Wheeler Family Blog

Empty Nesters again...

2011-01-09T12:36:00.000-08:00

Here we are in 2011...... and it's snowing and sleeting in Birmingham as I write this!! Seems like we were just worrying about Y2K a year-or-so ago! Time, as usual, is flying by quickly!
We had a wonderful Christmas. Both boys got to come home... at the same time! That is a rarity these days! We piled our stuff in the car and headed south, to Santa Rosa Beach, FL, where we rented a wonderful house for a week. My mom even came along with us. It was chilly, but otherwise nice weather, and a very relaxing time of sleeping late, walks on the beach,

eating great food,

playing games, taking silly pictures

and watching movies.

Paul arrived first from Iraq.... only took 2 1/2 days for him to travel and we were happy to see him and let him get settled and on Central Standard Time for 2 days.

Once Aaron arrived, Mama and I picked him up at the airport and off to Florida we headed. Harris, ever up to the challenge of timing things exactly, along with Paul in his car, headed to the highway to rendezvous with us going south.... no use convincing him that it was easy to rendezvous at Cracker Barrel.... that was "wasted time" in his eyes. We met up south of town and followed each other to Florida.

This being the off-season, there were few people on the beach so it was perfect for taking pictures. There is a serenity about the ocean,

the birds,

the setting sun and the endless sand.

Peace and quiet was abundant, and sweet talks and walks with our boys are special memories.

Our final blessing was getting together with good friends when we returned from the beach. Our good friends, the Harpers, whose boys were some of my boys' closest friends growing up, invited us over for dinner so the "boys" could all be together one more time.... as you can see the group has grown by two wives and one baby for the Harper boys! One more memory!

Both boys have returned to their homes and jobs, mail is read and clothes washed. We're looking forward to what the year has to hold.

We hope that your celebrations were sweet and memorable as well. May God bless each of you this year.

Life in Iraq

2010-12-04T14:53:00.000-08:00

Paul sent home photos of his new "digs" in Iraq..... beige is obviously the popular color over there!

He has settled into working the night shift and actually likes it because of the "peace and quiet" and ability to get more done with less distractions. Mortar attacks come in about every 3 days to remind them they are in a war zone.... not exactly what a mom likes to hear, but they are somewhat protected by these giant "sandbags" everywhere.

If you have ever complained about your house being too small, look at these living quarters.... 2 guys to a connex... Home Sweet Home. This is Pauls side of the connex.... guess they didn't have inspection that day :)

November 29th was Paul's 27th birthday! One to remember, celebrating so far from home! We're looking forward to seeing him over the holidays on his "break".... usually it comes much later in their "tour", but all the later slots were taken... so we'll gladly have him home for the holidays!

Thanks for all your prayers for him and all our soldiers! "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward All" takes on new meaning this year having a son in a war zone! May peace triumph evil! Blessings to all!

Talked to Paul

2010-10-30T15:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

We've been lucky enough to talk to Paul twice from Iraq! Amazing what a phone and a calling card can accomplish! He's working the night shift and likes it.... only hard part is getting used to sleeping during daylight hours. I looked on his Facebook page only to find out that their post had been hit by mortar rounds right before he got to work.... not exactly what a mother likes to read. But he is trained and I trust God to watch over him as well as all our soldiers.

Just wanted to let you know the address I have in the right side-bar of this blog is the correct address for him, so I know he'd love to get cards and letters from anyone who has the time to write. He said he loves to hear news from home, or read clippings from the newspaper that you think he might find interesting. I thought that might make him homesick, but he says it makes him feel connected, so write away :)

I'm hoping Paul will post news and pictures soon. Thanks for keeping him in your prayers.

On another note, Harris, Aaron and I enjoyed a wonderful trip to San Francisco for the wedding of my niece, Jennifer, to Brian Campagna. What a beautiful bride, handsome groom and radiant couple! We all danced the night away. May God bless them and their marriage always. Here's a few shots:

Love, Cyndi

He's in Iraq

2010-10-22T17:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Well, October 18th they moved into Iraq. Haven't heard much yet other than he likes his roommate and has a "real" mattress to sleep on.... don't know if they've been having to put up with "less than real" mattresses for a while ?? He should get internet in his room (for a pricey price), but we look forward to being able to Skype with him soon.

