Christmas Tree in Iraq

I just found this on the web site. It is the Christmas Tree that Adam helped make with SGT Turner. Isn't it great!!!!!!!! That isn't him standing in front of it, they are SSGT Ferguson and MSGT Powell from C Company posing in front of the biggest tree. I think it is awesome. No wonder it is the talk of the base. A little Christmas in Fallujah Iraq - imagine that.
Love, Jill

December 21, 2004

December 21, 2004

We had a great call from Adam this morning. He called Rod at home, then he called me at work, and then he called Ashlee at home. It was just great to hear his voice and communicate for a while. I'll just give you a short list of things he said.

1. He hasn't received many packages, but he said don't send any more food. They have plenty of it. If you want to send anything, please send phone cards. He specifically asked for those. He said they must be AT&T and they have to be 500 minutes or more in order to even get out of the country. He is thankful for everything that anyone has sent to him. He doesn't know when he may get back to base, so he doesn't know when he might get other packages you may have sent. He doesn't have any way to mail anything. He is sorry that he can't acknowledge everything - but wanted to relay his thanks to all of you. He did say that he got his Christmas present from us and that he was waiting to open it until Christmas.

2. He has had a difficult time calling. He waited in line for 2 1/2 hours on Sunday to call. When he finally got to the front of the line, the phones weren't working and he just got a busy signal on every number he called. He burned some phone card minutes and still didn't get to talk to anyone.

3. He is really busy and not getting much sleep. He is on recon working alot at night. He sleeps a few hours here or there. They have been sleeping in schools and houses. He said it is much safer and he feels like he has saved people's lives by helping in Fallujah.

4. He is warm enough and has plenty of warm weather gear. He said he and his sargent were joking that they wanted their CarHart coveralls to work in. Wouldn't that be a sight.

5. He said that he was nominated for meritorious promotion to corporal. This is the second time he has been nominated since he arrived in Iraq. That is quite a honor. He won't know for a while about that. He was nominated because he designed and lead on the projects to build seahuts at Al Asad.

6. The Marine Corp is trying to keep them busy when they have time off. They had a basketball tournament today. The other contest was building Christmas Trees from the available wood. He was on a 2 man team with a sargent in his unit. They decided they were going to have the biggest best tree. Their Christmas Tree ended up being 22 feet tall and 17 feel wide at the base. It is the talk of the camp! As far as he is concerned it was the best tree! He said he has pictures to show us when he gets home. He can't send film home because they are xraying anything that goes out of Iraq now.

7. He sees Iraqi children, but they cannot talk to them or give them anything. He said they are so poor that they would literally kill each other for anything thrown to them. Also, they don't know if they might have a bomb on them or have someone hiding to shoot them when they talk to them. So they just have to tell them to go away. The kids go when they are told too.

8. The elections coming up are concerning to all the Marines and soldiers over there. No one can tell insurgents from the Iraqi people. The Iraqi people will be making pilgrimages during the first few weeks of January and they are all concerned about what will happen when all those people are out on the roads and away from home.

9. He said that he knew the wounded Marine that we welcomed home on Friday. He knew him by Smitty. He wasn't part of C Company, but Adam had met him and worked with him. He knew that he had been injured pretty badly back in October. I was glad that we were able to welcome Smitty back to Central Illinois. We did find out that he is from Macomb.

Please pray right now:
1. For filling of empty hearts during these next few days as Christmas will be here and gone. Pray that the men will be alert and rested and making good decisions.
2. For the Iraqi people who are innocent of this whole thing. That they would be protected and have their basic needs met.
3. Thank God for the communication available to our Marines and soldiers. Pray for phone lines that work, delivery of mail and packages and computers that work.
4. Pray for all the families of those who have given their lives for our freedom.

We are all so thankful for all of you. Please keep praying. I am so thankful he was able to call. It helped us all the feel closer to him and I know that it helped him too.

In Christ's love and protection,
Jill

December 20, 2004

December 20, 2004

We haven't heard from Adam, but one of my good friends called me today at the office. I wasn't able to talk to her, but she left a message that during a commercial during the Dr. Phil Show, channel 25 aired a message from Adam to his family in Metamora. Adam had told us that he had taped a message in September. Rod or I neither one got to see it, but my nurse called channel 25 and Jenny Len is going to see if she can't get us a copy of the tape. It just want to see him and hear his voice at the same time. It was a very emotional time for me and it took me a while to get myself composed before I saw my next patient. Jenny Len explained that an agency tapes the messages in Iraq and then sends them to the local stations in the area the Marine or soldier is addressing. So maybe, they might play it again!
I know that this has to be a hard time for him and all the rest of our troops to be away at the holidays. It isn't so easy for us families either. Emotions are running a little high! But I know how selfish that is because I still have my son and many are without their precious loved ones.

Thank you so much for your prayers. They mean so much to all of us. I let Adam know how many people are praying for him and how many ask about him.

Please pray right now
1. For safety and comfort. It is very cold and still very dangerous for everyone in Iraq.
2. For the ability to communicate in some form on or near Christmas.
3. For the families of men and women that gave their lives for our freedom. This holiday season has to be many, many times harder for them.

In Christ's love and protection,
Jill

December 17, 2004

December 17, 2004

We had the awesome opportunity to be at the Peoria Airport tonight to help welcome a very special Marine home from Iraq. I don't even know his name, but he was wounded in a car bomb incident and has been at Walter Reed in Washington DC. He flew in tonight with his mom. It was a very touching time for us both. Please pray for him. It looked like the flight was pretty touch on him.

We haven't heard from Adam. Just keep praying. The Marine Corp has set up a web site for families. We can write him a letter and email it to this web site. They will print it off and deliver it directly to him whereever he is within about 24 to 36 hours. What a great thing. He doesn't have to have access to email or anything. If the Marine Corp knows where he is - they can get the mail to him. He has a printed letter and not just an email that he will forget. Isn't technology great! We are thankful.

