A Thought About...Well, Family.

June 24, 2009 brought a few things into my life. Lets start with the obvious point here...my father passed away. Mom was with him at the time and well that's the way it should be. Now Wendy and I had decided that I would go to the funeral. All the brothers, (me included), were all going to be there. Clark (Chief Petty Officer Ret.) suggested that we drive to Utah together which we did. Here lies "the thing that came into my life." I never really knew my brothers the way that brothers should know each other. During the drive back to Utah provided...how did our wives describe it?...brother bonding time. Clark and I caught up on a lot of missed time and back stories. While we had some serious conversations we also had some serious funnies! Let me explained. Clarks wife Mary LUUUVS her Buick...err, ok ok it's really a "grandma car". While we were going through some of dad's personal effects Clark brough back two items of significant humor. I'll let the following two pictures do all the explaining...naaahhhh! Ok so my dad had this taxadermied head of an antelope and we

thought hey, lets take a few pictures of this antelope head in the car. We thought it was as Larry the Cable Guy once said..."that there is funny!" So as you can see the picture turned out perfect. Sorry Mary...we apoligized to Lucile, (we named the car Lucile), another moment of genious by two brothers...two friends.

Ok, so the jokes didn't stop there. Dad also had a pair of mounted spanish bull horns. Now ask yourself what white cadillac from a certain sitcom is the proud owner of a pair of bull horns mounted to the front grill. Yes, Dukes of Hazard is correct. As seen in the next picture we enjoyed a little more mischieviousness at the expense of "Lucile". Again, we're so sorry Mary!"

We took this picture at Wendy's brothers house in Des Moines, IA. Clark is actually consoling Lucile in the picture. Clark and I parted ways here and we both made it home in good time and safety.

During our stay in Utah I experienced emotions that I never thought I'd...well, experience. You see this was all new and foreign to me, (having a parent die), and I wasn't ready and maybe I'm still not to let my father go.

It was planned that all three brothers would be in full service dress in part to pay our respects to our fathers service in WWII. Dad left the Army Air Corps as a Buck Seargent to pursue a passion in painting what he knew...the American West and its beauties.

Mary, my wife, our sisters, yeah pretty much every woman in our family promised to inflict bodily harm upon us if we didn't get pictures of all the brothers in our military uniforms. I know we're pretty much irresistable in uniform, (see below).

So here we are looking smooth...we'll forgive the Clark breaking the Air Force lookalike contest. Scott gave the family prayer before we all went into the chapel for the service.

It was now time to take dad to the cemetary to lay his mortal tabernacle to rest waiting for the resurection to rise up again clothed in Gods glory. This next picture was one of the best ones taken all day, so thank you to whoever pushed the button.

Now I want to take a minute and explain the reason you see a casket made out of pine and not he typical metal ones you normally see at funerals. My dad appreciated nature and the way it showed its beauty. About ten years ago dad had a friend in Mendon make his casket. It then sat in his studio with a indian blanket draped over it. He loved what natue did to the wood and was even more adimant not forcing the family to pay the inflated prices that caskets can reach. It fitted my dad and the life he lived.

Mom asked me to dedicate the grave site and based upon previous interactions with dad I knew this would prove difficult for me. Looking back it seemed as if there was someone comforting me so I could say the words I needed to say. Looking at where he was laid to rest some say that he had the best spot in the cemetary. Laid just West of his Great Grandfather James Hood Hill, he now lays on the furthest west plot there. And if you look up you see this...mind you that this picture is taken further East of the plot.
We will all miss our Father. He touched each of us in a different way. I have wept into my pillow at night with my mind full of questions. Questions that I yearn to have answered. Maybe in time, maybe in time.

But for now I will cherish the time I had with him as a small child when I sat upon his lap and tried with all the persistance of a two year old to push the button on the tape player when he told me not to. I'll remember his many lifes lessons that then seemed pointless to a teenager but now see the years of wisdom behind them, and finally the short time that I had with him at the end. Getting back from a long deployment to Iraq to bid my father goodbye, although in my heart I haven't quite said goodbye yet.

I will enjoy the time that I shared with Clark, maybe understanding him a little better. Thanks Clark!

