6 September 2008

Darsi Alla Fuga

Anticipation &
Anxiety coursing through my veins.
Body temperature rising, rising
As the aircraft ascends.
Faces I don't know
Forever imprinted on my heart.
Time to go...
Exhilarating,
Wrapped in sky &
Cold, clear, new life flowing through my lungs,
Through my veins,
Into my soul.
Loud
Love
Fast
Hot
Free
White cloak pulls me into heat, peace, serenity.
Shhh...
Experience right now.
Slowly drifting
Perfection.
Alas, my feet touch earth.
Forced to walk &
My heart breaks with each step.
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Camping Adventures

Last weekend, Rae and I met up with the Cadenheads at Backbone State Park. This was my second year of tent camping at Backbone, and I LOVE IT!!! We were lucky enough to have great weather (with the exception of one heckuva 20 minute downpour on Sunday afternoon), good camping neighbors, and as always ~ the best company! Grandma Rea and Uncle John paid us a visit on Sunday, and went hiking with us, too. Here are a few photos of our adventure:

Getting started on our adventures! Gage and Rae at the cove in the wading stream
Our campsite was nice and cozy. We had the fire going most of the weekend ~ s'mores galore!

>
Vine swinging like Tarzan!

Look at this cute couple!


I will cherish these memories forever.
Love to you all...
~Rikki

Miss You Already

This morning Zachary had to make his trip back to Oklahoma City. We're so sad that he had to go. I know a little of what he's feeling, but I think it's a little different for Zach than it was for me, Trish, and John - it was always so sad to leave Dad's house each summer. We also missed our mom, and our pets, and our beds at home, too. I honestly think it's tougher on us as "the grown-ups" to watch our children have to go back and forth, than it ever was on us as kids - to have adventures every year, two of each holiday, two whole families.

I don't know - I think the worst part for my kids is that they are pretty close, and each goodbye brings a little heart break.

The next visit just can't get here quick enough.

"Be it known that MSgt Rikki Goshorn has successfully completed the July
2008 ANG Honor Guard Training Week. You are hereby charged to uphold and
maintain the proud traditions of the United States Air Force, the Department
of Defense, and the United States of America."

18 July 2008
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Welcome to the World

Ruby Jude Michael Holman was born on July 4th to my cousins Sarah and Jeremy.  Congratulations Mom and Dad, and welcome sweet, beautiful girl!  I can't wait to meet you and love on you!

Y
xxxooo
Rikki

OUCH!!

Man oh man!  Yesterday evening, Raelinn was jumping a bike ramp at her friend's house and took a pretty good spill.  She sure gave us all a good scare - she bloodied up the sidewalk pretty well and knocked herself out for a few seconds!  We got her cleaned up and took her in to the hospital just to get checked out - no stitches or casts, but she's got some good scrapes, cuts and bruises.  Raelinn is one tough cookie, though, and I'm sure she's not done jumping ramps.  Tony Hawk wouldn't be where he's at today if he quit after his first good biff!  ;o)

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xoxoxo Love to you all xoxoxo
~Rikki <<P1010001.JPG>> <<P1010003.JPG>> <<P1010005.JPG>>

Mother Nature

This is a picture sent to me from some people in the Air National Guard who
live in western Iowa. It's the actual tornado that hit Little Sioux, IA on
Wednesday, 11 June 2008. Hearing the stories of the boys whose lives will
be forever altered from this storm just crushes my heart. Can you imagine
seeing this coming towards you, and then when it's passed, to have the
courage to help your buddies? What a great group of brave little guys.

Flood Relief Operations

 

RELEASED BY  Lt.  Col. Greg Hapgood

            PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
            OFFICE:         (515) 252-458

            CELL: (515) 971-6385

            HOME:          (515) 986-5725

                                                                                                                                                RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

                     

                      CAMP DODGE

                 JOHNSTON, IOWA

JUNE 12, 2008                       

9:40P.M.         

 

 

UPDATE ON IOWA NATIONAL GUARD

FLOOD RELIEF OPERATIONS

 

 

The Iowa National Guard, in conjunction with the office of Iowa Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge, Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and many local, state, and federal entities, are providing assistance, coordination, planning, and preparation in support of flood relief operations across the state of Iowa.

 

Many Iowa lakes, rivers and streams are at near-record levels, flooding Iowa communities and forcing many Iowans out of their homes. With additional thunderstorms expected to hit Iowa during the week, there are heightened concerns for the safety and security of Iowans. More than 80 of Iowa's 99 counties have been declared state disaster areas.

 

Iowa's citizen-Soldiers and Airmen have responded quickly in assisting Iowa communities as part of their State mission. More than 2,100 Soldiers and Airmen are currently activated for state active duty in Iowa.

 

Since their activation, Iowa National Guard members have been busy partnering with federal, state, county, and local officials in the following affected Iowa communities:

 

-Butler County - Two Soldiers are providing a generator to provide emergency power to the county.

 

IOWA NATIONAL GUARD

Always Ready. Always There.

 

 

 

IOWA NATIONAL GUARD

Always Ready. Always There.