Also, hopefully, he'll be able to confirm if we have the right mailing address for him...the one posted on this blog is the one they gave him, but he wanted to double check and make sure it was right.

Once again, thank you for your prayers for him...we'll keep you posted.

Cyndi

Paul called

2010-10-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

Well, we finally heard from Paul Saturday. He was in Kuwait and enjoying a balmy 95 degrees. He sounded good, but tired. They have been training for circumstances they might encounter in Iraq. They should move over there soon and relieve the soldiers that are going home. You don't hear much about the USO over here, but they sure do a wonderful job providing for our soldiers. They have made layovers in airports much more comfortable for Paul, and in Kuwait they've provided phones and computers for the soldiers to use. Granted, you have to wait in line, but just to have that availability and personal connection means so much. Hopefully once Paul is settled in Iraq we will have much more reliable contact with him. Thank you for all your prayers for his safety and well-being. We'll keep you posted as we hear more.

Paul's been deployed

2010-10-12T06:28:00.000-07:00

Well, as far as I know, (and I say that because plans changed about 5 times before last Sunday), Paul shipped out to Iraq on 10-10-10.....last Sunday, October 10, 2010. The Army says that he may be there anywhere from 10 - 15 months.... it's an ever-changing plan....

He called us Sunday morning at 8 a.m. and was waiting for the bus to take them to the airport in Topeka, Kansas. They'd been up since 3 a.m. They initially were to head to Kuwait, and then in several weeks are to head to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Warrior in Kirkuk, Iraq, where he'll be stationed.

In the end, he was glad that he was being deployed.... after all, this is what they train for, and he was ready to see something other than Alabama and Kansas :) However, that sandbox in Iraq may seem dusty and hot pretty quickly. Please pray for all our soldiers who are deployed all over the world.... some in less desirable locations than we enjoy! His new address in Iraq (not Kuwait) is posted to the right, and since it can take 5-10 days to get a letter to him, you could write and he'd have mail waiting on him once he arrived. But I'd hold off sending any packages until we know for sure he is there. He wasn't sure when we'd be able to communicate by email or Skype...

Paul got to come home for two weeks in late September, so I'm adding a few pictures from that visit. Thank you for your prayers, concern and love for him. We'll keep you posted as we know more, and hopefully Paul will add posts and pictures of his own to this blog.

Blessings to all.... Cyndi & Harris

NTC here I come

2010-06-27T18:19:00.000-07:00

Just to let everyone know. I will be stuck in the Mojave desert at FT. Irwin for NTC for all of July. So you can mail me, but I will not get it until August. I am also on my way home from August 9th until the 22nd. Anyways. I didn't know who all read this, but if you can contact me at the following addresses
paul DOT wheeler1 AT conus DOT army Dot mil
technaholic AT gmail DOT com

sorry for the weird wording, but otherwise stupid little bots on the internet will spam the heck out of my email. Feel free to email. Thanks.

-paul

New Decade in Fort Riley

2010-01-04T16:48:00.000-08:00

Well, here I am back at Fort Riley after spending the last two weeks with the family in Wisconsin and also in Alabama. I have to say that I was really looking forward to Christmas in Wisconsin with my Father's side of the family, but it turned out to be far from the normal time I am used to in Kenosha. First, my Dad's mother was in the hospital the whole time, and don't worry they diagnosed what was wrong and she is doing much better. Second, I had to wake up early on Christmas morning, and it wasn't to open up presents. My cousin Matt and I had to get up on the roof and shovel all of the snow and mush off of the roof, then punch through the ice and make holes in the down-spouts to let water drain off of the roof. It was leaking from several locations in the foyer, family room, and dining room. Third we had some wonderful loud 'talks' between my Dad and his sister. Thankfully, things turned around, my grandmother was getting better, the roof stopped leaking, and everyone made up and was in much better moods when we all left at the beginning of the week.
Back in Birmingham, I did what I normally don't do. I contacted all of my friends and tried to spend as much time with as many people as possible instead of just trying to sloth around the house all day long. I spent four of those days with a girl that I knew from Birmingham-Southern College and also worked with during my days at the Apple store at The Summit. I also saw almost all of my best friends that I grew up with. This included the infamous Alex Batten, Tim Season, Adam Parks, and Victor Wilson. The only people we were missing were John Mark Mitchell and J.R. Williams. I am sure that next time, way before I come home, I will contact everyone to make sure we can all get together at least one day and night to hang out and catch up on what each other are up to since we have really all gone separate ways since going off to college and after graduating and such.

