J & S Lowe: Our Story: Updates for Home and Far Away...

To start out I had this really cheesy idea to save something from each holiday that John misses while he's deployed. My main reason is so when he comes home he will have a week of holidays, and he won't feel like he missed as much. The second reason is that it still seems like he is being able to participate even if he's not here. So the first holiday he missed was Independence Day. John is my personal little pyromaniac; however I'm starting to think it's an actual gene that most guys possess. So since my pyro had to miss out on all the festivities I bought him his own fireworks, that are safely stored in a dry cool place at my dad's house. John isn't really into sparklers for the obvious reasons that they are just pretty and don't go boom. This led me to get him lots of artillery shells and a 3000 shot firework, and the best part is the sweet people that sold them to me gave me a discount and threw in some small artillery shell things for free since he was deployed. It was a cute couple that owned the firework stand we went to, and they said I'd better bring him around next year so they could thank him. Of course being emotional all the time I teared up a bit and said thank you a hundred times. The 4th was fun, but it just wasn't the same without John lighting all the fireworks. My brother-in-law was MIA as well due to work, so I had to light the fireworks because the nieces and nephews aren't quiet old enough yet. However even with John and my brother-in-law gone we still managed to cause a little excitement when a artillery tube fell over and the shell shot out toward the house and people. It only happened once!!! I made sure that the base was nice and level after that small incident. I did manage to burn my wrist while trying to light a sparkler for one of my nieces, but no major injuries. Harry Potter came out and of course I had to see it!! My sister Hannah and I bought Gryffindor hoodies to show our support for Harry. We are true fans because we wore them even though it was 103 degrees outside, if that's not true loyalty I don't know what is. I thought they did an amazing job, however the book is always better. I was bummed that John wasn't there to see it with us, but when he comes home for R&R, rest and recooperation, it should be out on DVD so he will get to see it then.

The week after the fourth I started back to school bleh. I am excited to be finished next May, but I'm also a little nervous about being a real grown up, and having to find a real job. Fall classes start in August and I'm taking an August intercession class so pretty much I've been in school since John left, and I will be in school until he gets back. I did have about a month break the middle of June to the first of July so that was nice. School keeps me distracted, but unfortunately it doesn't take up enough hours of the day so I need to find something else to fill my time with. If I don't stay busy I either bite all my nails off, which is gross I know (nervous habit), or I will text my friend Amanda incessantly whose husband is also deployed. Fortunately she understands, and she has days that she texts me incessantly. Normally the days we haven't heard from our guys are the days we are the most anxious. I stay in Norman during the week with my sister, but she goes home on Thursday nights and I'm still in Norman. It stinks having to be alone, but I try to find something to do. Norman is really not as exciting without John. He always knew where to go and what to do because he started at OU. Most days are good, but there have been some bad days. I have been a lot better about reading my scriptures and saying my prayers which has mad a HUGE difference. I can honestly say that Heavenly Father has been watching out for our family. He has comforted me when I am having rough days, and He has kept a close eye on John when he has been in tight spots. I thank Him everyday for the blessings that John and I have and the protection He has had over John.

So updates from the land far away known as Afghanistan. John is doing well, most days. The COP, which stands for combat operations post for you non military folk, has a problem getting water to bath. They have plenty of drinking water, but bathing and washing clothes is not exactly on the high priority list. If they are lucky they get to bathe once or twice a week. When I talked to John today he said that he had be able to get a liter of water and he washed his socks etc. He jokes that its very cavemanish living conditions, but that the modern accessories are phones and computer access. I sent him a micro fleece blanket which he said was one of the best things he's gotten so he doesn't have to sleep with hospital blankets. I get to talk to him normally every other day or every two days if I'm lucky. He has been really busy, and he has a lot of responsibilities being the senior medic. John did tell me about a couple of "cool" experiences he had. I say "cool" in quotation marks because they were a little bloody and he said they were "cool", most people probably would've thrown up. He has said that this deployment has really made him more determined to go to medical school because he wants to be able to more than stabilize, clean wounds, and stitch closed wounds. While those experiences have been educational and "cool" he really wants to me more learned so he can make more of a difference, as he says. I think it's great he's had some good medical experiences, that most people would pass out looking at haha, and it has given him the opportunity to show his proficiency and medical skills. Those experiences have also given him the confidence that he is capable of doing what it takes to be a doctor blood, gore and all. I am so proud of him and him serving our country!! I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful husband!! I will post pictures of John once he is able to email some. He says that Afghanistan is a really beautiful country. In one phone conversation he said, "Afghanistan is really breathtaking. I would love to bring you here, but there is the downside of a war going on and people shooting at Americans." My reply was like, "Umm yea that could be potential problem." He laughed and said that maybe someday it will all settle down and he could take me back one day. Well we will see what happens with that. I have a feeling it will be many years before Afghanistan is "settled" enough for the tourist industry.

Well that's all the updates for now!! More to come in the near future!!!