Going home....

Well, again, thank you for all of your continued support that you keep showing my brother and I by reading our blog. Thank you for the comments as well.

Well, this may be the last post for a couple weeks from me. My internet is paid for monthly and it doesn't always re-new on the 1st of each month. SO basically, my internet is about to shut off and I'm not going to pay $50 for a partial month. I can't say exactly when I'll be leaving here, but I will be leaving kinda soon. Soon enough for me not to want to pay for a whole month of internet. Blah blah blah, my internet is going to be shut off soon and I won't be able to post on here from the government computer in my office. SO the next post I make will probably mean that I'm back in the states. I that is something I'm REALLY looking forward to!! BUT, as promised, I will keep you updated. I will post when I get home. I'm not REALLY sure when that will be.

SO, from Iraq to the United States and all around...thank you for your support, your prayers, and thoughts. I've greatly enjoyed posting my thoughts, ideas, and life's events on here. It's truely been enjoyable. And, I hope you have enjoyed as much as I have. Again, thank you.

Ok, well...I was kinda pre-occupied when I wrote the above...and now after thinking about it for a few minutes, I think I should add to my final post from Iraq. I want to reflect on the past year's events and some of the thougths that are starting to run through my head.

As I sit here and reflect on the past year's events...I've learned so much, endeared more than I thought I would, and I can definitely say this has been a life changing experience. As a combat medic, I thought I would see and do some of the things I've done while I have been here. On the other hand, there's a lot I didn't do that I expected to do while I was here. Looking back from the time I got my orders till now, it's been an amazing road. It's once again taught me to enjoy the most simple things in life and not take so much for granted. Life itself has become more and more precious than ever before. I appreciate things more and more almost every day. I've seen things I hope to never see again...although, I'm pretty sure I will. I thought some of my 'bad days' back in states were hard to handle...well, I don't think some of the worst will ever amount to my bad days here. I've learned a lot being here. Some of the things I've learned...it's a shame that I had to learn them here...speaking of my friends back home. It's amazing what you will find out about someone when you're not around them. Great friends become not so great at all. Then, good friends become great. I've learned who my real friends are, that's for sure. Thank you Josh. Thank you for being there when I needed you. I feel everything that we do in life and everything we go through is a learning experience. I also feel/know that everything happens for a reason. There is nothing that we do or don't do that doesn't have an effect on us at a later time in life. I also believe that if God brings you to it, he'll bring you through it. I'm almost through this experience, and I'm looking forward to my next. Looking back....oh looking back. This has been an experience I'll never forget. Maybe some of the details will escape me...and that's fine. But this experience will last a life time. Like I've said before, some people will have to make up stories and make up what they think they did here...I know what I did, and I'm proud of what I've done. Well, as I sit here and think about my previous posts and entries, it's been a long road. I'm kinda surprised that this is coming to an end already...but it is. Well, I'm not sure what else to say. I don't quite feel satisfied with this last paragraph...but I'm at a blank. The feelings inside just won't transmit to my fingers. It's unexplainable. It reminds me of the scene in Black Hawk Down...I'd try to explain it, but you just wouldn't understand. It's not about me, it's about the man next to me.

Till next time....

Somewhere in Iraq
sgt wormy / SGT Strader, Jeremy