Slight delay

From Andy's e-mail:

So bad news. My plane out of qatar is delayed until midnight on the 20th so i'm not going to be able to make it in on the 21st. I'll update you more as i have details. :(

Andrew Stover

Flight Info.

from Andy's e-mail...

Yep. I have a flight from bradley to cincinnati that should arrive around 7am may 21 on delta

Andrew Stover

Heading Home

From Andy's e-mail:

Looks like my flight out of qatar is on the 20th at around 3am. We'll have a stop in germany than another one in connecticut. I'll let you know more specifics when i know them. Cant wait to be home!

So long...Farewell!

Andy left Iraq today. He will be in Qatar for a few days and should be back in the states by next week! Continue to pray for his safety as he makes his way home.

Meeting a Friend for Coffee

From Andy's e-mail:

just fyi I got to see Trey today at the coffee shop. He says hi to everyone. It was cool getting to meet him again since the only other time I had talked to him was at Springfield . I'm all packed and ready to go. Can't wait to leave this place :D

[Trey is someone that used to go to church with us. He and his family are now stationed back in their hometown of Dallas. Strange coincidence that he and Andy are at the same airbase in Iraq right now!]

Time is SLOW

From his facebook page:

Andrew Stover is not liking how slow these last days are going by

Last Box

From Andy's e-mail:

I just got your box today so I'm good to go here.

Looking Up a Friend

From Andy's e-mail:

I sure have been keeping close to God. I went to the Chaplains last service tonight. I also found trey's email address. going to see if he wants to go out for coffee soon. Thanks for the heads up on that btw

Yummy Cookies!

From Andy's e-mail:

Yep. Got the cookies in one piece. They were a big hit around the site. I wish i had gotten a picture of it but we had a literal ton of girl scout cookies. Two completely stacked pallets of them. I think they're trying to kill us lol. Well i'm going to go get some sleep over here. Ttys

???

From his Facebook page:

Andrew Stover am is are was were be being been

Sight-seeing

From a phone call to his girlfriend, Alora:

Andy was really excited and ready to come home. Next week is his last full week there. On Sunday they are going "sight-seeing" in Baghdad.

Making preparations

From an e-mail:

Sorry i haven't written back. I've been really busy getting everything in order for my trip home. I'll try and make one more phone call before I leave here. I'll probably mail my trunk on the 1st of May. Can't wait to be back.

Almost like Home

From FB:

Andrew Stover is enjoying his last few(20+) days in Iraq. If it weren't for the mortars it'd feel like home lol

Charlie Daniels Band

On FB:

Andrew Stover Had an awesome time at The Charlie Daniels Band concert!

Enjoying the weather

From Facebook:

Andrew Stover is enjoying the great weather in Iraq

Now on Facebook

Andy got on Facebook (he said he “snuck” on there) so Mom told him not to get in trouble for it!

yeah. I got to do the candlelight vigil [for Easter]. it was good. And I can't get in trouble for face book. I paid $10 for internet service for the rest of my time here.

Internet access...finally!

From Facebook:

I have finally snuck onto the internet in Iraq. That took way too long.

Easter

From Andy's e-mail:

For Easter, yesterday we watched Passion of the Christ and today we are having a candlelight vigil (weather permitting...never knew it could rain so much in a desert lol)

Easter Boxes and New Tires

Here’s the latest email from Andy. I told Andy about Jen and I shopping with Jake, Ellie and Emmy yesterday and that I was glad he didn’t run all over like Jake and Ellie did when he was little. He has decided that the “cheaper” tires are probably the way to go since all 4 need to be replaced.

I got your easter box and the worship team's box a couple days ago. All of the treats were greatly appreciated. I wish I could still have my racing tires on my car but I'll survive. I'm glad I never acted that way then if that's how bad it was lol. I'm counting down the days here...may can't come soon enough. Miss you and love you. - Andy

Mural Work

Nothing much to report over here...counting down the days until the advon gets here. Once they get here and get spun up it's on to the main body and from there its our trip home. i've still been working on the mural. I'll take pictures of it when I get done.

Andy

Souveniers

I have something that can be turned into a magnet :D. I got an Iraqi Journal cover for Alora. There are some hear no evil, etc. monkeys carved from "camel bone"(highly doubtful but they'll say anything to make a deal) that i'll probably get for jake. They have cute boonie hats at the alterations shop that I might get for emmy. and they have plenty of tshirts for everyone else that I can't think of what to buy. I found some Iraqi Occupation Badges(similar to my Command and Control Badge) as well that I can divy up. The weather here has gotten a lot warmer. It's great knowing I'll get a tan since I'm outside working on the unit mural but It's ridiculously hot. I think they have coasters at the Bazaar btw. I'm trying to remember everyone since I'll be seeing them all in the smokies. If I leave someone out then it's completely an accident. Well I'm off to dinner here soon. I'll talk to you later

Andy

Sorta like "M.A.S.H."

