M&M's Home Blog

It certainly has been an unusual Christmas for me; this is the first time that I haven't spent the holidays with my family. I really expected to be homesick and sad, but that wasn't the case; in fact, I was pretty joyful. Perhaps it was the anticipation of my R&R (I'm leaving in a week!), or the crazy office decorations, or some of the activities we shared. More than likely, my joy came from the knowledge that, God willing, this will be the one and only time I'm away from home for Christmas, and I'm so blessed to have such wonderful circumstances to return to in less than five months!

Once again, our dining facility went crazy with decorations...

A unique altar

I thought this chapel was really pretty

Styrofoam Frosty won't melt under the lights!

Our Christmas Tree and Santa's chair

Possibly the coolest manger scene ever - it could have been featured on Veggie Tales!

Yes, those are cauliflower trees and carrot shrubs

Look out! It's the Christmas Crocodile!

We had a little Christmas party in the J4 office, complete with gift exchange and funny headgear. Most of my colleagues were wearing the traditional red hats, but my mother had sent me something extra special...

Honestly, the one time I really remember being melancholy was at midnight mass. It was a beautiful Catholic service, complete with readings in a variety of languages to acknowledge the many countries supporting the efforts in Iraq. Of course, we sang Christmas carols, and when we sang "The First Noel", we got to the chorus, and I waited expectantly for the Soprano descant that never came. Old habits die hard, I guess. I'm really spoiled by our wonderful choir at St. Paul's, and missed our midnight mass terribly even though I enjoyed the one here in Baghdad.

So, I'll be home in less than two weeks for fifteen days of vacation that I'd like to think I've earned. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Lots of love,
Marissa

...For yet another post from Paul! I hope all of you back home enjoyed your Christmas holiday; I certainly enjoyed mine.

Last week, I climbed up in the tower on Camp Blackhawk to get a birds' eye view of Baghdad. I wasn't disappointed!

I'm a bit dark, but at least you can see that I was up high!

Undocumented civilians in the International Zone? Where?

The Presidential Palace, with the Doura Oil Refinery smoking in the distance

The roof of Believers' Palace (overtop Saddam's secret bunker complex), damaged by bombs during the invasion in 2003

The Monument to the Unknown Soldier, with an unfinished mosque in the background

I truly enjoyed Christmas here in Iraq - the servicemembers were certainly lavish with their decorations!

I chatted with a variety of people, many of them strangers. I met a rather strange fellow who insisted on carolling the entire day. I have to admit, his voice did irritate me after the second repetition.

Dear Friends, this is my last post in country, as I will be leaving Baghdad in one week. I look forward to seeing you again soon, and I will especially enjoy a respite from my adventures until the next one comes along!

Sincerely yours,
Paul

Well, I figured this day was as good as any to end my months long moratorium on blogging. So, in honor of my wife and our first year apart (together), I raise my glass, (in this case a bottle of Mountain Dew), and wish my wife a Happy 1st Anniversary.

I remember first counting the passage of time in our relationship in terms of weeks after we started dating..then eventually months....then our Wedding restarted the clock last year and we counted the days, then the weeks and the months all over again. Fiery Demons of the Underworld (No, not my mother-in-law) were raised when I forgot the 31 week anniversary date!! Ok...it wasn't that bad, I guess.

All in all, I'd say our first year has been very blessed. Not having my wife home has allowed me to claim my domain in our new house. I can stay up late as much as I want....eat anything I want.....I have complete control over the TV....sometimes I even leave dirty dishes in the sink! It has truly been a blessing to have one more year of Freedom!

Although I'm sure my wife is plotting and scheming to supplant me from my stubborn way of life once she returns, I currently remain happy in my delusional fantasy that at least for this one year, I've been King of the Castle.

Perhaps deployment isn't a bad thing after all. Hmmmmm...they're already asking for volunteers to stay over in Iraq longer.....and I'm really starting to like the sound of Major Marissa Mitchell. Yes....it has a much nicer ring than Captain Mitchell, I think.

Alright honey....all joking aside, I'm ready for you to come home and just be Princess "Cupcake" Mitchell and start bossing me around. (yeah, right).

Happy Anniversary, Baby!

By the way, Patti.....I was just kidding about that Demon of the Underworld comment.


......Honest!

ETA: Oh! ...and Happy Anniversary to my wonderful In-Laws, Dan & Patti, who Marissa and I have the honor of sharing this perfect date with.

One year ago today, I married my best friend, my soulmate, and the love of my life. And although we've spent the vast majority of this year apart, I welcome our anniversary with the joy and satisfaction that I would feel if we'd been together. It has not been the easiest year for either Mike or me, and we've dealt with more than our fair share of challenges. But isn't that how it's supposed to be? Too often, young people view marriage as the happy ending to a story, when in reality, it's the beginning of a long, unpredictable journey. And frankly, there's nobody else with whom I'd rather travel this road than my wonderful husband, Mike.

So I raise my glass (err...water bottle) to marriage, which is so much more than I ever thought it would be, and to the future, which looks incredibly bright at this very moment.

I love you, Mike. Happy Anniversary.