* Well, our friend RIF's tour of duty in Afghanistan is over in a just a few days, and he will have less and less time to contribute here I guess before going home to a well deserved respite.

Though he promises to stay in touch when he gets home, I am guessing lovely Mrs RIF and his girls will provide rather more attractive diversions than MB !.

I wanted to start a thread where people can let this unassuming, caring hero know what his contributions have meant to so many on here. *

I'll start:

RIF, my friend

I first hit this site a few days after d-day with my life in ruins. At that time, MB 'lifers' grabbed me by the lapels and yelled spittle-filled urgent orders at me, which I followed, having no other plan at that desperate time.

It worked wonderfully, and my dear Squid's afair cracked, and fell apart through exposure and plan A.

Then there came a time where the lapels could be loosed, and the challenges of recovery faced me. This was strange,because while I knew the objective of plan A - end Squids affair - , I never knew what a 'recovery' actually looked like. What should I do?

Day after day I would check MB during the English daytime, and day after day this unassuming man, serving the Free world in Afghanistan would be there for me. You, friend RIF.

I felt at the time you was offering me sympathy. But looking at transcripts of those conversations it was gentle, loving,experiential advice that affected me gradully but deeply.

Your encouragement and advice triggered me in properly picking up the mantle of Family Leadership that Jesus intends for husbands and that ALSO had worked so wonderfully in your recovery of your own marriage from the crack of doom.

This 'loving contol' helped me provide a place where Squid is free of fear of my retribution where she feels I will protect her from hurt and she can unravel the last threads of fog. This has worked and IS working wonderfully, Squid is progresisng DAILY and our lives are unrecognisable now not only from D-day and after but from everal years before her affair.

RIF, you convinced me to let God work in our lives and that its OK to love this wayward woman of mine, now so very repentant.

You have been confident of our recovery even when I haven't been.

You sir, have been the quiet hero of this site and it is a reflection of your real life personality.

I am grateful for your dedication to the recovery of this stranger, and I am proud to call you my friend.

I wish you blessings all your life, Sir, and I pray that someday we can meet, laugh and never mention infidelity once !!!!!!

" Almighty God, I offer up earnest thanks forsending us this Quiet hero. He clearly carries your burden to help troubled marriages, and he dispatches it with gentleness , strength and faith.

I pray that you protect him and his loved ones with a hedge of angels against evil and sadness and that Lord you grant him goodness and mercy all the days of his life, and that he dwells in the house of the Lord for ever. I pray this lord, as a sinner forgiven. Amen".

All blessings, my Dear friend Lr Col. RIF.

* salutes *

I second that !!! A gentle soul with a heart like farlap but maybe seabiscuit is more relevant to RIF ... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Oh Bullocks!!!

How does one follow up a post like that from bobpure...who surely nailed how one person can affect someone else on so many unseen levels...

be well
be safe....
much gratitude to your service...here and there....

and ask aussiewife what the heck is a farlap...

Godspeed on your journey home..

ARK^^

dear rif---bob is right on. thank you first for defending our country and doing what you do. you sacrafice soooo much and dont complain. your always around in the morning to have coffee with! now its gonna just be me and dobie and i see the two of us getting into trouble...i kinda sense we are a younger version of suz and pep!!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

i have prayed for you daily...for your safety and return to your family. thank you for all the times you prayed for me. we will miss you....but will also celebrate your happiness in going home!!! safe trip and godspeed.....

Ark

Farlap is the name of a very famous race horse that had a heart about 3 times the size of a normal race horse ...so when you say someone has a heart like farlap ...... see? very simple hehehe <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

RIF ROCKS!

No doubt about it, he and Bob have kept me going on the worst of days. There are others of course and I put them on the same level of affection in my heart, but RIF and bob have been the most consistent.

The two of them can get at the gloomiest heart from two different directions at the same time and shed some light for the day.

Thanks so much to RIF and Bob for all their support through this walk in hell.

Same goes for all of the villagers. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

RIF, I love your groovy little updates on Idiotville. I still need your advice so don't stay away too long. You have touched this stranger's heart. TT

RIF, you've brightened a lot of my mornings with your reports on Afg. Knowing that most times you are in the same place as my H and doing ok helps me believe my H is also doing ok. I thank you for that!

Have a wonderful homecoming & reunion with Mrs. RIF & your girls <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

RIF, my dear, dear friend...what can I say? You were there when I confessed my A to this site. You were there when I suffered through guilt, anxiety and self loathing. You were there through all the ugliness that has happened in my M for the past several months. Never once has your belief that God can do anything ever swayed. I have watched in awe as you walked bob through months of recovery. I watched you sit patiently through the nights with greer. I see you seek out newbies with your sincere encouragement. I am in awe of your humbleness and deep love for the Lord and your family.