Please pray right now for
1. This young wounded Marine and his family
2. The families of the Marines killed earlier this week.
3. Safety and comfort for all our troops.
4. Thank God for technology and the communication capabilities it affords us

In Christ's love and protection
Jill

---

December 16, 2004

December 16, 2004

We haven't heard from Adam since December 8, 2004. He is probably still in Fallujah. There were 8 Marines killed there this week and I know that was probably really hard for all the surrounding Marines. We did get an email picture from another Marine in Iraq that showed snow flakes! It is the cold season there. There is ice on the ground in the mornings. It can get down to 20 degrees at night.

I know that it is very hard for all our troops to be away from their families at the holidays. Please send a card if you haven't already. If you have, send another one. They just live for the mail.

Please pray right now for
1. Comfort during this time away from home. Warmth and protection from the weather.
2. The families that lost their sons this week. For comfort and encouragement.
3. Protection, wisdom and alertness despite conditions.
4. God's presence to be very real to each one.

We are thankful for you. Please keep praying and writing.

In Christ's love and protection,
Jill

December 9, 2004

December 9, 2004
What a week! Adam was able to call us again last night. It was 5 am his time and he had a few spare minutes and time to call. He had been up for several hours (couldn't tell us what he was doing.) I specifically asked if that meant he wouldn't be able to contact us again for a while and he said No. That is releaving.
He has a cold and was coughing. He said that everyone has it and they call it "kennel cough." When they all live together, they really share everything. He was laughing some when we shared stories from home. It was just great to hear his voice and laugh with him. I know that he misses home! I reassured him that we are all praying for him.

Just pray right now for
1. Quick resolution of this virus for all the guys - that they will feel better and be alert. They aren't taking any medications which I think is a good thing.
2. God's hand to be upon them as they continue to clear things up in Fallujah and whereever and whatever they are doing.

Thank you so much for your concern and your prayers.

In Christ's love and protection,
Jill

December 7, 2004

December 7, 2004
Just a quick note this morning. I got a specific call from Adam this morning about 1:30 am. He had a chance to call and since he didn't get to talk to me yesterday, he called. What a son!
It was great to talk to him and he did sound really good. He had the day off today and didn't have much to do. He was on a base near Fallujah, but not his home base. He said that things are going good. He did say that it is cold and he has his cold weather gear out. I asked him if he needed anything and he said he didn't. He did say that no one needs hard candy. They have all they can use and more. I asked if he saw any children and he said they have all cleared out or are staying in what is left of their homes. There is a ban on anyone in the streets in Fallujah. No one can be out day or night.
It was great to talk to him and just hear his voice.
Please continuing praying for all out troops. Send a card if you have time, he isn't getting much mail right now, but it would be great if he got some when he returns to Al Asad. He said some of their mail got sent to the wrong place and so they never got it at all. He has no time to write and no way to mail it if he does, so he is sorry he isn't acknowledging what you all have sent. He is thankful and wanted me to express that.

In Christ's love and protection,
Jill

December 6, 2004

December 6, 2004

Rod had a phone call from Adam this morning. He is still in Fallujah, but says that things are much quieter. He is still in the city and very busy. He sounded good and they had a chance to talk about Hank (his black lab) and hunting deer. He doesn’t know when he might be back on base.

The weather is much cooler over there now. The high is 50 with the lows in the 30s. The Marines have had to break out their cold weather gear. The wind is very strong and the consequently the sand is blowing hard.

We are thankful for God’s protection. Adam’s eye is healed and he is feeling fine. He even said they were having some light fun moments.

I have tendency to feel sad that Adam isn’t here for the holidays, but then I am reminded of all the families who will never have another holiday with their loved one. I am just so thankful that Adam is healthy and doing well.

Please pray right now for

1. protection and comfort – warmth and safety
2. wisdom and alertness
3. Thank God have His hand of protection on all our troops
4. families of those who have lost their loved ones and are spending this holiday without them.

In Christ’s love and protection,

Jill

November 29, 2004

November 29, 2004

We had a quick phone call from Adam this morning. He called Rod here at home and then he called me at work. He wanted Rod to just tell me what he said, but Rod told him he needed to call me! (Thanks for a insightful husband.)

Adam is still in Fallujah and very busy. He told us that he had a very close call in the past few days. He had a mortar land about 5 feet away from him, but it didn't explode. We are just praising God for His protection. I'm going to just copy a little piece of the email we got today. (Yes, a phone call and an email in 1 day - God is good). " i just thank the lord that the mortar didn't explode. god was trully watching out for us. thank you for your prayers." I know that God is watching over him and all our troops. Because the mortar didn't explode, Adam had just a minor injury. He got a piece of shrapnel in his eye. It cut his eyelid and scratched his eyeball. He also got some burns on his neck. He spent so time at the hospital ER and had his eye patched for 2 days. He now just has to put some ointment in his eye. Thank God that that mortar didn't explode. No one else was injured. He was inside the city when this happened. He said that he did have turkey for Thanksgiving - and he said that is story all its own and he would have to tell us later. He seemed to be amazed that turkey made it to them.

We are so thankful for God's protection. Please pray for:
1. God's continued hand of protection - for confusion of the enemy - for mortars that don't harm and explode.
2. The medical personnel taking care of the wounded. For their strength and endurance and wisdom to assess and treat appropriately.
3. Please thank God with us for His protection of Adam. Please pray for rapid healing.
4. The mental, physical well being of each one involved in this war. For protection of their minds.

We are thankful for you. Please pray right now and continue to pray and send cards. Thank you so much.

In Christ's love and protection,
Jill