AWESOME NEWS!!!!

Dreams do come true, and God does answer prayer (often with the answer you're hoping for!)

First . . . for those who don't know . . . a bit of background. Dave's five years in the Navy was over in April. He is planning to become a Physician's Assistant in a program jointly run by Foothill College and Stanford Medical School, starting in September.

He tried to extend his enlistment to late July, but was told he had to leave the Navy in April or stay until January. He signed on until January, with the assurance from his chief that the chief would do everything he could to help Dave get out six months early (late July). On June 1, he submitted the paperwork for that request.

So now for the current news . . .

We got a wonderful call yesterday from Kelly. The apartment complex she and Dave had hoped to get into when they move here has a vacancy for them in late July. (It's only a couple miles from us - right across the street from the new Kaiser Hospital at Homestead and Lawrence.) It's a newly-remodeled apartment, and the rent is less than they'd estimated.

They were still waiting to hear whether Dave's request to get out in late July would be approved, but decided to go ahead and put down a deposit to hold the apartment.

Then this morning, Dave got the word that his request has been approved. He just called and told us his last day in the Navy is officially July 31. Kelly's last day at her job is July 10.

We are incredibly thrilled. Just peel me off the ceiling!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

He's Home!!!!!!!

Dave just called. Our hero is home!!!! Kelly was there to greet him at the homecoming festivities at Camp Lejeune, and they're now driving home by way of Taco Bell. He's tired, sore, hungry, and jet-lagged, but thrilled to be back. The 48-hour journey involved flights from Kuwait to Germany, then Iceland, then North Carolina.

We're so grateful for the Lord's watchful care and bringing Dave home safely, and bringing Dave & Kelly back together. We're excited that they'll both be here in early March for a 10-day visit.

Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes!

Phone Call & Photos

Dave was able to call us Sunday morning. What a joy to hear his voice! His last mission is over (several casualties, but none terribly serious). Now they're in transition mode, turning over operations to the next group and prepping themselves and their gear for the return trip.

For the last few weeks they've been out in the boondocks, sleeping on the ground and trying not to freeze at night. Thankfully, the weather is warming up, and they're back on the large base where they have showers, a chow hall, and cots to sleep on.

Dave sent us several pictures. The last one is the pinning ceremony acknowledging his promotion to Petty Officer 2nd Class. The vehicle is "Big Bertha" - I think that's the ambulance that Dave sometimes drives. (Clicking on any of the pictures will give you the big-screen view.)

We're so grateful for the Lord's loving care, and that Dave will be home soon. We're looking forward to lots of great hugs when he and Kelly when they come to California next month!

Counting Down

Good morning, everyone!

Kelly called last night with exciting news: we have a definite date window for Dave's homecoming and for the 3-week block of leave soon after. For security reasons, we can't publish dates, but rejoice with us that he'll be home soon!

It's also time to stop sending mail. Today is the last date anything can be mailed with any hope of reaching Dave before they leave. Thank you, everyone, for your letters, packages, prayers, and good wishes . . . and for your encouraging hugs for those of us here at home!

We'll let you know when our Doc is really BACK!

Merry Christmas!

We're thoroughly enjoying a wonderful visit with Kelly here in California. She arrived last weekend, and Scott's girlfriend Anne was able to come down from Healdsburg, so we had our Crittenden family Christmas a few days early. Then Kelly headed off to spend time with her dad, mom, and grandparents, and will return here for a couple more days before heading "home" to North Carolina next weekend.

Dave's phone access has improved some, and he was able to call Kelly TWICE on Christmas day. What a blessing!

The battalion's new chow hall opened in time to serve Christmas dinner. In addition to better food, the guys also now have heat in their sleeping rooms, so living conditions are really improving at the new location.

And best of all . . . we're almost to the point where can begin to count the time til Dave's return in weeks instead of months.

They've Moved

After almost two weeks with no communication, Dave was finally able to call Kelly and let her know the entire battalion (around 900 Marines & Sailors) had moved. He was one of the last few to transition to the new location, which is more remote than before. We're grateful the move was accomplished without incident.