Good to know freckles is still his same self. Sad to hear that my jade plant got frozen. I got 3 boxes from Angel today as well as 1 from Ning. I think I have the most boxes out of anyone here. Good thing I'm sharing them or I'd come back about 200 pounds heavier. I've been doing great here. They have me working on the Unit murals so I've been pretty busy. I can't wait to come home. I'm getting to the point where I don't want to be here any more. Oh well. Only 60 more days and I'll be heading back. We have signs up with distances from home(kind of like in M.A.S.H.) Evidently Dayton , OH is 6540 miles away. Just thought that was interesting. Well I've got to get going. I'll make sure I get started on thank you emails soon.

Andy

[His reference to Freckles has to do with his eating one of our jigsaw puzzle pieces. His “lucky” bamboo plant wasn’t so lucky. We turned off the heat to Andy’s bedroom this winter and I guess it got too cold in there for it.]

Busy Working

From Andy to his girlfriend, Alora:

oh you needn't worry about me. I'm quite alright. I have been really busy between working my actual job and working on the unit mural. i've been taking loads of pictures and picked you up a souvenir yesterday. I've been meaning to call but after work i'm just too tired and head back to bed. I love you a whole bunch.

-Andy

No Daylight Savings Time in Iraq

Actually Iraq doesn't observe DST so I'm staying the same time...which is good because that means i don't have to worry about time changing.

Always Getting Attacked

From Andy to his friend, Genevieve:

I'm quite alright. We get attacked all the time. It's kind of an everyday
occurrence over here so we don't mind it. I did get your letters as well.
That was very sweet of them. I'll be home before you know it. ^_^

Andrew

["them" refers to the kids she watches. They colored pictures and wrote notes to him.]

Hero

This was sent to Mom by one of her friends who is married to someone in the United States Air Force

Hi, Linda,

What a wonderful message from Andy. My "USAF wife" experience leads me to believe that with Andy receiving a meritorious service medal AND having dinner with the general, he most likely had a very interested "experience" in the not so recent past! I'm sure he'll be able to share all of the details with you when he returns but suffice it to say......your son is a HERO!

I'm continuing to pray for him each day.....and for you!

Much love,
Leslie

More Awards/ Mr. Popular

Hey

Just a quick update. The National Guard Bureau General McKinley was on site today. I got to meet him and have dinner with him. He's really personable and seemed genuinely interested in the input we had to offer to him about being here and about the Guard in general. We also had our Commander's Call and I was awarded for meritorious service and received Kingpin Airman of the Week. There are other exciting things I'd like to tell you but will have to wait until I get back. Our projected leave date is May 17. Also I received two boxes today from Mom's in Touch/Marsha Turner. Everyone gets excited when I get a box around here because they know that it's packed full with goodies. I appreciate everything you and everyone else is doing for me while I'm away. I can't wait until I get back to personally thank everyone. I'm going to go back to my dorm and get some sleep. It's been a long day. I'll ttyl.

Bazaar shopping

Congrats. Can't wait to see it [Mom's new car] when I get back home. Wish I could've been stationed in England to enjoy pancake day. We don't have those over here. All I get for breakfast is dry cereal and if I'm lucky, an egg lol. I miss real food :-(. I can't believe that I'm almost done with February already though. It's gone by a lot faster than I anticipated. I'm still looking for a magnet for you. I guess they don't have a high demand for tourist type gifts. I did pick up a few souvenirs at the base bazaar for everyone...it's different having to haggle for prices. You wouldn't believe the beautiful handmade rugs they have here. Of course I wouldn't dream of buying one. They're way out of my price range. I'd get some pictures but we're not allowed to take pictures of the tcn's(third country nationals).

-Andy

i got the box with the pop-tarts and the box with my xbox game.

Missing Birthdays

Sorry I haven't replied. Just haven't been on a computer in a few days. I got the package with the computer part in it. It works perfectly. Wish I could be there for everyone's bdays too. well I'll see if I can get a call sometime soon. I'll ttyl.

