Kyle came home one week ago today!! I do not have any words for the emotional day, but can share through the pictures that our talented photographer took. Here is her blog and as soon as I get all the photos I will post a link.
Ariel Renae Photo & Design Blog
This past year has been a crazy journey. Definitely glad to be on this side of it!!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
The end of the deployment is here!
Kyle will be coming home on February 20th!! I will post details for the homecoming when they are available for anyone that wants to be there. Thanks for the support and prayers over the past year.
Monday, January 4, 2010
2010.......Kyle is coming back to the states!!
I don't have many details but Kyle will be in California by the end of this month!! They will go through some debriefing there and then get to come back to Tennessee. I am so ready to have him back in our everyday lives. On January 12th it will be 1 year since he left for training. I will keep you updated as I hear more.
Thank you to everyone that sent Kyle Christmas cards and goodies. It was good to see the smile on his face as he got to tell me about them.
Happy New Year!!
Thank you to everyone that sent Kyle Christmas cards and goodies. It was good to see the smile on his face as he got to tell me about them.
Happy New Year!!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
UPDATED ADDRESS- Kyle's address has changed!!
UGHHHHHHHHHHHH! Kyle has a new address......why? I don't know! Not very happy about it but what can I do, its the marine corp for ya!
Sgt, Ketner Kyle D.
Task Force Military Police
India Company, 3D Battalion, 24th Marines
II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD)
Unit 43525
FPO AP 96426-3525
Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Update
Gage and I celebrated 5 Thanksgivings in all! Each one was harder and harder due to Kyles' absence. At the same time it was comforting to be around family. Many rumors have been going around about the marines homecoming but nothing has been officially said. I have chosen to count down to the first week in April, which is 18 weeks away. We sent Kyle a mini Christmas tree and lights to put up. Kyle sent me my Christmas gift early, a camera!! Ours broke and I haven't been able to take pictures to send him so he wanted to make sure I had one for the holidays. Here is an email I received and thought I would share:
Update letter from SgtMaj Peck
This week has been filled with travel for both the Commanding Officer and me. We had the opportunity to fly out west for a couple of days this week in order to spend some time with our Marines and Sailors at the three Ports of Entry (POEs) and after a day back here at Al Asad, I flew down south for a few more days to meet our Marines in Umm Qasr. The mission our Marines and Sailors are performing on the Jordanian and Syrian boarders is important work. They provide security at the ports themselves and at the same time provide security for the other Marines that are specifically tasked to teach the Iraqis how to securely run their own ports. Every time I talk to the Marines that we are supporting out in these distant places, I can't help but feel this tremendous sense of pride as they tell me how professional our Marines are conducting themselves. Our Marines are providing outstanding security because of their steadfast, disciplined
and attentive approach they take every day. Our Marines down south near
Kuwait at the Umm Qasr port are performing an altogether different task;
another first. Iraq is starting its very own Marine Corps. The only
problem with this, as if there could only be one problem, is that they're
not quite sure what they want it to look like. They just know they like
ours and they want one too.
It didn't take long to ring in the Christmas spirit around here after
Thanksgiving. Since I have returned from being away this week, we have had
trees popping up, fully decorated with lights and the whole nine yards. One of the sections is even doing a Secret Santa gift exchange.
You should see the VERY creative ornaments on the tree and the hideously
wrapped gifts under it. You would think a bunch of five year olds had done
the wrapping. It is fun to see the stockings being hung around the work
spaces; some are the traditional decorated Christmas stockings while others
are just hanging a dirty old boot sock. Another thing that is not in short
supply are all the Christmas goodies. We have cookies, brownies, fudge and
candy everywhere. Unlike Halloween, this is all the good stuff, homemade.
Not much news to share with you all this week with regards to retrograde.
Aren't you glad you didn't hold your breath from last week?
The Commanding Officer is planning another "town hall" this week with all of our officers and SNCOs to let us all know the latest possibilities. The CO is passing this information regularly with his officers and senior enlisted in order to calm the rumors and help pass good information to all the Marines. Once he briefs the staff this week, we both look forward to
sharing with you all the news and hopefully bring a bit of light to our
final destiny. Until then, we remain focused on the front sight tip. Bless you all as you begin your holiday preparations.
Semper Fidelis,
SgtMaj Peck
Thanks again for all the support!!