In closing, I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and happy New Years!!

-paul

p.s. : PLEASE NOTE THAT MY ADDRESS HAS CHANGED AGAIN!!! it is on the right side of the page. If you do accidentally send anything to my last address it will still get to me, it will just take about three to four times as long as usual.

p.p.s. : I can't thank you all enough for all of the support and letters you have sent me. It really makes life so much better here in Kansas since there is really not that much to do out here after you have visited the official 'OZ' Museum

New Address

2009-08-31T16:52:00.000-07:00

Well, he's finally got a new address, which is posted on this blog in the right-hand sidebar. It's always fun to receive snail-mail, so I know he'll appreciate any postcards or notes you might send his way.

Sounds like his living conditions have greatly improved... he has a room to himself which opens onto a common area that he shares with one other room. He's getting internet and cable all set up, so it should feel like home soon.

The biggest change, other than location, is that when he's not working he's free to come and go like a "normal" working man! Ahhhhhhhhh, Kansas..... so many places to go..... so little time!

This base, according to Paul, is huge and everything is spread out... not good for a guy without a car! But good for exercise. Today was his first day "at work". Since he's the only "42-Fox" at Ft. Riley, his services will be in demand. He's even heard of some additional training (2 weeks) on new software, so if he gets accepted for the training, guess where that will be?? Ft. Jackson, where he just came from! Temps have been in the 50's already, so maybe he'll get to go when there a big blizzard in Kansas?

Thank you for keeping Paul in your thoughts and prayers. Hopefully he'll send pictures soon and I'll have something more interesting to post.

Ft. Riley bound

2009-08-24T08:05:00.000-07:00

Well, we just enjoyed 3 weeks with Paul at home. He left this morning for Ft. Riley, Kansas, which is in Junction City, Kansas, just outside of Manhattan, Kansas. Here's a link to their website if you interested in knowing more about the home of "The Big Red One":
http://www.riley.army.mil/

He'll be there (until the Army changes their mind) for the remainder of his 3 years and is looking forward to seeing a state he's never seen before.

He was able to come home and work for the local recruiter for 2 weeks, then take 10 days leave and kick back before packing his bags for colder weather. He looked good and certainly
enjoyed his time at home, but I think he was ready to "get back on schedule" and apply all that computer training that he got in South Carolina. So, with two humongous duffle bags of army and civilian clothes, a hanging bag, a backpack "screaming at the seams", and a brown bag of brownies, granola bars, dry cereal, and juice he headed out the door with Harris at 5 a.m. to catch his flight to Kansas City.

Keep praying for all our soldiers and peace on earth! Thanks for caring for our soldier boy!

Love, Cyndi

Satellite Computers

2009-07-12T13:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Paul's training is going well with computers and graduation is finally set for July 30th! That's when he can truly wear the title of Human Resource Information Technology Systems Management Specialist. It's also known as a "42-Fox".... or you can just call him PFC Wheeler! :)

He's looking forward to graduation and being able to put all this new knowledge to work.

Before he does that, though, he's arranged to be able to come home for two weeks and work for the Army Recruiter's office... that way he can see friends at night and on the weekend before he has to report to his duty station, Ft. Riley, Kansas!!

Here's a picture of a huge, expensive, satellite powered computer that he's gotten to "play" with... it's called a VSAT which stands for Very Small Aperture Terminal. This is a picture of the antenna that I found on Wikipedia... don't know if Paul's was this large, but it gives you an idea of what they've been using:

and here's the "inside equipment" which is the satellite modem which works almost like our DSL modem, except for the fact that it dials a satellite instead of Bellsouth! It takes about 15 minutes to connect! Have you got room for that on your desk?? I'd have to clear a few things off to accommodate this! It comes in any color you'd like, as long as it's "army green".....

Even though the equipment is large, they can get reception from anywhere in the world.... and that is a computer nerd's dream.... NO Limits....

If you fall into that category of Computer Nerd, and wear the title proudly, you might want to know more about the VSAT... Paul sent these two links that tell you all you've ever wanted to know:
http://www.comsys.co.uk/vsatnets.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_small_aperture_terminal

We're looking forward to having our soldier home and enjoying his company for a while. If you plan to write him, it's probably best not to send anything after July 22nd, as it may not reach him before he graduates and leaves Ft. Jackson, SC.

