I don't know what it is about this time...

I want to show off someone I am so proud of...my baby brother Jeremy or Jamie as he is known to some folks to many others Staff Sgt Jeremiah L Keeton. I come from a large family of 5 brothers and 3 sisters. There were 6 of us born close together and then mom had one about 10 yrs later then the baby Jeremy 9 yrs after that. Jeremy was born when I was in college at Union University. He attended Mother Daughter Day at our brand new Zeta Tau Alpha sorority house when he was only 3 months old. Our dad passed away when he was only 3 years old. This is one of our last pictures of Daddy and Jeremy and me in the corner.


When he started school I became his room "mom" and started my volunteering career in his classrooms at Sigler Elementary. When he started struggling in Middle School I was the one who went up to the school to talk to them about what was going on. When he was bullied by what we now were gang members...Sandi stepped up and talked to the parents of the bullies. As he went on to high school and things got to hard for him and he wanted to drop out of school I am the person he talked too. He did drop out and studied and got his GED first time he took the test. Now we know dyslexia runs strongly in our family and it explains a whole lot... that and teachers who were just picking up a paycheck. This is one of my favorite pictures of him...HUGE SMILE and the sweetiest kid!



Jerermy came to live with me and my family when my girls were very young. He worked beside me and grew up with my girls. He decided to follow his big brothers and join the Army. He is a very smart guy and the Army saw that and he has grown up with them. I can not begin to express how proud we are of him and what he has done with his life. From 12+ years in the Army and meeting his wife Adriana. He has a beautiful family of 3 (one of which I have yet to meet...hopefully at Christmas time.) He has been to many countries, and fought and been wounded fighting for freedom and our country. Today my baby leaves for yet another deployment to Iraq.

Why does is it effecting me more this time than any other deployment? I miss him and his family something awful. He is stationed in Ft Drum NY and I live in Dallas, TX. His youngest angel was born when he was in his last deployment... Last time I saw him was at our mom's memorial service. I have to say the US Army was wonderful allowing him to come home several times to visit with her before she passed and then after she did.  Kassy has started a new blog called Shweet Letters From Home. We'd love for you to come by and follow us. When Jamie gets settled in Iraq he will be sending names and address of soldiers who could use some letters from home and good cheer. Many of our men and women go to war with no one here at home. We  also hope to match up some of the families let behind with those willing to share during the holiday season and also just to let the families know that they are in our thoughts and prayers all the year round. It must be so hard to have your loved one away from you and not knowing how they are doing. Even harder on the kids left behind.


So please add our Jamie and his Unit to your prayer lists. We plan to show pictures every so often of him and the girls when they were younger. If you look to the left you will see him as a young cowboy fan with his cousin Josh. Josh still is but I think Jamie is a Giants fan now...being in NY and all.

Thanks for letting me ramble on, it helps a little. I don't know what it is about this deployment that is getting to me so much.... hopefully will be the last one for a while BUT have to say I AM SO PROUD OF MY SOLDIER! Keep our Troops in your thoughts and prayers.