Looking for some hot STUFF!!!

So not only do we have endure warm to hot tempratures around here (90 - 112) they also thought it was a good idea we got to play with fire...you know what they say about playing with fire right?

We had a safety training day and it actually for once was not the same boring lectures and death by power point, but rather some hands on. They certified us on how to use fire extinguishers and also how to prevent fires in the home. It was nice to have some action.

What we did this Summer

So I was reading KSL the other day and I looked at pictures of people and 'what they did this summer'. Now while going to the planes of Africa is great I bet we have done more 'exciting things than they have....

We BBQ ed. We played sand volleyball and had different leagues so much cooler than back home.

Actually we really had a lot of fun especially since my team beat Justins' team in the play offs.

We play with our weapons,clean them, practice with them and fly around with them.

Best of all we get to fly around in the best helicopter in the world the Blackhawk. So that is what we have got to do this Summer how about you?

An Average Day

A lot of people ask what we do day to day around here so I have put a few photos together to give you a glimpse......

We let our passengers know what helicopter to get in and make sure we are sexy doing it.

We promote our awesome friends.

sometimes are Battalion formations take a little long but it comes with the job.

We take corny pictures of ourselves flying.

We run out and tie down the helicopters in a sandstorn this happens at least once every other week. Come on weather dude you can predict sandstorms better than when they hit right???

Most of my days are spent here at my desk being a paperwork pusher but every now and then they let me out of my cage to fly. Justin is in the flight company and spends most of his time flying.

Every once in a while you can catch us dancing together don't tell our leaders this they might think we are actually having fun out here. By the way Justin is a fantastic dancer.

We wash helicopers this is one of my favorite things to do. Justin enjoys towing them nore than washing them, but in this heat a spray of water feels good.

I hope this lets you in of a little of what we do. I have enjoyed some of my time here and I am very blessed to have my husband here. We are not the only married ones here though. We should be renamed the love battalion. We have six married couples now. Three we started out with in the beginning of the deployment and the other three have been married since the deploment. It must be the water or air around here 'love is in the air'

Take me out to the ball game!!!!

So Justin and I were able to fly together which was fantastic and rare. It always makes the flight great. Plus he is really great at his job. Well we were able to fly some retired Baseball stars (most were Yankees) and they were just so polite and greatful that it was nice compared to our regular customers. They were really excited and enthusiastic to be here. They thought we were very cool ..... so I guess its not just us after all huh!

I AM AN AMERICAN SOLDIER

The Soldier
It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.

By Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC

On September 11th we were very specially chosen to fly flags to honor those who perished on this dreadful day in 2001 and to celebrate our Patriotism. Justin and I are so proud to be Americans and so honored to carry the Flag for all those who need this. May all of you be blessed and may God be with you. We are proud to serve our Country and especially each and every one of you.

Thank you for the support and love you have given us we really appreciate it.





I am an American Soldier.I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.I will always place the mission first.I will never accept defeat.I will never quit.I will never leave a fallen comrade.I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.I am an expert and I am a professional.I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.I am an American Soldier.

GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!!!

Ra ra ra ra ra goooooo COUGARS

I just couldn't resist, but what a great sport. Justin had a bet with one of our Soldiers about the WA vs. BYU game and of course a small wager was involved. The cougars won no doubt but our fellow friend followed through on his side of the deal and ran around the Airfield saying go Cougars. Thanks for making our day and celebrating a wonderful team.

Back Blogging

I have added some new posts but they are back dated. Please peruse further through the old blog to see some new pics and such.

Over The Hump !!!

Well I can't believe it but we are finally a little past our midway point. Things have been moving steadily along.

Justin and I are waiting for the BYU football season to begin. Unfortunately we won't be able to see many of the games. So to make up for it we thought we would do a little 'go cougars' by our favorite place.

I am almost positive poor Justin will go into mourning about not watching this season games so please don't rub it in too much.

Thanks again for eveyone's support the packages and gifts have been wonderful. Thank you to Mom and Dad Morkel for the life time supply of shower loofa's and Jerky; and Also to Mom and Dad Day for the Jerky and pictures (wow we really missed out on summer). Thank you to the rest of you for letters, wonderful packages and especially all the letter from the family reunions and all the children(I had to give my shout out). It made my month out here. We love all of you and miss you all dearly. GO MIGHTY COUGARS!!!!!

Critters

So with all the creepy crawlers and things we don't like so much around here I found one I would gladly let live under my trailer any day of the week.