Thanks for checking in!
Love, Cyndi

Graduation from Boot Camp

2009-06-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

I apologize for taking so long to fill you in on Paul's graduation. We no sooner returned from South Carolina than my mother fell ill and was hospitalized for 13 days. She is much better now and I'm getting caught up on all those things in life that "just had to wait".

We had a wonderful time at Paul's graduation from Boot Camp at Fort Jackson, SC. The Army has been a "good fit" for him. Family Day, May 28th, was spent on Base... seeing his "world", meeting new friends and sitting by the lake, relaxing.

The base is huge. From the look of the map on their website, it's about 10 miles square, with everything for their training on site. Those who successfully completed Boot Camp were easy to spot as they no longer wore the Army camouflage baseball-style hat, but the black wool beret. How sweet to get a hug from the GRADUATE !

Graduation Day May 29th was a moving ceremony outdoors, with all the soldiers marching in, separated into Companies. About 900 graduated that day. The most moving part was when all the soldiers recited the Army Soldier's Creed at full voice. Here are the words and video:

THE SOLDIER'S CREED

I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained
and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies
of the United States of American in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.

It makes a feeling of pride well up inside you for our soldiers and our country, and prayers come to the top of your heart for their safety, protection and integrity.

We were able to leave the base on Graduation day and see a little bit of Columbia, SC., eat "civilian" food, and shop for some things Paul needed. We even got to meet a friend's daughter (who lives in Columbia) for lunch.

Saturday, the 30th, he moved to his new barracks and received an "overnight" pass and was able to come stay with us in the hotel. Imagine being in a "bubble" for 9 weeks and finally getting back your cell phone, laptop, seeing a movie, eating out, etc... it was fun and exhausting. We were thankful for the time together. Harris and Paul flexed their muscles for the camera... can you tell who has the "real" muscle?

Paul is now in training for the work he'll be doing with computers. That will last about 8 weeks and then he is hoping to come home and work at the recruiter's office for 2 weeks before going to his "Duty Station". He should find out in the next few weeks where he'll be stationed.

If you want to drop him a note, his new address is in the sidebar at the upper right corner of this page... it should be good until the end of July. Thank you for your continued prayers for him! We appreciate it so much!

Cyndi & Harris

What is Victory Forge?

2009-05-22T05:36:00.000-07:00

Just found this info on the Army website about what Paul and the other soldiers have been going through this week at Victory Forge as they meet their final requirements before passing from a "soldier in training" to being a Soldier in the United States Army. (No, that's not Paul in the picture, although the haircut looks familiar!) It seems unique that this group would be accomplishing this on Memorial Day Weekend. May we give thanks for all who have gone before, and all who will come after.

Cyndi

Victory Forge is a 7-day field training exercise combining all previously taught basic combat training skills. It is the culmination of basic training.
Soldiers are continuously challenged on all the skills learned throughout the nine-week training cycle. Here is a general description each day during Victory Forge.

Day 1 - Pre-Combat Inspections (PCI), prepare and produce an operations order (OPORD)

Day 2 - 10-Kilometer foot march, quartering party procedures, occupy a position and establish a defensive perimeter, conduct tactical feeding, introduction to night operations and rest plans

Day 3 - Conduct "Stand-To", undergo Nuclear, Biological and Chemical training, issue a squad-level OPORD, defensive operations, conduct troop-leading-procedures, go through the Teamwork Reaction Course, conduct squad-sized tactical exercises and a night tactical exercise

Day 4 - Same as Day 3

Day 5 - Same as Day 4

Day 6 - Recover from the defense, conduct PCI/stretch, issue squad and platoon-level OPORD, move to and conduct the Night Infiltration Course, execute the
Live Fire Night Infiltration

Day 7 - Conduct PCI and ensure personnel and equipment accountability, 15-Kilometer foot march, participate in an After Action Review, and after-operations maintenance which culminates with the Rites of Passage Ceremony symbolizing the transition from Soldier-in-Training to Soldier in the United States Army.

