Passing the Time and Corey's Address at Camp Shelby

We are in the middle of Deployment Week Four. We did get to cheat a little bit when Corey got to come home on emergency leave last weekend. The boys’ mother is in poor health, and conversations were necessary and decisions needed to be made. But she is home in good care and great spirits, with a strength to keep going I am not sure I would be able to summon.

My mom turned 60 (sorry Mama, now it’s out there!) on January 14, and Aunt Jean came in from Cali to celebrate with a big family dinner at Red River Grill in Marksville. For the birthday Mom’s sisters and brothers-in law, nieces and nephews-in-law, and great nieces and great nephews-in-law came to celebrate her birthday with her. We looked at old pictures and took some great new ones, especially pictures of the girl cousins, which I don’t think we’ve done in a very long time. I’ll post pictures this evening. I love when Aunt Jean makes her bi-annual pilgrimage to Louisiana. She’s so exuberant and witty and she is the matriarch of the Wilson family, after all.

Next weekend is my weekend with the boys. We may go to hang out with the Great Ones in Jena, or, depending on the weather, we may make a day trip to Global Wildlife. My reduced time with them is so sad. I cannot bear to go upstairs and walk past their empty, clean room.

I’ve been keeping busy getting our family financials in order. Deployment actually means a happy little surplus of money, so I’ve been getting us set up to save the extra money wisely so we can go house shopping when Corey comes home. The Office of the Lt. Governor is doing a music concert for the 3,500 soldiers in the Brigade and 4,000 family members at Camp Shelby in March, and I’m leading the team for that event, which keeps me incredibly busy at work and happily engaged with the National Guard. I’ve also volunteered to lead the Family Readiness Group for Corey’s company. I think he’s a little shocked, because I typically do not volunteer for extra work, and I’m not so much of a participator in group activities, but I felt I was called to my Army Wife duties. I also, to the delight of my father, joined my appropriate church. In Baton Rouge, which has more than one Catholic church, where you go depends on where you live. I am now a member of St. George Catholic Church.

My friend Cami launched her food blog yesterday. http://partyonmypalate.wordpress.com/. She’s one of those talented and annoying people who can see something in a store and make it for 30% of the cost. She does her own remodeling in her house. Next up, I believe, is her master bathroom. So I’m sure yesterday’s pepper steak recipe is going to be delicious.

Corey report: They’ve been out on the shooting ranges for most days. The last two days have been gunnery training, where they shoot blanks and then live fire from the armored vehicles they will be driving in Iraq. Corey is the squad leader, so he does not shoot. He is the lead vehicle in his convoy, and he has a driver and a gunner (whose name is appropriately Corey.) Pretty soon they will be doing a practice convoy to New Orleans and another practice convoy to Tennessee. Then I think they’ll be nearly done with their training. He comes home on pass on 1 March and goes back to Camp Shelby on 4 March, and he may be in the first or second round of companies leaving out of Mississippi on March 6. I’ll post more information on that when he confirms it. In the meantime, his address at Camp Shelby is:

SSG Corey D. Allbritton

CSC 13, B Co 256th BSTA

Bldg 2490 25th Street

Camp Shelby, MS 39407

Thanks for the prayers and encouragement. We love them all!