While the work can be exciting and interesting, living in Baghdad is not without challenges. We eat in a military mess hall. None of the meals are prepared in Iraq. Rather, they are cooked in the U.S. and shipped to Kuwait, where they are brought in by convoy to Iraq. Sometimes, due to convoy delays, the only greens at the salad bar are pickles. Trying to eat healthy is a real challenge here (not to mention trying to get in shape for the wedding!). We also live right near the helicopter landing zone. The helicopters fly right over our trailers at all hours of the day and night; sometimes they are so close that the trailers shake. Times are really tough when the mortars are falling. We have both spent more time than we care to huddled under our beds or in concrete duck and cover bunkers. People have died. On Dave’s birthday, in August, I was 20 feet from a mortar that exploded.

While decision-making can be tough from a war zone, being so close to life and death, working side by side with men and women in uniform, and others who are truly working “the front lines”, Dave and I have come to appreciate more simple things, and especially each other. Dave and I hope we make it out safely so we can celebrate with our loved ones. Being in Baghdad has reminded us that we have much to be thankful for.

- Thank you so much Julie for your story and I look SOOOO forward to FINALLY meeting both you and Dave this summer, its going to be quite the party! Add a comment to either of these posts to let Julie and Dave know we are thinking of them, and be sure to check back in July when I will be posting some of their big day photos!

Julie and Katie Couric

Julie and David