Thank you Dad, I Love You and I Miss You! Till we meet agian...

Scout High Adventure (50 Miler)

Last week I took our Scouts on our yearly high adventure. As you can see from the picture we went to West Virginia to the Cranberry Backcountry Researves. We had ten young men that made the trip. We did 50 miles Monday through Friday. The boys were so eager to finish the trek they forced us leaders to pull off 15 miles the last day. I learned several lessons on that hike. One of which was that I was NOT in shape for the trek. I was basicly the last one to pull up at each break. I to think that I provided the boys with ample opportunities for breaks, but I digress.

We took detours to see West Virginia's two tallest waterfalls and I must say they were very beautiful.

Yours truely!

64 Feet of beauty.

One of our many campsite mornings.

I had a little contest with the boys. Our theme for the hike was "I can do hard things with the help of the Lord." I told them them that the boy who best embodied that theme would earn a reward. I gave the reward at the last devotional on Saturday. The reward? Well while I was in Baghdad I picked up a very unique pocket knife that was made of wood and brass. It's called an Okapi Knife. It's a German made knife made in South Africa.

It was a great experience that I never want to experience again. My feet took a beating. Emflamed tendons, blisters, and overall fatigue.

David Hoopes and I. We were the shepards and stewards of the Beavercreek Ward Scouts.

Life Begins Anew!

May I die a thousand deaths for leaving my fan fair without the greatness of my genious. Ok, so I'm full of it sometimes but hey...I try. Let me give you an update on my life since my return back to the stated from the sandbox we call Iraq.
As you have probabley read in "my wifes" blog have learned that my father died on 24 June 2009. My family had been in Utah to see my father before he died, (now we really didn't think that he would pass away for at least a couple months). Well two days after we get back to WPAFB, Oh Wendy calls me and tells me that he had slipped away. I made arangements with my brother Clark who lives in McAlister, Ok to meet in Des Moines, Ia and drive together to Utah for the funeral.
I learned one great tidbit while driving to Utah with Clark...Nebraska is BORING! There is nothing...ok, well there is ONE thing that salvaged our drive. Sidney is a small town that is the hometown to what? Well Cabella's of course, and not only just a Cabella's store but the very first one built.
The rest of the trip was surreal and bittersweet. I buried my father and returned home again to start my life again with Wendy and the boys.
I did a little figuring and between 9 June - 4 July I traveled to 4 countries and 12 states. Hopefully the summer will slow down a bit...just enough to enjoy.

UPDATE!

So this is Wendy posting for Will. The government puts all kinds of restrictions on what it will allow it's employees to view on-line. The latest ban is they are not allowed access to any google accounts (i.e. Will and I can't I.M. anymore) or any blogspot accounts (i.e. update his blog or view mine, with the boys on it.) So, Will probably won't have any updates until he gets back, which is mid-June sometime. If there is something that he wants me to share, I will let you know. Be sure to e-mail him though. He loves to hear from friends and family.

Barbers of Iraq!

For the last little while I've been thinking of how I could help the people of Iraq beyond my current job description. I've heard of individuals having family members gather donated toys, clothes, or blankets and sending them over to the children of Iraq and Afghanistan to improve their quality of life. I wanted to follow this in my own way.
So after almost three months of being here I've think I've come up with a way to help a few local Iraqi guys, five to be exact. In the building where I work there are three Iraqi Barbers, in another part of Baghdad there's two other barbers that are really popular to the military. They are very good at cutting hair and I've frequented them everytime I needed my hair cut. Well I've noticed that their equipment, (scissors, trimmers, brushes, etc.) were very much used and dull. So I thought to myself..."self, I might be able to help here"...so I've hatched a plan to ask some friends back home in Ohio and Utah and have them contact local businesses that sell haircutting/barber equiptment and see if they would be willing to donate certain items: Scissors, Clippers w/ attachments, Shave Brushes, Barber Capes, Combs, and Straight Edge Razors w/ blades. Five sets in all of the items listed.
I truely believe that this is for a good cause. Well see how this will turn out...very well I hope. So if you think you can help...please let me know and we'll help out some local businesses here in Iraq.