T-30 days and Counting....

Well, by the time I post this to my blog, we (Allen & I) will be at a 30 day count down until our wedding day in California.  Each day seemed to drag ever so long, this year, while waiting for him to return from Afghanistan and yet, it is so hard to believe that we are only 30 days out.

So you may be wondering what he has been doing while in Afghanistan.  Allen took a years leave of absence to work as a Police Mentor in Afghanistan, training Afghan Nationals for police work in their districts. This is a thankless job, that the average American has no clue of the hard work, that good men and women are doing in Afghanistan. They do not just deal with the dangers which present themselves each and every day, they also have to be ambassadors of good will, while working with men who culturally have been oppressed by years and years of wars and battles.  It is a very difficult dynamic to train people to take pride not only in their work, but in their nation, where they have been oppressed and beaten down by opposing and deadly forces.

I am really proud of the work that Allen has down, first in Herat and now in Jabalabad.  This last tour of work that he is doing in Jabalabad has him teamed with our own US military, true young men who are American Heroes.  These are young men who have willingly stepped up to the plate for our nation, to serve and protect. I am amazed at how these young men love their country and are true Patriots in every since of the word.  Again, these young men are doing a thankless job, in which they risk their lives every day, trying to keep American safe and bring freedom to a people who do not know or understand what freedom really means. I only know these boys through the stories that Allen tells me, when he and I talk, I can hear in his voice an admiration and pride about the character and integrity that these young men walk in, which makes me very proud of not only Allen's work, but that of our US Military. 

I am so very fortunate to have the opportunity to be marrying such a wonderful man. You know, it's a real challenge in this day and age to find a good man, a man that has character, that knows the difference between right and wrong, one that knows how to be committed and loyal and most of all a gentleman.  Allen is that...yes, I know he also has his "larger than life, center of attention," ways about him.  I thought he was one of the most obnoxious men that was running at Runner's World....go figure, we would first become such good friends and in very short time husband and wife.

Of course, when he gets back to the states, I will be getting him back on the trail to run...after all...he has spent so much time coaching me from afar, I think it's time for me to get to train him, that is if he can keep up, with the Super Runner Girl.

We are both very excited.  I want to thank those of you, who have continued to ask about Allen and have kept him in your prayers. He is not home yet, so we will covet any and all prayers, until he lands safely here in Tulsa.

See you all out on the trail...hopefully this Saturday...and no, I am not going to wear my cape for the wedding....although I really wanted too.