The food and new living conditions are not as good as the previous location, but the commander says they'll be getting a dining facility soon, hopefully in time for Christmas dinner.

Dave's mailing address did not change, but his email address did. If you want the new email address or a list of what he'd love to receive in care packages, please email me. Most of all, Dave would appreciate letters and cards from folks back home.

Thank you all for your prayers and support. We can't wait to have our Doc stateside again!

We can hardly wait to see Kelly! She arrives in California Saturday evening, and will be in the area for almost 2 weeks. (It will take her that long to get around to hugging all of us who love her!!)

Promotion Time!

Deployments are always hard on everyone involved, but one blessing this time around is that Dave has had reasonable telephone access. He's able to call Kelly fairly often, and occasionally we get to talk to him. Two weeks ago he called to tell us he's received a promotion to Petty Officer Second Class. What a joy it was to hear his voice! We're really proud of Dave and happy for him. He worked so hard for this, and scored extremely high on the written advancement exam.

Unfortunately, stress levels are really high. Please pray for Dave and all his guys, that they're able to stay focused on their task and come home safely. They're more than half-way through this deployment now. Just a few more months . . .



Above, Dave during one of his night shifts.


In early November, I was blessed to spend several days with Kelly in North Carolina. It's always a special treat to be with Kelly, and after raising two sons, it's so fun to have girl time! The two pictures below are at home with the cats and at the riverfront park in Wilmington.





We're so excited that Kelly gets to come home to California for the holidays. She'll be here for almost two weeks, making the rounds between parents, grandparents, cousins, friends, and us, of course! Yea!!

Combined Medical Engagement

We love being able to get emails from Dave, and it's a joy to also be able to share the pictures with friends and family. Here's the latest batch.

The caption on these first two pictures referred to being out with the chaplain and some of the marines on a "CME." When we googled CME to find out what it meant, we found an article about Dave's battalion. Check out the link called "CME" on the left.




Dave captioned this picture: "More of your handsome son in his MRAP (Mine-Resistant Armor-Protected)."



These are pictures of the Marines passing out bags of food to the people and of Dave hanging out with some of the locals.




Dave often provides patient transport to the Combat Stress Clinic where this donkey lives. To avoid the "No Pets" rule, the donkey's official title is "therapy tool."

Another Great Photo!

The photo above just arrived this morning. The man in the center is Dave's chaplain, Mike Tomlinson. On the left is another corpsman. The chaplain sent the picture to his wife, who sent it to Kelly, who sent it to us. Such a great picture, we just wanted to share!

Notice the bandana that the chaplain and the other corpsman are wearing. Kevin and I volunteer with Adopt-a-Chaplain, sending care packages to deployed chaplains. The group has received a large number of study books on Psalm 91, the "Soldiers Psalm." Along with the books came a supply of camo bandanas. These bandanas have the text of Psalm 91 printed on them, and that's what the chaplain is wearing.

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare of the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from the fatal plague. He will shield you with his wings. He will shelter you with his feathers. His faithful promises are your armor and protection." - Psalm 91: 1-4

BTW . . . As we enjoy the transition into autumn here, so do our guys "over there." Highs for the next week are predicted to be just under 100 degrees, nighttime lows just over 70.

Pictures from Iraq

We don't hear from Dave too often, but he touches bases when he can. Recently he was able to send us a few pictures to share with family and friends. In addition to working at the Battalion Aid Station, Dave is now driving ambulances to transport patients between locations. As you'll see in the photos, these are pretty big vehicles. Dave says the road feel is a lot like the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland.

Communications were down for a while, but Kelly was able to talk to Dave recently. He said he spent a week out on patrol with a rifle company, and the group included one of the doctors and a physician's assistant. They shared medical knowledge with Dave, and he was able to teach them some patrolling techniques and Iraqi customs.

Recently, Dave and some of the Marines in the line company were able to have dinner with a local Sheik, which he said it was "very different, but a really cool experience."

