New Base New Adventure

Well here I am at the new base. It is very diffrent. I was so far out in the middle of no were That evan the insurgents felt sorry for us. Now the city of Kirkuk is right outside one of the borders of the base. I can see the city clearly. I get radio sations from there. I dont understand a single word the say but I get the stations. I really like this base alot better. I had a great experance today. The guys I work with found out I was Mormon. At first they seemed to be shook up. But today at work one of the guys asked me to ansure a list of questions his wife had for me. Everyone stopped what they were doing to listen. This was a welcome change of conversation from hookers, alcohol, and cheating wifes and husbands. They evan seemed to stop swearing for the conversation. We ran out of time before he ran out of questions and they plan to team up on me again tomorrow. The best Part of my trip so far was when the said there was something diffrent about me. I explained I need to be a symble for our church and while I make mistakes I try my best. This is turning out to be a great adventure after all. It is funny that I was not nervus at all, evan when everyone stopped and gathered around to hear my ansures. The Spirit was with me and I knew it.
Dina make sure Phillip does not get ahold of any of our accounts. He seems to be ordering computers and big screen TV's. Elaina needs all our spare money to buy dirt bikes, and quads. She may need other stuff like computers and big screen TV's. Mr. Quiggles has needs to and we dont want Phillip to suck up the cash.
I come next month. I cant wait. It will only be 10 days. But I will be at home. I am really gald I came here but I reallly miss being home. Holly has not posted in a while I hope all is well. The kids will be so sorry when I get home. No more Mr. Nice guy. It will be all rules. And by the book. I just havent written the book yet. I will post again soon
Love Jimmy

A Great Day In JJB's G A

Well today was a day God made his presents felt. I got a promotion that was a 1 in a 1000000 shot. I have to be here 90 days before I am evan elageable for promotion. I applied to a diffrent base at 85 days. I got the promotion 5 days ago I wish they had told me. Management kept asking me when I was leaving. I told them I did not know I was. I will be going to Kirkuk. ( I am not sure i spelled that right ) We have a sayng were I work. ( they call were I work the Cove ) "What goes to the Cove stays in the cove" Everyone says you have to be here a year at least to get out. I prayed for this promotion and God gave it to me. The new base should be a little more lively. And it is significently more money. I am really excited about this. This will open up a hole new chapter in JJB's GA. And hopefully a little more interesting one. I am truly thankful for this oppertunity.
My mommy did such a great job when she posted. I was very touched. It was not what I had in mind for me either but this is were I belong. When I met My wounderful wife I told her " I am NOT moving to Kentucky and definetly NOT becoming Mormon" Moral of the story, If you want to make God Laugh tell him your plans.
Cindy I am just as mentaly unstable as I have ever been. I am just older and slower. It takes me longer to get to were the trouble is. By the time I get there I have time to rethink what I am doing. Ok so I chicken out. But it is not that I dont try and do the crazy stuff that everyone has grown to expect. I just lack the necessary ambition. Holly I always appericat your post. It was so nice when I got the box with all the card from the kids in it. Tell them they are in BIG trouble when I get home. I have had no one to pick on.
Phillip the Marines walk around here all day long with M249's straped to there side. There are 100's of them. But boy do they get an attude when I ask them for one. I tell them my son wants a sovenier. They just dont seem to be sold on the idea. They would not loan me an F18, or an abrams tank either. It is kind of hard to argue with a guy holding a M249. You may have to settle for dirt or dirt. Or maby some Iraqi money with Sadam on it. It is not worth the paper it is printed on.
Dina Stop picking on my puppies. I will be home in may and they will tell me all the mean things you do. Those poor babies dont like the new rules. I can't wait to get home. I really miss you and Kentucky ( evan though I will never move to Kentucky ) Being here makes me realize how blessed we are. We have so much to be thankful for. My goal is to be more appericative of what God has given us. I appericat you most of all. I hear so many sob stories here. I love you and thank God for you.
My next post should be from another base. I miss everyone so.
All my LOVE Jimmy

