"I stand quiet looking into the setting sun at the cliffs over looking the sea.  Trying to see my future as I think of my past wondering what my country will think of me and what I will think of my country, "for the deeds we done! Soldier, warrior, savior like the knights of old? Or vandal, raider, murderer, hungry for man's blood? Nevertheless I hold my head up high for the good we done."
I pray my country will let me stand tall with those of the brave and the strong.  When the  sun's last light shines on the sea and a cool wind blows a salty kiss on the native son. Keep tight and be among the stars, for they are the eyes of the old, brave, and the wise, "as I stand quiet looking into the setting sun thinking of the deeds we've done."

Sgt. Jerry Ramirez
U.S. Infantry
Apache wounded in
Iraq 17 Nov 2007
with a Traumatic Brain Injury
Participant
Veterans and Family Members Retreat


  Kachina Dolls created by Jerry

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My 30 Minutes of Silence and Reflection at the Marconi Center
"I was not sure if I could find any peace.  The sun provides me with warmth and comfort. The wind provides me with a cool spout of relaxation.  The trees provide me with shade. The grass and ocean brings me smells of nature and all its beauty. I am really getting a familiar feeling of peace like the feelings I had when I was a child. No worries, No concerns, No problems, and No stress. The birds soar high above me with such grace, moving in a smooth fluid motion like the glassy Tomales Bay.  With a long breath I can finally take a break.
This time, I really feel like I have been catered to, and I was not sure if I could accept that this was really just for me.  This trip was just for me with no strings attached.  The energy that I used to have has come back a little.  The energy of all the nice people here has given me a sense of peace, goodness, and warmth within myself that I will never forget.
Through the meditation this morning, I discovered that I have a hard time relaxing. I also noticed that I have a hard time just breathing. Joe told me that I have to "welcome the peace and good things into my life". He told me to "wish myself well, well-being". Don't think of myself as someone to blame for any conditions, situations, or states of mind.  I would like to meditate more, by myself or within my prayers to God.
At first, I really thought this was not the right time for me to be here. I am a graduate student and I have a paper to write for next week and my partner helping me write the paper just bailed out on me the night before I left. She made it harder for me. However, this retreat has given me the strength that I have needed for some time now. This reminds me of when my son, Zyan was a baby and I would walk him in the stroller by the marina in the bay area of Oakland. Zyan looked so sweet and pretty to look at. So innocent and quiet a child he was. I want this for my life as much as I can. If I could give everyone this kind of peace I would. I think everyone deserves this kind of love.
I kayaked for the first time and I was not afraid. It was so fun and exciting.  I never thought that this could ever happen to me.  Everyone else has these kinds of opportunities, but not me.  My muscles are sore from the hills and fun but I don't care. I feel so good and I wish it could last forever. I wish my family were here.

"Using treasure to spin tragedy is called alchemy."

Shauna
Participant
Female Veterans and Service Members Retreat

Retreats
Service Providers Retreat Thursday, April 23rd - Sunday, April 26th, 2009

Families of a Deployed Service Member Retreat
Thursday, June 25th - Sunday, June 28th, 2009



Veterans & Families Retreat
Thursday, July 30th - Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Female Veterans and Service Members Retreat
Thursday, October 8th- Sunday, October 11th, 2009

Trainings
Post Traumatic Stress and Substance Abuse with Robyn Walser, PhD- Tuesday, Oct. 20th, 2009

Children of Military Families -- Helping Them Cope With Deployment and Trauma with Dr. Alicia Lieberman- Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Please review all of our trainings on iTunes U under Invisible Wounds of War.

***Confidential psychological counseling is offered pro-bono by trained counselors in the San Francisco Bay Area for OIF and OEF veterans and their families.***
If you are interested in this program or would like more information, please contact our Clinical Coordinator, Loren Krane at 415.563.3540 or e-mail him at wyloren@yahoo.com.

For information about 2010 community educational and support programs that we are developing, click here to read the Networks of Care section of Joseph's message.

On the goings side, we are both joyful for and sorry to say goodbye to Libby White, our beloved Office Manager who recently welcomed a baby boy, Judah Conrad White, to the world and will be moving to Sonoma. We also said goodbye to Richard McDaniel our logistics and outreach associate who returned to his full-time position as Membership Coordinator at the Stonestown YMCA, as well as his full-time schedule of college classes. Col. Darcy Kauer, one of Coming Home's original volunteers, is moving on to other activities, as have Kathleen Cutshall, Mary Ellen Salzano, Bob Bradley, Mary Janke, Robert Grant and Col. Ana Smythe (USMC, Ret). We are deeply grateful for your invaluable contributions and we wish you all the best in your new endeavors.

On the comings side, we take pleasure in welcoming Kasee Fuller as our Operations Manager, whom some of you have had the pleasure of meeting at one of our last four retreats. She brings an MA in Youth and Human Services Administration and years of implementing youth and family programs for the Army Reserve Child, Youth and School Services in Northern California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Rim territories. We also take pleasure in welcoming Lauren Rettberg as our new Office Manager. Lauren brings a Masters of Public Health and years of working with underserved populations. Nicolette Segell is a new part time addition who brings specialized event experience.

Chad, our assistant director for retreats, is a new Dad! We welcome with joy, Milo Peterson, Ginny and Chad's new baby son just born on Thursday, September 17. We are very grateful for all that Chad has brought to our programs. With his new paternal joys and responsibilities, he will be understandably less available over the next year. But he remains a valued member of our Coming Home team and as baby Milo grows, will again become an active part  of our programs.                     

Nicolette, Kasee and Lauren