Where in the world is Mike?

OK, so LOTS of people are asking for details about Mike, so here we go.

Mike is stationed at a base in Baharia, Iraq. He is on a security force there and works 12 hours a day! It’s really hot there, and he gets to wear extra clothes so that he won’t catch on fire…really…not because he will spontaneously combust but for safety reasons which I don’t totally understand.

Baharia is in between Baghdad and Al Asad



He works the “night” shift and he said that its 110+ degrees outside in the dark—FUN! Luckily he is inside while the sun is up. Other than work he is busy finding ways to get things done. This base is quickly loosing it’s amenities, so some of the simple things that we all enjoy will be gone soon. He was so glad to find that laundry services were still available this past week!
He called me the other day and was telling me about where their communication stuff was. He was in an old bathroom…the sink basin had computers on it, and the stalls had phones in them now instead of toilets…interesting! They also don’t have regular chairs, they use ammo cans. He was a bit uncomfortable while we were talking because he got the short can.
All is all he is doing well. He doesn’t get bored too often, but is running out of things to talk to the guys on his shift about…12 hours of conversation a day with the same people gets tough!
He would love mail if anyone is bored and wants to send him a letter! Here is his address: (this will change in mid-August…keep watching for the new one)
Sgt. Mike Barton
Task Force East
Unit 77500
FPO-AE 09509-7500

I’m doing OK too. Thanks to all who have asked!

Mike in Iraq

Lots of people have asked how Mike is doing, so I thought I’d post a quick update.

Mike left for Iraq on July 11th. His group landed at Al Asad Air Base at about 11pm on Sunday. After some briefs and chow they got to sleep. We have talked almost every day and he seems to be adjusting well. Al Asad has pretty much everything that a person could want with the exception of family (he told me the other day that he had Pizza Hut for lunch). The heat is proving a much harder thing to acclimate to…the forecast for this week is 110º or higher! Fun for them!

Part of the group he went over with, including Mike, have been moved to a different base right now. They are closing the base and so they are slowly loosing amenities. He is getting busier now that he has training and work to do each day. He only gets mail when the mail plane comes, which is every 9 days. He also said that he is hoping to be assigned night shift.

All in all he is doing well. I’m doing OK too. People have been very supportive and I’m blessed to have such great friends! Keep us in your prayers, and thanks for the support!

Mike's Send-Off

Because it’s the military, Mike didn’t leave until Saturday. Because Saturday was my cousin’s wedding, I was tackling this good-buy thing alone. Because I have great friends, Abe and Sarah came with me so that I didn’t have to be alone!

The base hosted a send-off party, so we ate some burgers and dogs and took some pictures, and tried to hold everything together. Everyone has asked me how I’m doing…so here it is. I’m doing OK. The 24 hours leading up to the final good-bye were the worst. I cried a lot! But, I’m doing good right now. The water works start when people come and ask me if I’m OK with lots of sympathy in the tone they use…I’m grateful they care, but it kinda sets off my tear ducts, which then makes them feel bad…so if you’re gonna ask, try to put a little pep in the delivery:) Thanks!

We were in the newspaper on Sunday.

When it was getting close to time to go, I ran to my car to get the posters we made, and I came back to see the Marines in formation. Mike told me on Friday that once in formation there were no more good-byes allowed. THAT’S WHEN I LOST IT!!! I had a million thoughts running trough my head… ‘I didn’t get one last hug,’ or ‘I wanted to tell him that I love him again’ or ‘Where was the 5 minute warning!’

They got last minute instructions and the CO (Maj. Meelarp) said a few things to the crowd and then they were told to load up the busses. I followed the line and went and said my final good-byes then. I didn’t care if he was going to get yelled at or not! (lots of others were doing this as well—I think they missed the “last call” too). Then they loaded the busses and were off.

It was an emotional day or two. I was sad that he is leaving, but more proud than I think I have ever been…not just of Mike, but of all these Marines he is going over with. They are a volunteer group; they are well trained; and they are all willing to go so that others can stay home with their families a bit longer.

I miss Mike, but he called me today from Germany, and sounded good. I’m sure 7months will go fast, but keep us in your prayer anyway...thanks!

Melissa and Adam's Wedding

My cousin got married on Saturday. Although I had to be in two places, my siblings got to go to the ceremony and I met up with them at the reception. They looked so happy, and Melissa looked gorgeous!

Here are some pictures from the reception and the dancing that followed.

Congrats Melissa and Adam!

The Garden

My dad has had a garden for longer than I have been alive. So this summer I wanted to make the most of the ready space available to me. I planted tomatoes, corn, zucchini, watermelon, and green beans.

Well, my tomato plants are taking over the world. They are LOADED with green tomatoes. The other day I went out to check on them and see if any were ripe. My niece, Isabella, came out to “help” me. We found 4 ripe tomatoes! Two had been eaten by bugs, and the other two looked great! I handed them to Isabella to hold while I checked on everything else…and do you know what she did? She took a bite out of BOTH of them!

Oh well…there will be many, many more to come!

Much too much!

I have more pictures from California, and as soon as I find my small camera I’ll post the ones of us kayaking, but until then some other things we have been doing.

We went to the Evening Parade at the Marine Barracks at 8th & I in D.C. We had a really good time except for the whole getting rained on and losing our really good seats part. It was fun to see the guys march and do drills. Isabella (my niece) was really good, but could have cared less about the rifles, she wanted to see the band play.

We had a great time on the 4th of July! We invited a bunch of people over and ate lots of food, and then did our own fireworks show. It was a nice last hoo-rah before Mike leaves this week.