90 Days In JJB's GA

Well I have been gone 90 days now. What have I learned so far. Iraq is mostly dirt. Iraq has a unique odor that is not all that plesant. The flys are ruthless. And they are not evan out in full swing. Winter is freezing and it snows. It is only march and it is already starting to get HOT. I find my self all the time thinking " what was I thinking????" I am still thankful for the oppertunity to be here. I am more thankful everyday that home is the United States of America. I talk to our troops everyday and walk away think we are privliged as a nation to have such great men and women defending us. They know bombs and guns won't provide education which it the only way to achieve freedom and peace. They all say the same thing when I ask what they want to remember most. They talk about the schools they built, the play grounds they put were insurgents used to keep victims. They talk about how when the American flag shows up People Run to it. We are still the beacon of hope. People run up to our troop evan when it is a bad idea. Like when they are conducting combat operations. Imagine walking around with a loaded gun look for bad guys to kill, and having locals run up and ask them to help the sick children, or the kids wanting candy, or a hole list of other things. I am not sure what is more amazing that people would run up to our troops while they are on a combat mission or that the troops stop and help. The example they set is probably what will achieve final peace if it is to be achived. I hope Dina and I can some day return here as teachers. And that we will have the chance to teach the talants the God gave us so richly. If not here I am hoping to go somewere were we can put our talant to work. I have applied for every promotion that is at a diffrent base. I hope I can travle around to more interesting bases. But I will go were God wants me.
May is now 2 months away. I really am looking forward to going home for 10 days. My puppies need attention. Dina picks on them all the time. They have rules and eat dog food. The poor babies I think they are losing weight. My grand babies need someone to pick one them. I am scared of Steph so I will duck and cover were she is concerned. Phillip and Anna have to be straghtned out to. They have problems. I love and miss everyone so espacially My wounderful wife Dina (AKA Chickenlittle)

All my love Jim

Valintine's Day in JJB'sGA

The bridge builder is one of my favorite poems. And my favorite wife sending it to me makes it evan better. I really appericate the meaning behind it. There are many people with many diffrent reasons some good some bad for what we are doing here, But we are here and in the end I hope we build a bridge to freedom for some poeple who have never had it. This area of the world is in despret need of peace and understanding. Its not the only place but it is a start. Well I learned somthing new this week. I got the Iraqi krud. Its like a cold on steroids. It takes the fun out of being here. (fun?????????) It is good to see my puppies having a great time. Dusty loves the snow. Mr.Quiggles would prefer a steak. I hear he has been forced to eat dog food. How Rude. I am shocked to find out he new what it is. Valintines day here was about as fun as you think it would be. It was dirt dirt and more dirt. They baked a big heart shaped cake, that was fun to eat with a bunch of guys. I get to go home May 8 for 10 days. I am looking forward to it. Hey Phil I may be old and moldy but................... You know i just ran out of a thought. I was going to slam you but the brain just went on break.
Marlyn sure sounds like you are moving around. Vegas, Texas, Mom, Cindy. Dad has not emailed me in a long time. Send him my love. Does he know how to get on the blog? I dont have a current email adress for him. the ones I have come back. My mail adress is on the top of the blog. that is were I have to look every time I need. Dina is so smart she knew I did not know were I live.
I still feel like a truck ran me over I will post again soon.
I want to Thank everyone especially My lovely wife for all the comments and the encouragement I get. It means more to me than I can say. I take time everyday to read the scriptures. I have gained a hole new apperication for my many blessings I have been given. Cindy one thing I want to point out. I have been involved in many projects through the church, katrina, project warm as well as many individual familys. We have never ask nor do we care what church the people belong to. We step to the plate and help Beacuse it is the right thing to do. It says it the scriptures When You are in the service or Your fellow man You are in only in the service of the Lord. That is not an exact quote but it is very close. The President of our church that just died said "Our lives are the symble of our church" I hope to be the correct symble. Presidently Hinkley was a fantastic example and a great symble. Our next leader will be as well.
All my Love
Jimmy
P.S. Mr. Quiggles looks awfuly skinny. Maby you should take him to OUTBACK

Happy Valentines Day!!!

