Two years

It's been two years today.  Two years since Stephen lost his best friend, his battle buddy, his brother.  PFC Conrado Javier was KIA in Afghanistan in 2010 during their first deployment.  Javi was a sweetheart he was a little quiet and shy at first but when he got used to you or was around his friends he was hilarious and always making jokes.  His favorite thing to say was "That's badass!" you heard it All.The.Time. lol he wasn't only my husband's friend I considered us good friend's as well.  He always helped my husband and I when we would argue or have a misunderstanding he knew how Stephen was being affected by the way and he always took the time to make sure I knew that he loved me and just told me to hang in there for him.  He was a light to everyone he knew.  I was able to attend his funeral in his hometown in CA in January of the following year.  It was by far the hardest funeral I've ever been to.  I was very glad though to speak to his mother and hug her and just be with her for a few moments though we couldn't understand each other very well *she speaks Spanish I speak English* but the language difference didn't matter we didn't need words we just knew and we just held onto each other for awhile and we cried together.  It was beautiful ceremony I think about 500 people were there.  The graveside service was just as moving, I can't hear Taps without crying now.  My husband won't ever forget, he won't ever stop talking about him or thinking about him and I'm glad.  He was an important part of his life much more important than I can understand and sometimes I don't think wives can ever really fathom how important that one friend can be to them during a deployment like they went through.  And that's ok I'm just so glad they had each other as long as they did.  

Please if you're reading this today please send a prayer up for Javi's family this day cannot be an easy one for them no matter how much time has passed.  Thank you.

RIP Javier

Quick Prayer Request

(Via)

First off I realize that cartoon is old but it's about California *where we live and anyway it was just super funny* so my husband has been out of the Army for almost four months now and has been actively looking for a job the entire time...not a lot of luck.  So we don't want to be a huge burden to my parents * we live in Fort Lester we aren't complete bums* and don't want them to start having to pay for everything so he's biting the bullet and signing up for unemployment *and it is killing him* I think he's someone who has earned his right to unemployment 

*He is the non-fuzzy one LOL this was a platoon football game has nothing to do with anything he just looks so darn cute in his uniform!*

after being in the Army for 4 years and doing a rough tour in Afghanistan and while there getting a hernia so bad they had to med-flight him back to Germany for a huge surgery so I don't feel to bad about it.  

*this is actually a photograph of him in Afghanistan on Patrol in Kandahar province*

 It's kind of a rough process though lots of waiting, phone calls, bad elevator music, and rude people *in CA you no longer go to an office it's all done by phone or internet in his case phone because Military is a bit different* So I'm just asking for some prayers to be sent our/his way because he's trying to hard and getting so frustrated.  He just wants a job, on the one hand I hate seeing him like this on the other I'm so glad I married a man who cannot be lazy, he not only wants to but NEEDS to work.  So just thought I'd put the request out for some prayers they'd be much appreciated...♥

RIP Conrado Javier

 

At this time of year when we are supposed to be celebrating the birth of our savior, the birth of the man who died on the cross for our sins, is actually when we tend to forget him the most. We forget to thank him every day for what he did for us. And that made me think that we forget to say something so simple like 'thank you' for something so extraordinary! But we remember everything on our Christmas lists?! And then I thought of other things we forget to say thank you for things that we don't even realize, things like another young man's sacrifice that maybe you don't know about, and I know he didn't get the thank you's he deserved but I'm hoping this year his family will not only get those them but also the prayers for strength and peace that I'm sure they need. Today marks the one year anniversary of the death of PFC Conrado Javier

 

 

Javi was killed by an IED near Kandahar Afghanistan last year while serving in operation enduring freedom on this day December 19th. I'm hoping that maybe this year while you're preparing food and gifts, worrying about family celebrations and those last minute details you could take the time to not only thank the Lord for the sacrifice that he made for us but also for the sacrifice that Javier and thousands of other young men like him have made for you and your family, so you can enjoy the things you are now and even so you can experience the holiday stresses you are now. Maybe you could take the time to say a quick prayer for his family, who lost their son, and brother, to all the men like my husband who lost a friend. And for the girl he was going to marry as soon as deployment was over. I cannot imagine what they're going through this year. And I hope you'll join me in praying for them, praying that they are able to remember the good times with Javi and reflect on what an amazing person he was, what a good soldier he was, and I hope someday they are able to understand all the lives he touched in his short 19 years. So just remember all the men and women still serving, and the ones who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and all the families that are touched by their work and their absence. Remember all the people who aren't able to be with their loved ones this year and the ones that unfortunately will never be able to spend it with them ever again. And most importantly remember to say a praise of thanks to God for giving the world his only son. Just remember to say 'Thank you' two very small and simple that are so easy to say and can mean so much.

This started out as a way for me to get a prayer chain going for Javi's family but now I'm hoping you'll read this and maybe you'll remember to thank the Lord for his sacrifice, he died so you could be free from sin.

And No other gift could ever compare to that

"For God So Loved The World That He Gave His Only Begotten Son and Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have ever lasting life"

- John 3:16

God Bless you and Merry Christmas!

Please ignor the total gangster-ness of the below video...the message really got to me on the day we found out about Javi and it's been a favorite ever since.

...and to end it on a happy note below is a picture of my husband and Javi before deployment...

please keep in mind my husband doesn't usually look quite that creepy...he was super duper drunk (which is why he's wearing the hot wheels shirt I got him hahah!)