It's 1 a.m. and I just talked to Ross on FB Chat. It is so exciting when I look to see who is online and his name is there. Sometimes, he's not still there, but he was tonight. They are going on 50 days without a shower OR flushing toilets! We are just now realizing he isn't actually at Ft. Boris but out in a makeshift camp. They are sleeping in shipping containers on plywood bunks. He said they are preparing to leave and go back to Boris in a week. They are so anxious. There will be many more "amenities " there - hot showers, hot meals, flushing toilets to name a few! Only his platoon is with him right now, but there will be 150 or so men at Boris. He said it does not get fired on so it is safer. They went into a village recently to build some rapport with the people. He said the doors of the tiny dwellings are only 4 ft. tall. He would have a hard time getting in and out. They gave the children candy! You won't hear about that on the mainstream news. Anyway,he sounded good - very homesick. He is counting the days until June when he has been told he will get to come home for two weeks. I also talked to one of his buddies - the one who had posted the picture of Ross I put up a few days ago. I think I'll be a Platoon Mother. I would rather be Room Mother in Kindergarten, but I guess those days are gone and this is my new role. I'm sending lots of homemade cookies so they will have some when they get to the Ft. I'm too tired to write much more, but please pray for all of our men and women who are protecting our freedoms - most of us enjoyed worshipping without fear today! Thank you, God! Kyle is out of town for a few days and I watched a WWII movie tonight. Of course, I've been crying ever since! Freedom is so precious and so easily and quickly lost. We must never forget. May God have mercy on us.

Pictures from Afghanistan

Mom takes on Sergeant

There were several comments on Ross's facebook which were full of profanity. I really got tired of seeing them and thinking it was one of his high school buddies, I sent a message to the boy and asked him (politely), to please tone it down because Ross's younger siblings like to go to his facebook page. I also asked Ross who he is. Ross said, "He is one of my sergeants and he outranks me so I can't say alot to him." oops. Ross may have a little extra guard duty. I sent the man another message and thanked him for his service to our country. He thought it was all very funny and even made me his "friend". He has a tiny baby and a wife he left behind. And.....I haven't seen any more bad language from him!

Update

We hear from Ross about every 2 days or so. These are the snippets we get: No shower yet; platoon leader made them shave, however; bad food resulting in food poisoning; extreme boredom; finally got mail and LOVED it; sick on candy and cookies; mortar fire every night.

I try to imagine it, but it seems like a movie in my mind. Very unreal and way too frightening. He says the mortar fire never hits anything because they are very bad shots! I'm thankful for that but I also know Ross downplays the danger to us!

One day, I got a call on my cell phone and didn't recognize the number but I answered it. ( I know those of you who call me and know I NEVER answer the first time must think it was unusual - it was.) It was a girl's voice and she just said, "Mom?" I answered, "yes?" even though I didn't recognize the voice or the number. She asked again, "Mom?" I said, "I am a Mom but I'm thinking I might not be YOUR Mom." Then she said, "Are you Ross's Mom?" "Yes" "Oh, he gave me his phone when he shipped out and your number is still in it and is similar to my Mom's number!" I told her she could call me anytime!!! Turns out her husband is in the army and Ross knew them from Alaska. She started to hang up but I was so hungry for any news I asked her if she had talked to Ross and she had a little. He had told us about an "incident" a few days previously but all he said about it was that no one was hurt and that it was a miracle so I asked if she knew what he was talking about. She said an enemy helicopter had landed in their base. That's all we know. She just said it was a shock because they were told they did not have to worry about air attacks because the enemy does not have any helicopters or airplanes. Evidently, now they do. Ross protects us from some of the details and that's really okay. I can only imagine what it was like in WWII and other wars without modern communication. I am so thankful for the internet. Keep praying - God is so faithful and we have placed all of our children in His hands. They are all under fire of one kind or another. Spiritual warfare rages. Jana