's SOS squadron had to make goals, so they made a goal that they could eat 1,000 wings as a squadron (over the 8 week period). And they did! You might notice some spots on Derek's arm.........he got into some poison ivy or oak whlie he was out there.