It is what it is......

One of the favorite things that I like to say is, "it is what it is." If you have spent any time around me you will probably smile because I say it a lot. It drives my wife crazy, and I can thank the Army for it because I have been conditioned well. I preface all of this because we are waiting to get out of Iraq and on to Afghanistan. We have been bumped off multiple aircraft and sent back to the locker room to await another day. I'm living out of a small bag, have no idea what day it is, stay in a constant state of fatigue, and probably smell wonderful (just ask my roommate). So it is what it is...........

Deployments are strange beast. They are marked by periods of mind numbing boredom where you question yourself "why I'm even here", followed by times of sheer madness, trauma, stress, and loss. The undercurrent of stress of not knowing when this will happen leads to a good time. So it is what it is.............

We are going to be a group of transient nomads for the next several weeks until we get to our final destination in the "Stan". We really don't know what to expect. We all have read what is going on over there so we know that we are needed and have an idea of what to expect. We have been told to expect a primitive location of where we are setting up (I would prefer the word campy) so I guess I will be best friends with the dirt real soon. There is no real use to complain because it is what it is........

I just wish I could fast forward time a bit now. My family needs me desperately, but it is what it is............JB

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Now playing: Matthew Sweet - I've Been Waiting
via FoxyTunes

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Today was a pretty decent day in the home I call Basrah. All that changed about an hour ago for me when I found out that one of my college roommate's children had just died. I never met the child, but I know he was special like my little Audrey so I immediately shuddered when I heard the news. It really scared me because I have thought about being in my old roommate's position on several occasions, but my little girl has always rallied.
Several people have told me that the Lord gives special children to special parents. That used to anger me when I heard this because I thought it was a nice way to place something in a box to go along with the Hallmark card shoved down your throat. I now actually believe that my special child has made me a special parent and a better person. The Lord allows all things so it can glorify him. Sometimes I don't understand this, but I do understand that the situation with little Audrey has made the love I have for my wife and children stronger than what I can describe in words. It has taught me patience that I really have never had. It has given me a new level of empathy in caring for my patients that I never really have had either. It has taught me to place my faith in God that he will watch over and take care of my family because I have realized that I can't control everything nor can I can fix everything and make it right. Most of all little Audrey has taught me that your children are so precious and that you should enjoy every little thing in their life regardless of how small it is.
So I will give the Lord thanks in all things good and bad, but my heart is so sad for my old friend Brent. May the Lord comfort his family in this difficult time........JB

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Now playing: MercyMe - Here With Me
via FoxyTunes

More Postscripts from Basrah

I have been ignoring my blog for the past month because I have been in a virtual grounhog day scenario which has become mind numbing. The big change that I was referring to on my last post is that we are jumping to Afghanistan in about 2 1/2 weeks. It looks like our team will no longer be intact, and we will split into two groups once we get into country. I will certainly miss some of the guys I have been with but the change will be good because we want to go where we are needed and the fight is in Afghanistan. I'm battling some type of cold right now so it's got my body a little run down. I've got a mini pharmacy in my room so I'll survive until it passes. One of the camps bordering us has a big outbreak of the flu, but I have been vaccinated already so I should be good. Another forward surgical team has arrived to replace us so we are doing the left seat/right seat with them. They could take the mission now if their equipment was here so we'll hang out for a little longer.

Shannon and the kids are doing well. All the kids have been sick at least once since I have been gone (Murphy's law). Macy even had the flu but has rebounded well. Audrey seems to be doing well right now, but she was quite sick about three weeks ago. The little girl is a fighter, but she shouldn't have had to go through it if only the pediatrician had listened to Shannon from the outset. It will good to be back in North Carolina with her because we will have more control and capabilities available to her there. Please keep the prayers up for this little girl and Shannon. It has been a tough road since I have left, and Shannon definitely has the heavier load.

Our home renovations are underway and things appear to be going well. We ran into a snafu with the deck, but my contractor will be able to fix the mistakes of the previous contractor who put the deck in for us last year. Sometimes I don't know what I don't know, and that was painfully made aware to me with trusting someone's previous work. The renovation should be complete by the middle of November. Shannon and two of the kids are heading to NC next week for some appointments for Audrey so she should be able to see the progess so far. It will be exciting to come home to a bigger house.

That's about it for now.........later. JB