The Stafford Family

We are Bob, Jackie, Whitney, Justin, Jack and Gabriel Stafford. We decided to create this blogger so that Justin can see what the family is up to while he is deployed to Iraq. Hopefully this will keep him up to date on family events, trips, and just everyday life. For all you other nosey people who will check this blog (haha)...Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Justins Pictures

We recently got some 2 pictures and a small video clip from Justin last week. He wanted to send us more but he said that the connection was so slow over there that that was all he could upload for now. Plus he said that it is a pain in the butt because every picture and video as to be approved before he can email it to people. So hopefully we will be getting some more pictures here in the near future. Until then here are the ones he sent us! Enjoy :-)









Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Justin's Emails

I hear from Justin personally or through other people on a fairly regular basis. We also get phone calls from him and about once a week I'll hear from him on windows messenger and if I'm lucky, I'll see his sweet face on video conference! That is always the highlight of my week. The last time I saw him on there he looked much better than the week or so before that. He cannot tell me what he is doing as far as patient care but did say that he does not see patients in his fob. He has apparently been to the base hospital in Balad which was a positive experience. I want to stress the word "positive" because he was impressed with the hospital there and was very glad to see his Air Force brothers. He said the hospital had clean bathrooms and tiled floors. I think he sees the not-so-positive side of things there because of his field of work. Also, not being with other Air Force people and not having that unit of support, has been difficult. I learned through Ashley that he went for x-ray training recently. Mostly though, he cannot talk about his job. He did tell me that he is working hard for his money! In one of our emails, he said that this deployment has changed him and that he will not be the same person when he returns. He told me that he has been praying and that he prays for the people he works with (even though they do not treat him very well). At night, he reads his Bible and writes in his journal the happenings of his day. Justin has been there almost a month now and told me he thought that it had passed quickly. As for me, I can say that I do occasionally have a day that I do not cry and in that sense, I'm doing better and time is passing more quickly. It doesn't get any easier though. We all send him letters, boxes and others are giving me items to send to him as well. Jack's classroom and boy scout den, as well as my group from Bible study are sending him boxes. At one point he asked that we not send anything because he did not have any more room to store things. I will post pictures soon as I need help from Whitney to do that part! Justin, if you get a chance to read this, everyone loves you! Jack and Gabriel pray for you every night and I have 9 dear friends that have your picture and pray over it every day! The You Tube video has generated over 230 hits so hopefully that is at least 230 prayers! Your picture is also posted at a Christian bookstore in Northern Ky. It is a wall of honor for military people. Keep your head up (unless you start hearing sirens) and be content in knowing that you are being protected by our almighty Father! I love You XOXOXOXO Mom