What a wonderful day, full of fun and suprises.

It has been a little on the cold side these days but it never stops the puppies from fun. They are quite excited about the snow. On with the chase!!!! We have stinky girl just being cute and then Quigley being a typical boy.

The Bridge Builder

To My Jimmie:

An old man, going a lone highway, Came at the evening, cold and gray, To a chasm, vast and deep and wide, Through which was flowing a sullen tide. The old man crossed in the twilight dim; The sullen stream had no fears for him; But he turned when safe on the other side And built a bridge to span the tide. “Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near, “You are wasting strength with building here; Your journey will end with the ending day; You never again must pass this way; You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide— Why build you the bridge at the eventide?” The builder lifted his old gray head: “Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said, “There followeth after me today A youth whose feet must pass this way. This chasm that has been naught to me To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be. He, too, must cross in the twilight dim; Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.”1by: Will Allen Dromgole

I know this is your favorite and it was part of the messege last month and I found great strength agian from our leaders of our Church. President Monson went on to say that Jesus our Savior, because of the atonement completed the final bridge of our trilogy: the bridge of obedience, the bridge of service, the bridge of prayer.

Oh but wait there is ore, as I continue to read because I can not sleep. As I think of the sacrafice my Jimmie is making another messege is delivered to me by another great leader of our Church, President Packer said. "that he witnessed first hand the protecting power of obedience in the lives of missionaries (which by the way is all of us)He taught that obedience is the precondition attached to this preotecting power. (the holy ghost) He dontinues tosay if we follow the simple rules of the gospel, the commandments, and really listen, always listen the holy ghost will be with us, guide us, protect us, always warn us. We must pray always and listen always. It is obedience!!! This patternis the pattern of teh Latter-day Saint. You wer confiremed a member to the Church, and you had conferred upon you the gift of the Holy Ghost to be a guide and a companion to you. Among the merciful blessings given by God to his Latter-day Saints is the commandment to pay heed to His Living prophets. "I Beleive, "said President Gordon B Hinkley, "that if we will walk in obedience to the commandments of god....he will open a way even where there appears to be no way." from Wm Oswald Jan 08 Ensign.

Jimmie these were both great messeges for me and you have often shared them with me over the years. It was a real blessing for me to read them and have the ring of what you have taught me.

We are being obedient and we are being blessed for this. Thank you for being you and loving me the way you do. I love and miss you deeply. Your Wife

Someone's Birthday

It seems like it is someones birthday. But I can't remember whos. Jerami no, Elaina no (But I should buy her stuff anyway) Steph no, (if i forgot hers i would be bleeding) AAron HUMMMM He may need a CBR 1000rr. Darious no. oh well it will come to me later. All is the same here. It snowed again yesterday. We have been boored during the day. there is no work. I can't wait (It's not My lovely wifes birthday?????????) till summer gets here. We should be alot busier. the days (is it mr quiggles no??????) seem to drag on. I have sent a hole bunch of pictures home. They should (maby Miss Dusty?????no)be getting there in about 7 days or so. There is a thumb dirve a cd and a dvd as well as a camera full. If anyone wants (the kittys were born in spring.?????) a copy I will happily voulinteer my wife to make copies. I know I need to shop for someone. But I can't rember who. In thirty days I will hit my 90 day mark. Than I can start applying for other jobs in the theater. The one I have now is just to booring. I hope I can find something a little more lively than Camp Cup Cake. I am thankful I have this oppertunity, I dont mean to sound ungratefull. But evan the soldiers I talk to are getting boored. I think the insurgents feel sorry for us. They laugh at those poor losers out in the middle of no were. Hey Aubrion if you can help me remember whos birthday it is please do so. I need to shop for someone you need to help me remember who. Anyway I am off to go install some sataliet tv's.
All my Love jim-