60 (ish)

Well, here we are.  125 days down, 60 days to go.

I'm sure I've been here 125.  I'm not sure I have 60 days left.  For those who have deployed before, this needs no explanation, especially for Randy S.  For those of you who have not deployed, I'll do my best to explain this precise, clear, seamless process.

1. Take the "Proceed" date from your orders.
2. Add the number of days of your tour length.
3. Add 3 days for overlap to train your replacement.
4. Add 10 days to allow for travel contingencies.


The resulting calender day from this equation is the day you MUST BE GONE by.  Of course, my replacement is scheduled to arrive 1 day prior to my MUST BE GONE date.  Which means there is no way I'm getting out of here on time, with the required training period and travel times.  However, my friendly local readiness officers have officially petitioned for a change in my replacement's arrival date.  I'm actually optimistic (Randy S. is shaking his head at my optimism, I'm sure) that his arrival date will be moved up and I will get back home at the originally appointed time.  Fortunately, I'm pretty sure that whatever day I return home is the date that God originally appointed, so I can't really argue too much with that.

The days have been passing steadily.  My clinical practice has slowed a bit, but I've managed to do about 40 cases so far.  I've been able to busy myself with other projects here including our mobile surgical team stuff.  Oh, and Mustache March.

As most deployers know, there is some strange appeal to growing a mustache- something most men, and almost all women (except perhaps my mother) agree is a very odd fashion statement.  But, still, we deployed men feel a calling, a destiny, a magnetism, as the moon tugging gently at the oceans, toward dawning this facial hair.  Our Med Group has even managed to somehow make it a fundraising event for the Wounded Warriors project.  Each participating mustache grower receives votes which each cost a nickel.  There are three categories: Biggest mustache, Most disturbing mustache, and most "Wannabe" mustache.  (I think the last category is for the 19 yr-olds here who still haven't had their testosterone surge yet...).

This is the flyer I sent out to make sure everyone understood the regulations for proper Mustache Wear.

In case you can't remember what I look like without a mustache, here I am with the help of a couple jet engines.

I'll post mustache updates at scheduled intervals.  I know you're on the edge of your seats.

I know it's been several weeks since I've blogged.  I've missed a lot more than you've missed.  Over the last few weeks:

1. A. broke her arm, and will probably lose her first tooth anytime now.

2. S. officially changed his name to Batman.  He also got his first (cap)gun. (Thanks Cory for introducing firearms to my family).

3. little E. has gotten somehow even cuter, with long hair, and has learned to say her "K" sounds.

4. big E. has managed to make me even more proud of her, and fall even more in love with her from 8,000 miles away.

I'm so ready to get home.  Counting the days- however many there are.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

Jp

Psalm 51

"Create in me a pure heart, O God,
  and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence
  or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation
  and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."


Psalm 51:10-12

Updated List

Well, the holidays are over here, and it's back to the regular routine.  As I was warned by others who have deployed before me, the middle of the deployment has a tendency to creep along quite slowly.  There is wisdom in that assessment.  I've gotten over the jet lag and the newness of being here.  I'm well acquainted with my responsibilities at work, and the monotony is starting to drag on me.

In my first blog post, which I wrote a few days prior to deploying, I listed 17 things I expected to miss.  I was talking with a friend here about how a lot of my assessments were wrong.  I wanted to take a look myself and see how accurate my predictions were.

1. My Wife, my kids:   Absolutely, without a doubt, the hardest part about being here is that they are not.  Skype, texting, pictures, video, FaceTime all help immensely, but there is no substitute for the love and affection of my family.

2. My church (www.crossbridgecommunitychurch.com).  I definitely miss worshipping alongside my brothers and sisters in Christ at Crossbridge.  I'm able to watch the sermon videos a few days after they are delivered via their website.  The Chapel here is not bad, but I still miss my pastor and my home church.  If you go there, you know why!

3. Indian food, Mexican food, Italian food, my mom's chicken fried steak, my wife's Italian cream cake (okay, GOOD FOOD!).  The Indian food here is actually quite good, though only every other Saturday.  The Mexican food is wretched.  There is no chicken fried steak.  I actually had a really good piece of Italian cream cake on a trip to B@ghdad (though I wouldn't recommend going that far for a piece).  Overall the food is quite good for a deployed location.  I miss me some FreeBirds and Chipotle burritos, and TACOS like these:

E  sent me a clipping from the Express News of marvelous South Texas TexMex.  Can't Wait!!!!

4. Bird-watching with my kids.  MISS IT, especially sharing it with my 3 kids.  I have only seen 4 different species of birds here.  I've counted about 30 in my backyard.

5. My backyard.  Vegetation in general!!!!!  There is no grass anywhere!  There are a few bougainvilleas near the DFAC, but that's about it.  I was excited to see this large grassy area:

The only grass I've seen around here.  The natural scenery surrounds it.

6. The support and encouragement of my Life Group at church.  They've been extremely supportive of my family in my absence.  They've helped E with house work, put up Christmas lights, invited my family to dinner, and have covered us with prayer.  I'm so thankful for them.

7. My Taylor acoustic guitar (Cory- I hope you enjoy it!) The one I brought will suffice.  Actually, the one I brought isn't bad.  A little rough on the fingers, but it has a good sound (at least when i play it [Ha, JCB!]).  Have definitely enjoyed bringing this along.  It allows me to pass the time, and allows me to worship the Lord through music in my dorm room (seen in the picture below).  The walls are concrete, so I don't disturb the neighbors.  Concrete does make it challenging to put thumbtacks in the walls, however.

Me and Oscar.

8. Long, hot showers (3-minute combat showers are not going to be the same).  WRONG!  The showers in my dorm room are hot, high pressure, and I haven't taken a 3-minute shower yet.  In fact, I think the only reason I go running is so I have an excuse to take an extra shower.

9. Toilets that flush.  Normal toilets.  Not sure what I was thinking.

10. H-E-B.  Definitely miss the options of the grocery store, but mostly just miss that H-E-B is close to my family.

11. Starbuck's.  I've been shipped incredible coffee (I'm running low now, so if you're looking to send some... shameless, I know!).  Plus I brought a French press (thanks Jordan), and have a percolator.  I am the coffee king.  Which also makes me the insomnia king, but that's for another entry.

12. Operating in my own ORs.  Actually these ORs are fine.  And there is so much less red tape and bureaucracy around here, so it's a pleasure.

13. My son's coy smile when I answer his "Dad, are you going to work today?" with "Nope."  MISS IT.

14. My oldest daughter's suffocating hugs.  MISS IT.

15. My youngest daughter's "I MISSED YOU" yell when I get home.  MISS IT.

16. Muffin night.  MISS IT.

17. Fresh produce.  The produce here is actually pretty good.  Can't complain too much.

With all the above, I must make it clear how thankful I am to be here.  I am safe, I am warm at night, and I work with great people.  Most notably, this time here in the desert continues to allow me to grow closer to God.  It's given me time to memorize scripture, to read the Bible, to pray, to meditate on God's Word, and to seek His will for my life.  I wouldn't have chosen this, but I'm glad he has brought me here.

"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in."  Proverbs 6:11-12