Work at the Battalion Aid Station has been really busy this past week with sick calls. He doesn't have time to respond to all the mail he gets, but sends his appreciation to all of you.

The letters and emails and packages are all wonderful expressions of love, which is a great boost to morale. (And not just Dave's -- he shares his bounty with the other guys.) Please continue your prayers for our Doc!

Things are Better the Second Time Around

Temperatures are still pushing 120 degrees, and it's still a war zone, but living conditions for Dave's battalion are tremendously better than last summer.

Dave says you can immediately tell the first-timers from the veterans. The newbies talk about how terrible it is, and the returnees like Dave are saying, "Is this really Iraq? It's so much better!"

They have a chow hall (three cooked meals a day instead of MREs), real beds (Dave shares a room with two other guys), some air conditioning, internet access, phone access, and a lounge with foosball and a television.

Dave said he has built himself a bookshelf in his room, and we've sent a bulletin board to go with it. He loves to display pictures from home.

His current assignment is working the night shift (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) in the Battalion Aid Station. Sleeping during the day is difficult, but he's beginning to get used to it. (Except when the roommate comes in to watch a DVD on his computer.)

We are thankful that so far most of Dave's work has involved small accidental injuries and minor illnesses. And we pray that things remain relatively peaceful.

Dave continues to appreciate our prayers, and would also enjoy receiving things to help his time away from home go by quickly, like letters and photos from friends and family.

Back in Iraq Again

Dave's battalion left on Saturday for Iraq, by way of Bangor, Maine. Just like last year, they were greeted by the Freeport Flag Ladies, who took lots of pictures and loaned cell phones to the troops so they could call their loved ones. Here's Dave mugging for the camera with two of his buds.



After a very short time in Kuwait, they pressed on to their final destination. On Tuesday morning, Kelly received a call from her hero saying that he had arrived safely. The conditions are much improved over his last deployment - he even has access to the internet and has been able to e-mail us a couple of times! Their current location has a chow hall and even some air conditioning and a recreation room. Much better, I think, than his last deployment where his first objective was to plan the latrine.

Due to the extreme climate change, a lot of the guys (including Dave) are suffering with URI issues. (That stands for Upper Respiratory Infection - and yes, Kathleen had to tell me that.)

He'd love to get cards and letters from friends and family so if you need his address, please contact us. Thank you for your prayers for both Dave and Kelly.

P.S. If you are in the mood, check out the link on the left (Military Humor).

Deployment Time . . . Again

The time we've all known was coming is now upon us. By the end of the month, Dave will be back in Iraq taking care of his Marines. Hopefully this deployment will carry with it somewhat less danger than last year's tour. Dave will be assigned to the Battalion Aid Station, rather than walking daily patrols with a rifle company. There will still be a good deal of movement, but not continuous.



Dave's great friend and Kelly's cousin, Dave Lindahn, who is an Army medic stationed in Germany, also heads for Iraq this week.




Good-byes are always painful. But Dave and Kelly have the comfort of knowing that there are so many of you out there - friends and family alike - who are encircling them with your love and holding them up in prayer. The Lord is good, and he keeps us sheltered under his wing.

Our Beloved Kelly

Our “Doc” Dave will be home in just a few short days! We’re excited, we’re anxious to see him, and we’re grateful for the Lord’s watchful care over him and his Marines. But in today’s blog entry, we want to talk about an unsung hero: our beloved Kelly.

In Proverbs 31 we read, “Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She will not hinder him, but help him all her life.”

Reading this passage naturally brings Kelly to mind for many reasons. Throughout Dave’s deployment (and even before), Kelly has shown herself to be loving, strong, cheerful, resourceful, supportive . . . in other words . . . a “virtuous and capable wife.”

At Dave’s request, Kelly willingly left her home and loved ones in California and moved to North Carolina to create and maintain a first home for herself and her new husband, a place that Dave could envision in his mind to help sustain him through the grueling months of war.