Final Week

2009-05-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

This is Victory Forge week... 7 days of field exercises. One detail I didn't need to know was that at night they do "Nick at Night", which is their Drill Sergeants firing live amo about 30' above them while they crawl on the ground. With all their training, I still can't imagine "my" son going into real combat, much less many of our soldiers facing real danger every day. It has really brought home to me the immense blessings we enjoy in this country, and the danger many face each day on our behalf. I know it's deepened my prayers and desire to do what I can to bring "peace on earth, good will toward all".
Boot Camp, for all it's hardship, has seemed to be a good experience for Paul. He'll have 8 weeks of training on computers before he assumes his responsibilities as Private First Class Paul Wheeler, Human Resource Information Technology Systems Management Specialist (I'd like to see them fit that on a name badge!!).
We're looking forward to seeing him at graduation, and hopefully a few days afterwards.... can't get any info out of the Army as to how much time he can spend with us... guess we'll just wait for our "orders" when we get there! :)
Next posting should have pictures of a leaner, buffer, tanner Paul! Thanks for your thoughts, prayers and letters. They have been such an encouragement to him the last 8 weeks!

The Phone Keeps Ringing

2009-05-12T07:12:00.000-07:00

Well, this has been a great 3 days... we've heard from Paul 5 times! Amazing! With each conversation being only 10 minutes, we can't cover a lot of new subjects, but I thought I'd tell you the latest...
He had a few minutes yesterday to call and fill us in on their most recent physical fitness test. To pass they have to do 40 push ups, 50 sit ups and run 2 miles in less than 16 1/2 minutes. He was able to do 56 push ups, 57 sit ups and ran the 2 miles in 15 1/2 minutes! Our conversation kept getting interrupted because every time a drill sergeant passes by they have to stand at attention with their hands behind their back (hard to keep talking on the phone!) and stay quiet until the DS says, "Carry on", or something like that.
Time seems to be flying by now and soon we'll head to S.C. for graduation... I'm looking forward to having some new pictures to post. Have a blessed day and thanks for checking in.

Mother's Day

2009-05-10T18:20:00.000-07:00

We heard from Paul 3 times today!! Guess the Drill Sergeant must have been talking on the phone to his own mom and lightened up on the soldiers for a day... in fact, he told them he didn't want to see their faces until 7 a.m.!!! That is unheard of, because usually they rise and shine at 4 a.m.!!! I guess drill sergeants get tired too!
Paul sounded great and counting the days until graduation (19 more!). They did a 3-day campout last week and operated out of a FOB (fixed operational base?) while doing all types of military scenarios. One of the funny stories he told us was one about marching down the road. Paul was near the back of the line and saw the drill sergeant drop something. Just as he was wondering what he dropped, BOOM! I guess they all wanted to have the right response, but weren't sure what to do, so they turned and asked the drill sergeant, "What should we do?". He screamed, THAT WAS A GRENADE!!! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU DO??? RUN! (so much to learn!)
This week is more practice with firing, climbing, and crawling on your stomach under enemy fire, and then they'll do a 7-day campout the last week of Boot Camp, and then graduation! Hard to believe 9 1/2 weeks are almost up.
We're looking forward to seeing the new "buff" Paul... he said he's lost about 15 pounds, but gained lots of muscle and strength. He'll do his training in computers at the same base, but will be moving to another barracks on the base for that, so remember to stop sending letters after the 15th until we get a new address for him.
Aaron and Masayo called this afternoon.... seems Paul called and woke them up this morning. I think it took Aaron a moment to realize who was calling! "Paul who??" Aaron said they were finally getting some nice "bike riding" weather in San Fran. and trying to decide what to do for the day. My neice (Aaron's cousin) Jennifer and her boyfriend are out in San Fran. and hopefully the 4 of them will get together this week for fun, food and sight seeing. They get the prize for being the first family member to visit! One funny thing... when A & M called, my caller-i.d. said "Wheeler, Aaron", so I answered the phone saying, "Hey, hey, hey, boo boo" (like the cartoon Yogi Bear... if you're as old as me, you'll know what I'm talking about). Anyway, this sweet voice on the other end of the phone says, "How did you know your boo boo was calling?" Turns out they were using Masayo's cell phone, (but the caller id says "Aaron Wheeler")... and it was Masayo on the other end.
It was great hearing from my boys and sweet daughter-in-law. I'm truly blessed!!
P.S. Harris gets special kudos (sp??) for letting me sleep in a little later this morning, cleaning up the dishes after brunch (he cooked the bacon!), letting me and my mom watch a "chick flick" and baking up a "mean" pizza for me for supper!! What more could a girl want??