4th of JULY

So while most of you this year enjoyed your usual 4th of July norms, I did something a little more exciting. Instead of fire works, BBQ's and parades I traveled up North. There was a large Reenlistment ceremony being held up there and I took 13 of my Soldiers to participate in this. For those of you who don't know when you join the Army or other Armed Forces it is for a conditional length of time. All these Soldiers were nearing the end of their term of agreement and decided to reenlist or extend their time. It was absolutely gorgeous. It was held in one of Saddams palaces.

By the way Aunt Carolyn this is where we left our dear Cam in this beautiful palace. For those of you who don't know who Cam is, he is our cousin that passed away some years ago and our Aunt has had pictures of him sent all over the world. The one previous to this was left in my home country of South Africa so it just seems fit that I was honored enough to get the next picture. Thank you Carolyn.

The week was ended off in the most beautiful sunset

Army Days in the Heat and Dust

So as most of you know we are finally here. A lot of you have heard Justin's analogy of how to experience and average day of heat out here. Just for fun I am going to reitterate it. First get a hairdryer out and put on full blast on the highest heat setting, then to make it really realistic go and get a coarse beach sand and throw it up into your face and especially the eyes then you know how our average windy day is here.

There is simply just us and then the main desert. If you have ever seen movies where you see a wall of sand headed towards you like in the Mummy or Hildago that is pretty acurate.

You know how Florida has huricane season we have a season call Shamal season which we are in right now. Search google under shamal and see some pictures

Other than that we get to stay together which at first did not seem like a reality but now it is and we could not get any better.

I have a group of pictures attached to let you get a look at where we live in detail I thought it could get some laughs.

I will update you further on what we are up to and try to load some video. Here is the outside of our trailer and us.

Inside Our trailer

Not too shabby just a bit small

Our Bed we took two twins and made it one; this gets interesting if you forget and slip through the crack in the bed, usually it is poor Justin going through the two halves in the middle of the night.

A little computer time. No internet yet but we are working on it.

Note the fashion accessory the safety belt can't go anywhere without it. Wow does he look good or what

Look we even have a fridge and microwave and it works really well this is also great so we can have popcorn.

Gearing up to make it through the sand storm.

Who could it be now (ok you guessed its me)

Noni for Cody and Jake (thanks Cody for spoiling us)

We ran into a friend whose Wife used to work at TNI in the middle of the desert!!!!!

Of course the bathroom doll! Save the best for last we recently improved this and will post our pictures of our renovation. Who would have thought we would have a flushing toilet and a shower in the privacy of our own room this time WOW. Last time it was port o Johns shared with 500 men who wern't the best at aiming (if you know what I mean) and hand constructed showers???? I feel like I am living in "luxury".

This is our good friend who took all our pictures and made this BLOG possible thank you so much we owe you one.

Off to the Sand Box

On the out here we stopped in Ireland I wish we could have stayed a few more days instead of hours. It was so lush and green.

We were lucky and got to sit next to each other in the plane in the bulk head seats. We had great leg room.

So when we got here we weren't as lucky as we are now and had to live in the mass tents. The positive thing was they have exceptional A/C and we had to use thick blankets and sweaters. This was Justin's tent the females lived seperately in another tent.

Tulsa

Just before we left we were able to make it up to TULSA OK. We went to See Scott and Laura and Brooklyn. We were spoiled to see Melanie and Jason as well. Thank you so much for seeing us it was lovely to see you all before we left. You are all so gracious to us. Hopefully we can see you on our way home!!!

I goofed and forgot the camera so no pictures. Oh dear.

Happy Birthday Chevy

So I actually had an awesome Birthday this year not only did Justin spoil me as always, but I got promoted to Sergeant First Class. Talk about a Happy Birthday.

Later that evening we had a swinging party in my honor..... ok it was really our farewell BBQ from FT Sill but it was my Birthday.

What a Life Saver

So one of the best training times we have is Combat life Saver (in my opinion). It is training learnt for the basic skills in order to provide medical aid. Justin did really well and even graduated as the honor grad I am so proud of him. He can give me an IV any day.

The hero of the day patching his good friend.

And all is well and done. Good job honey. Justin and I weren't able to be battle buddies but I also had my share of the IV fun.

Here are some other fun pictures of Justin tormenting some of his other buddies.

This is cousin 'Kooter' does he not look like one of our long lost cousins?