Kelly is also a hero in the communications department. She not only kept her husband supplied with letters, motomails, and care packages, but she consistently shared with us any news she received from overseas. She opened her heart freely and allowed us to share the good and the bad, the hopes and the fears, the joys and the sorrows. We often laughed, sometimes cried, and also prayed together.

We also award Kelly a medal for showing great courage in facing a class of 4-year-old tyrants and then in having the wisdom to know when to leave an impossible situation to find sane employment elsewhere.

In spite of the many stresses in her life, Kelly has maintained a cheerful disposition, a positive outlook, and faith that the Lord will see her through these trials. (OK, Kelly . . . we know you’ve got a flaw or two here and there, and this is getting gushy, but just indulge us, OK? We’re almost done. Promise.)

In July, Kelly came to California to be a bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding. During that visit, we were able to spend time with Kelly and some of her family. It was a real joy to see the flow of love and mutual respect. Family has always been extremely important to Kelly, and now we enjoy the special blessing of being a part of her family.

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? Dave did! ! !

Third time's a charm

On Wednesday David called us (both home & cell), but we weren't home and didn't hear the cell phone ring.

Thursday he called again, but again we weren't home and didn't manage to pick up the cell phone in time.

So Friday (today) when he got off duty from walking post, he called when he KNEW we'd be home - 1:20 a.m. for us, 12:20 p.m. for him.

In between walking patrols and walking post (sounds like sentry duty?), David is studying hard for an oral & written exam he'll take at the end of the deployment earn his FMF (Fleet Marine Force Enlisted Warfare Specialist) pin. It's tough to study alone, as he's the only corpsman in his unit now. (Check out the FMF link to the left.)

He is very relieved to have been moved from his previous location. The group that is there now lost another Marine to an IED.

Dave said they are living in a stone house with dirt floors, but they have cots to sleep on, air conditioning (yea!), goat's milk to drink, and fresh meat to cook. And they've built a BBQ out of an old gasoline drum.

A new pair of feet is Dave's most urgent wish right now. He said his feet are really messed up with big blisters from walking patrol & post in old, dirty, stiff socks.

We are so looking forward to welcoming our "Doc" home again, and pampering him with fresh fruits & veggies, green salads, clean sheets, and being able to go barefoot if he wants! Just a few short weeks and he'll be back!

This deployment has been hard on David and Kelly, and on all of us who love them. Your continual prayers and good wishes have eased that burden tremendously. Thank you all!

Mutton, anyone?

Had a nice phone conversation with Kelly this morning (actually, ALL our conversations with Kelly are wonderful). David has been able to phone her much more often, which is really good news. Kelly says that he continues to sound upbeat and is definitely ready to head for home.

A really nice change for the guys is that they received a truckload of real food; chicken to barbeque and also frozen pizza that can be microwaved. (So I'm guessing that, duh, they must have access to a microwave; probably came in a box labeled: "Food Irradiation Device, Medium, One Each" and painted Olive Drab. More realistically, it was probably labeled as "Entrenching Tools."

Now I know that you are wondering about the title of this entry - I'm getting to that. As it turns out, the guys were out one day and "discovered" a sheep. No doubt, when you've lived on a ration of MREs for far too long, a sheep looks mighty like dinner at Grandma's. So . . . using euphemistic language, the guys pooled their culinary skillsets and provided a much-needed meal for the masses. Baaaaa baaaaaa . . . bye.
-- Kevin

Wake-Up Call

We had quite a surprise three hours ago. The phone rang at 1:50 a.m. and it was Dave, calling from Iraq. What a blessing, and a wonderful treat. Well worth the loss of sleep!

Dave sounded strong and in good spirits. He's making mental lists of things he wants to do, places to go, and people to visit when he gets home late next month. He and Kelly plan to make a trip to California and make the rounds (as time and energy allow). Yea! ! ! !

When he called, Dave had just finished his time on post (sounds like that means guard duty). They're doing 4 hours on, 12 hours off, plus walking foot patrols. He has also set up a mini Battalion Aid Station at their new location.