 

Page 2 of 3

 

-Cedar Rapids - Approximately 30 Soldiers are involved in sandbagging and transportation operations. Another 150 Soldiers are assisting the Cedar Rapids Police Department with security, traffic control points and traffic patrols.  Six Soldiers and Airmen are providing generator support to the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Approximately 60 Soldiers are staged to provide emergency water supplies

-Charles City - Approximately six Soldiers are securing the Highway 14 bridge.

-Columbus Junction - Approximately 26 Soldiers are providing traffic control and security, and hauling sandbags.

-Des Moines - More than 300 Soldiers and Airmen are engaged in sandbagging efforts at the Birdland levee system near North High School.

-Elkader - Approximately 30 Soldiers are assisting with traffic control.

-Evansdale - Approximately 30 Soldiers are helping to patrol the dike in this area.

-Iowa City - A 40-Soldier Reaction Team (SRT) has been activated to transport sand and bags in high water areas of Iowa City. Another 100 Soldiers are being prepositioned in Iowa City to assist in future flood-related missions. Soldiers are helping in sandbagging the Iowa City National Guard Armory and the University of Iowa's Mayflower dormitory.

-Johnston - Approximately eight Soldiers have secured access to Saylorville Dam.

-Linn County - Two Soldiers are assisting the Linn County Emergency Manager as required.

-Monona County - Approximately 49 Soldiers provided assistance in response to the Little Sioux Scout Ranch/Monona County tornado and are now stationed in Des Moines.

-Ottumwa - Approximately 12 Soldiers, using six dump trucks, are assisting in providing a barrier for protecting the Ottumwa Water Plant.

-Palo - Approximately 16 Soldiers are assisting members of the Iowa State Patrol in providing security control points along major roads entering and exiting the city.

-Polk City - Approximately 75 Airmen are providing sandbagging support to protect the water treatment facility.

-State of Iowa - A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and its crew are at the disposal of the Governor and Iowa National Guard Adjutant General to provide aerial view of flooding.

-Vinton - Approximately 100 Soldiers were involved in sandbagging and transportation operations. They have been reassigned to follow-on missions in eastern Iowa.

-Waverly - Approximately 12 Soldiers have secured bridges in this area.

 

 

 

IOWA NATIONAL GUARD

Always Ready. Always There.

 

 

IOWA NATIONAL GUARD

Always Ready. Always There.

 

Page 3 of 3

 

Additional Iowa National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have been activated around the state and are currently preparing for future flood relief operations. The Iowa National Guard, in conjunction with the office of the Governor and the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, will continue to respond to requests from within the state.  Additional releases about Iowa National Guard relief efforts will be updated on a continuous basis as more information becomes available.

 

For questions concerning this release as well as additional information about the operations, training, and activities of the Iowa Army and Air National Guard, please contact Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood, Iowa National Guard Public Affairs Officer by email at gregory.hapgood@us.army.mil or (515) 252-4582 (office), (515) 971-6385 (cell), or (515) 986-5725 (home). You may also contact 1^st Sgt. Duff E. McFadden, at (515) 252-4666 (office), (515) 480-7647 (cell), or by e-mail at duff.e.mcfadden@us.army.mil.

 

-END-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IOWA NATIONAL GUARD

Always Ready. Always There.

Honor Them

Today we had the honor of hosting a group of World War II Prisoners of War (POW) at the 133rd.  The Honor Guard Team presented the POW/MIA table for the veterans, and then squadron members gave them a tour of our unit.  The group that I tagged along with were mostly fliers (we had one infantryman our small group), and I learned a lot from these men today.  Each time I meet a veteran, I am overwhelmed by the courage and selflessness they display.  These men have given us a piece of their lives that can never be taken back, and I don't think they'd want it back if they could have it.  They've seen and done things that most of us couldn't imagine.  Endured the worst things life has to offer ~ and yet they are thankful.  It is an honor for me to have had the opportunity to thank them, and I just wanted to share those quick thoughts with you.

Love to you all,
Rikki
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Dolliver State Park

The Des Moines river runs through Fort Dodge, and I haven’t gotten pictures of it yet, but I hope to tomorrow.  The kids and I went to Dolliver State Park yesterday, which is about 15 minutes from our house, and got some shots of the flooding out there.  What used to be a valley now looks like a lake.  It sounds like we just happened to live in the right area, as this devastation hasn’t, and likely won’t, affect our community as badly as it has impacted cities and towns south and east of here due to the river flow.  More to come…

 

Stay safe~

 

http://www.wunderground.com/US/IA/Fort_Dodge.html

 

Hmmm?

 

Tryin' this out...

I’m really beginning to get frustrated with this whole blogging thing.  I honestly don’t have a clue what I should be writing about half of the time, and the other half of the time when something actually comes to me, I have no idea how to execute it using the Google Blog-a-ma-jig.  This should post to my blog, so hopefully it does.  If it works, I’m going to keep doing it this way as it seems a lot easier than clunking around on the website.  Here – I’ll try throwing in a picture of Blitzen with his new hair cut

 

Here’s lookin’ at you!

~Rikki

I'm Back!!!

Hey there! I'm dropping a quick note to let you all know I'm back! I'll be updating every chance I get, so look for pictures soon!

Love to you all,
Rikki