Campouts & Tanks

2009-05-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

Sunday Paul was able to call twice, for 10 minutes each time. It was great to hear his voice and he sounded like he was doing well and counting the days until graduation! They are in their third phase of Boot Camp and going on a 3-day campout this week to practice maneuvers from a FOB (forward operating base....guess I'm going to have to learn all the acronyms!). I know this is much more serious than Camp Cosby days or Boy Scout campouts, but being outdoors is right up his alley and if you have to learn army maneuvers, it might as well be outside for him! The only complaint he has is that his knees are still bothering him, but he was going to try and go to the doc again and see if they could either determine the source of his problems or give him something to ease the pain. He's determined to push through this as graduation is in sight now! We're proud of his attitude. Last week was every guy's dream... shoot a rocket launcher and destroy old tanks! I remember years ago that a Army recruiter called to talk to our older son, Aaron, but since he wasn't home, he talked with Paul. Paul had to be about 12 or 13, but the recruiter talked to him like he was a MAN and asked him if he'd ever considered the Army. Paul said, "No, but I always wanted to drive a tank!" Well, maybe his dream will come true one day, although I hope its on the showroom floor and not the battle field!!
PLEASE NOTE: Paul will be gettting a new address when he finishes Boot Camp at the end of May, so please stop using this current address by May 15th so that he'll be sure and receive the cards and letters you send. I'll post his new address in the sidebar once we know it. Thanks again for being such a wonderful encouragement to him.

My birthday celebration.

2009-05-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

Well Friday was my 39th birthday....AGAIN....and it was a wonderful celebration. I got to talk with Aaron and Masayo... they are both back in San Fran. and sounded great. I'm really hoping that we'll be able to set plans to go visit them this summer! They are just too close to miss that opportunity! They've purchased a motorcycle (don't get me started!!), and are looking forward to being able to get around more often and see some of the many sites in their area. It was great to hear their voices and chat for a few minutes.
My mom started off the day by taking me and a friend to lunch at Bonefish, one of my favorites. Then Harris and I celebrated my birthday that afternoon by each using a gift certificate at a local SPA. I wish massages weren't so expensive, because they sure feel wonderful. Once I was totally relaxed, he took me to dinner at this restaurant that has a wonderful deck under a huge oak tree that must be 50 - 75 years old... the weather was great and the food delicious. Then we decided to go see a movie... I wanted to see The Soloist (too sentimental for him, even if it was MY birthday) and he wanted to see Wolverine (to much violence for me) , so we compromised and saw State of Play which was really good. Nice to end the day with everyone happy!!

Battle Rattle

2009-05-02T06:42:00.000-07:00

It had been three weeks since we'd been able to talk by phone to Paul, but he was able to call last Sunday. Evidently they have 3 phones the soldiers can use and they have to stand in line (for over an hour) for their turn, which can be no longer than 10 minutes. Paul stood in line 3 times so we got to talk to him for 3 ten-minute sessions! It was great to hear his voice. You could hear the confidence in his voice, and for the most part he is enjoying Boot Camp, if that is possible! The part that drives him crazy is the "hurry up and wait", like when they wake them at 4 a.m. and give them an hour to get ready for breakfast, then they have to stand at attention for 45 minutes before being allowed to go in for breakfast! This current phase has been about shooting guns... not my favorite activity, but I'm sure appeals to most guys!. His best record is hitting 35 out of 40 attempts, which gave him the second-highest rank of "sharpshooter". If he gets 36/40 he'll get the highest rank...that's his goal. The memorable story in his letter this week was normally they have 3 guys on "firewatch" which I think entails 3 guys keeping watch during the night hours. One guy fell asleep on his watch, so the consequence was that 20 guys had to do the next firewatch in full Battle Rattle = wearing IBA (bullet proof vest), LBV (Green vest with canteens), Kevlar helmet and Ruck Sack (Backpack)...all together this weighs about 40 - 50 pounds! Hopefully that won't happen again! He's now past the half-way mark of boot camp and we're counting down to graduation...Thank you again for your encouragement for him and the prayers and letters you've sent his way!