-Andy

Breakfast Request

I have a request for things to put in care packages. Breakfast foods. I as well as most of the other people here have not had breakfast in over a month. We're stuck here working during breakfast hours so anything like poptarts or individual cereals would be great. Thank you for the Valentine's. It's really appreciated. Sorry I haven't updated. I've been working on the unit mural and it's due today. Honor Guard is a lot of fun. It's, well, an honor being part of something that's very important to families of fallen airmen. I'll try and get some pictures of the practices next time I go. I'll ttyl.

-Andy

Packages for Andy

From Andy's friend, Genevieve:

I found a program that you all might be interested in. If you call this number 1-800-610-8734, press 1 for Express mail/Priority mail, and ask for the "Military Kit", the USPS will send you free supplies to mail 6 packages - 6 boxes, strapping tape, customs forms and envelopes, and labels. I got mine within a week. Hope this helps people send Andy more goodies!

If you need ideas of things to include in Andy's packages, please look at the list on the right side of the blog.

Promotion

Hey

If people want me to send a thank you note then they should leave their email address in the box so I can send them one. Today there is a lot of wind. Gusting about 35kts. I'm glad I bought a scarf so I don't have to taste sand everywhere I go. I'm going to an Honor Guard (they do funerals, fire parties, etc.) session tonight to learn more about it and hopefully join it. It is a great opportunity to represent the Ohio National Guard. I also got promoted yesterday. It was a surprise ceremony. I knew I would get the pay but not when I actually got to pin on my stripes. Also there is a request for the 5th Harry Potter movie (Order of the Phoenix ). We've been going through all of them at night and that is the only one we don't have here. I'll talk to you later.

Andrew

Meeting G.I. Joe

Hey,

Yes Jen told me about the blog. I can't view it here but I'm sure it's nice. Today I ate lunch with the Wing Commander, Brig. General Bishop. He's an incredible guy. He was the Commander of the Thunderbirds. He even has his own G.I. Joe. I wish it would snow here. It's a very bleak place over here. Nothing but sand and rocks. Oh well. At least the weather is nice...for now. I'm not looking forward to days with 90 as the low. I'm getting off now..I'll ttyl.

Andy

Thanks!

From Andy's e-mail:

Thanks for doing that for me...I can't access it since it's a blog. I'll try and send some pictures when I get the chance to burn them to a cd.

- Andy

Ground Hog Day & an Award

Hey Mom and Dad,

Sorry I haven't been updating you guys as much as I should. I haven't had much free time over the past few days. It's like "Groundhog Day" over here. Every day is exactly the same. Yesterday I was picked to represent our Operations section to meet the Multi-National Force - Iraq Command Sergeant Major. I received a coin for excellence in combat for my role in landing a malfunctioning F-16. Other than that it's been day in and day out the same. I'll ttyl since I have to be working. On a side note, on FB there is another Andrew Stover who added me as a friend so if there is an Andrew Stover that might be swearing or whatever that doesn't sound like me...disregard because it's a different person. I've been taking pictures when I can but a lot of the base is classified so we'll see what we get.

Andrew

Send Snacks

From Andy's e-mail:

It was a problem with our a/c so my room is fine now. Please send salsa, cookies (chips ahoy, oreos, etc.), those crystal lite packages, fruit snacks, popcorn, and whatever else you think that will survive overseas shipping lol. well I've got to get going. I'll ttyl.

Andrew

It's Cold Here!

From Andy's e-mail:

If you could send one of my heavy blankets that I have it would be great. It gets freezing cold over here at night...I woke up today shivering. well i'll talk to you later.

Finally in Iraq

Hey mom and dad,

I made it into Iraq on the 11th local time. It's actually a little cold here. it gets down into the 30's here at night and I'm guessing it will be that way until around the end of February. I've been keeping busy most of the day here in our workcenter so the only time I'm outside is when I'm heading to/from the dorms or to/from chow. I appreciate all of the prayers of protection that you and everyone have been praying for me. The night I flew in there was a mortar attack that hit close to our dorms. the rocket didn't go off though so I thank God for that. I have my mailing address for anyone who wants to write me letters. it is:

A1C Andrew Stover
USAF 727 EACS DO
APO AE 09315

Feel free to send me letters or packages assuming you can afford the postage ^_^. I have to get back to work so I'll talk to everyone later. Feel free to forward this to anybody who wants to stay updated on how I'm doing. I can't log onto facebook while i'm here so don't expect any updates from there until I get back. I love you and miss you all

Andrew

Goodbye Until May

Andy left for Iraq this morning. Click HERE to see pics.