It has been a while

Hello Everyone,

It has been a while since I have posted to his blog and I just wanted to let you all know that Jess did not end up going to Afghanistan. Thank the lord for that! However, he did recieve orders to Korea for a year. There are negatives and positives about this assignment but it a heck of a lot better than Afghanistan. He will leave sometime at the end of September or beginning of October.

We have been trying to spend a lot of time together as a family this summer. We have done many sightseeing adventures in the DC metro area, we went to Virginia Beach for the 4th of July weekend, we just got back from California, and we will be celebrating our anniverssary early at the Gaylord before Jess leaves.

Another blessing is that Jess was promoted effective August 1st. We had a great celebration party for him before we left for California. Several friends and coworkers came to celebrate as well as Jess mom. She was so happy to be part of the festivities and we enjoyed her company.

Well I will go for now, enjoy the new pics!

Shawni

Just An Update.....

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to give you all an update. Jess finally got word about his trainings and it looks like he should be home for most of June! He has one training in June and he will come home then head out again and probablly not come back until his deployment is over. He will be at Keesler AFB for his first training, then Ft. Bliss Texas for his second training which is about a month long. If we are lucky he will be able to come home for a day or two before he heads out but I don't want to get my hopes up.

I just wish that everything could just START already, I want it to start so it can get OVER with!!! I hate sitting here just waiting to hear when, what, where, etc.. I want it to be over so he can be home.

We had our family pictures done last weekend. They turned out really nice and Jess' mom is here so she was able to be part of them too. Now I am gonna make Jess a small book to take with him to look at when he misses us all. I already have a pic of him at my desk, I find myself starring at it already and he hasn't even left yet. Boy I am gonna miss him.

Well that is it for now, enjoy the pics and I will update you again when I have more info....

Shawni

All Wired Up...

Hello Everyone,

Jess is now all hooked up electronically. When he gets home from working the Air Show at Andrews, he will be suprised with a new laptop and flipvideo and all the hook ups. I have taken the liberty to install Skype and all the other programs he will use, like iTunes. Hopfully he will be able to use his laptop in addition to what they already have in place there. Let's just hope and pray for this!!!

If you do not already have a Skype account, you can create one and then look for him under Jess McGraw. I can't wait to see his face this evening when he sees this...

Shawni

Care Packages

Hello Everyone,

So people are already starting to ask if he needs anything. Well at the moment he's good, I'll make sure he has the things he needs (and can fit in his bags). If you would like to get some things together to send a care package, please see the list below. As soon as I have an address and/or instruction of where you can send things, I'll make sure to post it here.

Gingersnaps
Sunflower Seeds (it's his bad habit)
Powdered Coffee creamer (packets preferrable)
Movies ( not sure how to do this one, he will have his PSP but hopefully he'll have a laptop)
Batteries AA
Gum
Beef Jerky
Pictures
Sunscreen
Sweet Tarts
Sprees
Gatorade (packets to mix with water)

If there is anything else he would like, I'll let you know.
Thanks in advance for everything.
Shawni

Orders

Hello Everyone,
I am creating this blog so that we can keep in touch with my husband, Jess, while he is deployed to Afghanistan. I will post updates as I get them and I am sure Jess will visit this site too so that he can keep in touch with everyone. He will be gone until some time in February and we are not yet sure exactly when he is going to leave however, it will be within the next month or so.

Brett and I are going to miss Jess but we are also proud of him because he is serving his country, something that Jess does not take lightly.

Until he comes home, please visit this blog often to wish him well and to stay in touch.

Shawni and Brett