Lock it up or lose it

2009-04-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

We've gotten 3 letters this week from Paul which sound like they've been written over a week's time period. This past week they have been learning how to "zero" their guns to their own sight and shoot accurately... on the shooting range Paul said he got 29/30, 28/30, and 36/40 right. If he gets a perfect 40/40 then he'll get an overnight pass for Graduation night! We're hoping and praying for that! I had to laugh at one incident that he wrote about. He said that this past weekend their drill sergeant woke them up at 2:40 a.m. and tossed any locker that was unlocked! Fortunately he didn't lose any of his stuff! But, it made me think that I should have employed similar tactics when I tried to get him to clean his room!!
They have finished the first 3-week phase of Basic (learning the 7 Army values & working out), and are well into their second phase (shooting and tactical movements) of training. In fact, this is week 5 of 9 1/2 weeks of Basic, so we're at the half-way mark! Week 6-9 they will work on their own and have to do a 7-day camp out where they run situations of real missions. Graduation will be the end of May, so we're looking forward to that milestone!
Thank you all for prayers for him and writing him...once he even said the letters help him forget about the knee pain he has! He greatly appreciates all the letters and even wrote Aaron that he got the most mail the first time they distributed it! One funny incident (at least to us) was that some of the drill sergeants make them do push-ups for mail depending on the postage on the package. The Sunday he received the package with his Bible that he'd requested, his package had the most postage out of 240 people, so he had to do 100 pushups to get the box! At least he was "suffering" for a good cause!
Thanks for checking in!

Aaron at the Beach

2009-04-19T11:41:00.000-07:00

We had a nice treat this past weekend... Aaron was down in Florida visiting some friends and we decided to go down and get a hug and spend some time together. He is doing great, loving his job with Yahoo, but glad to get away to visit with friends and unwind. He and Masayo have enjoyed learning their way around San Francisco...whether by mass-transit, bicycle, or foot. On the side Aaron has been refurbishing eclectic bicycles...evidently they are in demand in SF and he's enjoying learning how to do all that stuff...sorry, I don't know the technical words!
The weather was cool in Florida and very windy... sand was blowing across the highway like snow!!! That x-ed out bike riding or reading on the beach....so we headed for Point Clear to see the Grand Hotel... gorgeous grounds (Harris and Aaron are posing by the lagoon)! Had a little lunch, then headed for Fairhope to wander the streets and drop into any art gallery that we could find. It was fun and relaxing, and after dinner at Tacky Jack's, and a group hug, we returned him to his friends. Harris got in a round of golf the next day...then over to where Aaron was staying to get another hug and meet all the friends, and then drove back to B'ham. Masayo is over in Japan visiting her family and friends, so we were sorry to miss her, but glad we got to see our "first born"! It was a fun get-away!

Protected

2009-04-14T05:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Another letter from Paul yesterday... he's counting the days until graduation in late May ....48 as of his writing! He sounded good and is doing everything to cross that "finish line" and graduate with his unit.
He said they were issued their bulletproof vests last week and now have to wear them all the time. That wouldn't be so bad if they didn't weigh about 25 pounds because of all the kevlar (sp?) and ceramic in them....but this is training, right??!! He said he is much stronger now than when he left a month ago, and I'm thankful that they issue them to all the soldiers ... just in case. Protection... just in case.
But you, friends, provide the best protection with your prayers! James 5:16 is one of my favorite verses: "The prayer of a righteous man (woman) is powerful and effective." So keep praying, not only for Paul, but for all our soldiers, and policemen, and firemen, and all those who put their lives on the line daily to protect the freedom, comfort and protection we all enjoy.
Have a blessed day, and be a blessing to someone who crosses your path today! Love, Cyndi

How do you clear your sinuses?

2009-04-09T18:52:00.001-07:00

Well, we got another letter from Paul today.... seems he's been suffering from clogged sinuses and hurting legs. The medicine the clinic was giving him for his nose was not too effective, so he's toughing it out. However, they did have one training experience that seemed to help.... they had to go into a gas chamber, remove their gas masks, say their name, rank and serial number, and breathe in, etc....by the time they exited the gas chamber, and quit coughing!!!...........his sinuses were clear!!

He sounded good and said he REALLY appreciates all the cards and letters he's received. They really boost his spirits and I know he looks forward to what might be in the mailbox each day. Thank you for taking time to write to him.

