Update and a comment from Sniper

I spoke with Sniper a little while ago tonight. I have been sending my posts along with the comments to him for quite awhile now. I let him know if there was ever a time he wanted me to send a message to all of you, let me know and I would. He did. I can't do this verbatim, so you will get it some what in my words. I will never put any of my Marines lives in jeopardy. I know my limits and if it meant I would have to come home, because I would place their lives in danger, so be it. However, I made a promise to them at the beginning of this deployment, I intend to keep. I will bring each and everyone of them home with me. I can still hold my weapons, yes plural, and can do my job. Right now I am on light duty. My shoulder is healing and everyday it is feeling better. ********************************* His family and I have talked at great length at the possibility of him coming home with his injury or any other scuttle butt we have heard. Each and everyone of us know, he won't be home until his job is finished and that would be sometime next year. None of us are counting on him coming home a minute earlier. We can dream, but it is only that. When we hung up, he was headed out to the range. I only talked to him a few minutes. Those few minutes were wonderful. You will never hear me complain of the lack of communication from him (only that I get worried when it has been almost 2 weeks). I know, I/we are far more fortunate than most. Most "over there" don't get to call home as often and some choose not too. They use other forms of communication. This is our (his family & I) only form of communication with him. He doesn't like computers and can't stand to write. That's ok, we will take what we can get. ***************************** I haven't posted much this week because I have been studying. Yep, you heard me. Tonight and tomorrow I am taking a small break with a little studying in between. I am spending some much needed time with my kids. We are working in the flower beds, making them look real pretty. My kids & I went over to Home Depot tonight and picked out a shit load of plants. Lego Man bought some strawberries to plant and Drama Queen bought some watermelon plants. Neither will probably produce squat, considering I haven't had time to water anything in my yard in weeks and it will be another few before I can enjoy the quiet comfort from it. I don't dare tell them I will probably be the reason they die. Tomorrow afternoon, all our neighbors are getting together for a huge barbecue. The kids and I will enjoy this time together. I won't be drinking with the rest of my neighbors as I will need to be functioning at 100% on Sunday. Also, I don't drink with my kids around. I have always played the responsible parent roll with them. Besides I know the one time I do, one of the hellions will end up getting hurt from their adventures and I would have to call my mother to come take them to the hospital for me. I learned this one a long time ago and another long post. They also don't need to see there mom make an ass out of herself. Sunday and Monday, it's back to the grind and study, study, study for little ol' me. The only other thing on the agenda for this weekend, I am quitting smoking. I will be waiting until my kids are gone on Sunday and then that's it. No more smoking for me. I had planned on doing this right after Sniper left, but the stress kept it going. No more excuses, I am done. The last time I quit (for over 2 years), I was a real bitch and my daughter felt the brunt of it. She told me "Mommy you were not nice and very crabby." Hence why I am waiting for them to leave the house for a few days. I am planning on doing this cold turkey. It is the only way I can do it. You don't need to wish me luck, I know I can do this. I just may have to repeat it a few times to myself. dyzgoneby come Sunday, watch out, I will be a huge bitch in zero to 2 seconds.