Dave again sends his thanks for all the wonderful packages, letters, motomails, and prayers. The location they're in now is even more remote than before. No mail coming in or going out at all, so no more packages. You can still send letters and motomails, and he'll get them when they get back to the big base.

Next Month!

Kelly received a phone call from Dave last week, and fortunately the connection held for a few minutes this time. Dave says that it is ok now to let people know that they'll PROBABLY be coming home in late September; unfortunately, this will probably be coupled with a fairly short turn-around and they may all have to go back in a few months.

Better news is that he and Kelly want to spend a couple of weeks in California in October! We may not let them go back. ;-)

His only request this time was that Kathleen and I send some jar cakes ( cakes baked in jars and sealed as if canning ) for his fellow Corpsman's birthday. So we put together a party pack and sent it off with the express wishes that his next birthday would be in much better surroundings.

Kathleen would like to include a few more pictures that Dave has sent so here they are. I hope you are all enjoying your summer.

NEWS FLASH! NEWS FLASH! ! ! !

Kelly just now called us, and Dave's company has permanently left the town where they've been since March. They've had many IEDs and numerous casualties in the past few weeks, but have now been moved to a much better place. We are so grateful, this sounds like a much safer location. Praise God!

The downside is that there's no mail going in and out of this location. They will only get mail when they can pick it up at the large base. Dave said it's best to stop sending packages now, but please keep the prayers, letters and motomails coming.

And now back to the pictures . . . .

Pictures from Iraq

Dave called Kelly Friday morning. He and his company were at Al Asad for a few hours because they are making their own supply runs now. It was also an opportunity to eat some fresh, healthy salad and get a haircut. Best of all, he was able to make a long phone call to Kelly on a REAL phone. What a blessing!

Kelly said that Dave asked her to pass along his gratitude for all the care packages. They not only meet many physical needs, but help him remember that he is loved and cared about by many people. Thank you, everyone!

The latest newsletter (for June) from the Charlie Company commander is posted online. The link is:
http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/Public%2FIIMEFpublic.nsf/sites/1bn2mar

Dave mentioned to Kelly that uniform regulations are being enforced much more strictly. No more mustaches and no more bandanas around the head to keep the sweat from dripping in their eyes. He's had to learn how to hold his mouth "just so" when he breathes, in order to avoid getting a mouthful of gnats.

Best of all . . . . Dave mailed Kelly the memory stick from his camera, and she sent us a few photos via email. Here they are:

This first picture was taken in April. The rest are from early to mid-May. Clicking on a picture will show you a larger version.















Thank you for your continuing to support Dave and ALL of our troops through prayer!

Call from Dave

We were blessed this morning with an early phone call from Dave! Yea! He was trying to call Kelly, but her phone was turned off during church services, so we got a turn. :-) He sounded very tired, but it was amazingly wonderful to hear his voice.

He appreciates all the support he's been getting - motomails, letters, packages are all wonderful. For those sending care packages, Dave says don't send any more shirts or underwear, but he still needs socks. He also now has access to a microwave, so microwavable foods like EasyMac are good to send. And he no longer wants toys to give to local kids.

Dave sounded very tired. The extreme heat is very wearing, and they are constantly going out on patrols. In the mornings, when it's time to get dressed, his cammies are still wet from the previous day's sweat.

Unfortunately, the battalion chaplain does not visit their outpost, so there are no worship services or prayer support for the guys in Dave's company. He says he's on his own for prayer, which is discouraging.

We didn't discuss timetables for his return but I know we are all looking forward to the end of this deployment. One of the things he's looking forward to when he gets home is being able to cook healthy meals.

Dave said that yesterday he was thinking a lot about the two weddings he was missing. Two good friends, Jon Hansen and Reeve Farmer, both got married. Dave wished he could have been here for those two wonderful events. And yes, Jon, we did tell him about the Star Wars music! :-)

Thank you all for continuing to write to Dave and pray for him as this dangerous time continues.