Well, he's almost got 3 weeks under his belt... only 6 1/2 to go. Graduation is May 29th and we'll be driving over for that.... I think he'll get a few days off, but probably won't be able to stray far from base, as his training will start the next week.

We're looking forward to seeing Aaron down at Gulf Shores, AL, next week. Some friends of his (who are from Alabama but currently live in England) are home for vacation and spending some time at the beach. Since Masayo is traveling soon to Japan to see her friends and family, Aaron decided to come see his friends at the beach. Harris and I will drive down for a day or two and hopefully get to spend some time with Aaron and catch up on all he's been up to. It is so nice having him and Masayo in the States again.... just being in similar time-zones is a welcome change!

They are loving California and Aaron loves his job with Yahoo! We hope to get out and visit them this summer.

Thanks for reading this post and for your prayers and concern and encouragement for my boys and their loved ones!!

Have a blessed Easter! Love, Cyndi

No Mail Yet

2009-04-01T12:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Well, we got a nice long letter from Paul yesterday. Seems his Drill Sergeant has not seen fit to give any of them their mail yet, so he has not been able to read anything he's received so far... the flip side is he'll be really happy to have a nice stack of mail to read when they let him!! He caught a cold, but is weathering it. Pray for his knees as they are aching with all the exercise, running and carrying around their packs, gear, etc. He's had bad knees since "band marching days". Fortunately, once boot camp is over, his job will not require a lot of running or carrying heavy gear while marching!!

My mom and I just got back from a visit with her sister in Memphis... it was a beautiful drive and fun time with family and cousins.

Hope you have all weathered April Fool's Day without someone tricking you!!

Have a blessed day... Cyndi

Cherry Blossoms

2009-03-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

The flowers and flowering trees are all in bloom... just had to post one of the pictures I took this week as I walked! Last night we had a huge rainstorm that knocked all the pollen out of the air... we've all been coughing and it looks like everyone drives a yellow car! So glad for the rain!

Have a blessed day! Cyndi

Pushing Past Limits

2009-03-26T05:24:00.000-07:00

In searching around on the internet today, I found this page that tells more about Basic Training, which is what Paul will be in for 8 more weeks... it answered some of the questions I had. If you are wondering what they do, check out http://www.militarymoms.net/basicformoms.html

We got our first letter from him and he sounded good. He said the first week was "hard, but he was sticking with everything and looking forward to the coming weeks of Basic." He also said "I have been pushing myself past limits that I thought I had.".... good advice for all of us! We are proud of him and know this will be a good experience for him.

Thank you for your prayers for him... I know they are giving him strength.

My Favorite Pictures of Paul, Aaron & Masayo

2009-03-22T13:39:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite picture of Paul, which hangs in our hallway... note the new sign under his picture, which is from our friends, The Frys...it says it all!

The picture was taken by our friend, Amanda Traywick, at Precious Memories here in Birmingham. I think he looks very cool, calm and collected!

Aaron and Masayo are very photogenic and are always taking pictures...this is one of my favorites of them taken almost 2 years ago at their wedding in Japan! They are living in San Francisco, CA, where Aaron is working for the "search" division of Yahoo, and Masayo is writing for local Japanese publications and teaching English to Japanese students. We hope to visit them this summer some time.

He's In The Army Now

2009-03-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

Well, he’s in the army now! Paul joined the Army and left 3/16/09 for Montgomery, AL, for processing. March 17th they bussed those going to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to the base there.

We’ve had 3 short messages from Paul on our answering machine, and Harris and I finally got to talk to him for about 5 minutes today. They have been “processing” since they arrived in SC and Boot Camp officially starts Monday, March 23rd!

He will only be able to receive and write “snail mail” for 9 1/2 weeks. It will be up to his drill sergeant whether or not he gets to call during that time. He’ll graduate late May and start his training at the same base to be a Human Resources information Technology Systems Management Specialist. In other words, he’ll be working on computers.

If you’d like to write to Paul, here’s his address:
Paul Wheeler
2nd Platoon
E Company, 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment
Fort Jackson, SC 29207

Thank you for your love, prayers and concern for him. We’ll keep you posted!

Cyndi

Fort Jackson is just about 6 1/2 hours due east of Birmingham... right outside Columbia, SC.