Update letter from SgtMaj Peck
This week has been filled with travel for both the Commanding Officer and me. We had the opportunity to fly out west for a couple of days this week in order to spend some time with our Marines and Sailors at the three Ports of Entry (POEs) and after a day back here at Al Asad, I flew down south for a few more days to meet our Marines in Umm Qasr. The mission our Marines and Sailors are performing on the Jordanian and Syrian boarders is important work. They provide security at the ports themselves and at the same time provide security for the other Marines that are specifically tasked to teach the Iraqis how to securely run their own ports. Every time I talk to the Marines that we are supporting out in these distant places, I can't help but feel this tremendous sense of pride as they tell me how professional our Marines are conducting themselves. Our Marines are providing outstanding security because of their steadfast, disciplined
and attentive approach they take every day. Our Marines down south near
Kuwait at the Umm Qasr port are performing an altogether different task;
another first. Iraq is starting its very own Marine Corps. The only
problem with this, as if there could only be one problem, is that they're
not quite sure what they want it to look like. They just know they like
ours and they want one too.
It didn't take long to ring in the Christmas spirit around here after
Thanksgiving. Since I have returned from being away this week, we have had
trees popping up, fully decorated with lights and the whole nine yards. One of the sections is even doing a Secret Santa gift exchange.
You should see the VERY creative ornaments on the tree and the hideously
wrapped gifts under it. You would think a bunch of five year olds had done
the wrapping. It is fun to see the stockings being hung around the work
spaces; some are the traditional decorated Christmas stockings while others
are just hanging a dirty old boot sock. Another thing that is not in short
supply are all the Christmas goodies. We have cookies, brownies, fudge and
candy everywhere. Unlike Halloween, this is all the good stuff, homemade.
Not much news to share with you all this week with regards to retrograde.
Aren't you glad you didn't hold your breath from last week?
The Commanding Officer is planning another "town hall" this week with all of our officers and SNCOs to let us all know the latest possibilities. The CO is passing this information regularly with his officers and senior enlisted in order to calm the rumors and help pass good information to all the Marines. Once he briefs the staff this week, we both look forward to
sharing with you all the news and hopefully bring a bit of light to our
final destiny. Until then, we remain focused on the front sight tip. Bless you all as you begin your holiday preparations.
Semper Fidelis,
SgtMaj Peck
Thanks again for all the support!!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
We are surviving!
Well now the deployment is in full swing. And we are surviving! Not that I thought we wouldn't but God has provided us with people, places and things to help make this a good time. We are very blessed by prayers and support. Kyle is doing well. We are able to make contact with him almost everyday. We have been using skype so we have even been able to see him. It helps out a lot with the distance to be able to see him. He has been receiving boxes from family and great friends and wants everyone to know how much he appreciates the love. Getting a box from home can change his entire day!! With that being said I need to update his requests. He has gotten an over abundance of toothbrushes :) and has asked us to hold off on those for now. What ever he gets and doesn't need he does hand out to the marines that do need it.
Water flavors, gum, dental floss, microwavable popcorn, magazines (fitness, hunting, guns etc.), protein bars, granola bars and anything that you might think is fun or that you like!
I am on the family readiness team for the unit, which is a support team that helps the families connect while the marines are deployed. We are having a get together for Thanksgiving and will be making cards to send to the marines. We don't have a budget, so supplies for the cards have to be donated. If you want to donate supplies for the cards this is what we will be needing...
crayons, markers, pens, construction paper, glue sticks, glitter, big rolls of paper for signs, temper paint, paint brushes, poster board and permanent markers for poster board. Anything that is left over will be used for making Christmas cards and for decorations for the marines homecoming. All supplies for card making will need to be given to me by Monday November 7th.
Thank you for all your support and love!!
Water flavors, gum, dental floss, microwavable popcorn, magazines (fitness, hunting, guns etc.), protein bars, granola bars and anything that you might think is fun or that you like!
I am on the family readiness team for the unit, which is a support team that helps the families connect while the marines are deployed. We are having a get together for Thanksgiving and will be making cards to send to the marines. We don't have a budget, so supplies for the cards have to be donated. If you want to donate supplies for the cards this is what we will be needing...
crayons, markers, pens, construction paper, glue sticks, glitter, big rolls of paper for signs, temper paint, paint brushes, poster board and permanent markers for poster board. Anything that is left over will be used for making Christmas cards and for decorations for the marines homecoming. All supplies for card making will need to be given to me by Monday November 7th.
Thank you for all your support and love!!
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