Never a moment of complaining from you dear man about being deployed. An ever humble and eager servant is the best description I can come up with for you. You take the "walk two miles" of Jesus commands quite literally and I admire that. Your quiet strenght and endearing sense of humor makes you much beloved in Idiotville and all over MB.

Godspeed my dear RIF. May the Lord hold you safely in his hands from now and forever. May He continue to bless you and your family.

I salute you.

Quite simply put -

RIF is da bomb!

And he always remembers to say "hi" to each and every visitor in Idiotville!

To be chanted in unison:

RIF RIF RIF RIF RIF RIF RIF...

Oh my... now I'm embarrassed. Thank you friends.

When Mrs. RIF confessed all of her A's in December 2000, I thought my world had ended (again). I was determined to work through our issues with MC and lots of prayer and faith in God. I found the MB website in May 2002 right after I'd gotten back from Kosovo... Mrs. RIF and I were still rebuilding but doing better.

I mainly lurked around the JFO & GQII boards when I first joined. Mrs. RIF and I still hadn't "gotten it" yet when I first started posting... Our MC had given me the task of journaling only the "nice" things that I had for Mrs. RIF. I decided that I should start posting and that if I ever had the opportunity, I'd post something "nice" about Mrs. RIF... so my first posts were really an assignment by our MC!

After posting for a while, I remembered how lonely I was way back in 1987-1990 when I was going through hell and had no one to talk too.... I remembered how I used to pick up my pistol every night and 'practice' how I'd end it all, and I had no one to talk with... I decided that the main contribution that I could offer to others was an open ear to listen, and a postive outlook to let them know that no matter how "bad" it got... that there was ALWAYS hope.

Bob - You are a great friend and a wise head that has learned so quickly how to truly love his wife... You and Squiddy ARE going to make it! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hey AW - Thanks for the kind words... You are doing such a great job... You take care of that bub and Aussie when he get's back. He loves you and you guys ARE going to make it through all of this. I'm not going away from MB and A2 has my e-mail if he ever has any questions... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hey Ark - Thank you for your kind words and good wishes... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hey Nikko - I'll still be here! I'll just be on the D/S in Idiotville! We can have coffee together! Thank you so much for your prayers... it means a lot to me to have people praying for me and I know that it's sustained me this entire year. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hey my Pagan Potato Man! You hang in there, OK? I know it seems a bit dark right now, but never give up! Let me know if there's ever anything I can do for you... you've got my e-mail. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hey TT - I'll still be here... I'll just be on the central U.S. time zone... Besides, where else can I get the latest on how the bra-sizing industry is going! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Hey Lor(Lor) - Everyone here is safe and sound after the rocket attacks last night in case Mr. Lor didn't tell you. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I don't think we're going to have a bazaar for a couple more weeks/months either <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hey FF - How's it going? I know things are a bit tense for you right now... You're doing great! You keep protecting your heart, and show your H your love with every chance you get... I'm praying for you guys! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hey Weaver - Thank you for the kind words... You guys have humbled me, and let me know that my time spent here hasn't been in vain... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Thank you all.

Hey RIF, H did tell me about the rockets last night, and I did check this morning to see if you posted about them. Glad to hear everyone is all right.

Be safe.

How'd I miss this. Well, Robby's going to accuse me of being sappy, but I don't care.

RIF, you always light up Idiotville and the rest of the MB board. I could never explain the peaceful and "looked after" feeling I got whenever you were/are around - I guess it's just being in the presence of goodness.

Have a safe trip home and a wonderful homecoming. Do let MAJPig have a look out of the plane window every now and then. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Jen

YAY RIF - HOW MANY MORE DAYS?????

We appreciate all you have done on this board and over there. Please also tell the others serving that we are grateful for their efforts.

Heya RIF!!! I wanted to step in and say how much I enjoy reading your responses to different people, and that you have a wonderful, stabilizing influence on the board here! You certainly have a way about you that is gentle, wise, and loving, and never have a nasty word to say about anyone or anything! I'm so happy for you that you'll soon be home in the arms of your family, and ecstatic for them, too! I pray God's blessings upon you and yours!

With deep admiration,

NOW

RIF is coming home? Great. Ok, so he will be needing some MB RR time back with his family, then he can keep posting, eh? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I used to look forward to RIF posting alongside me while watching MB late at night. There were several critical cases where RIF had a great hand in helping some keep a steady hand gave them the support they needed to make it to through those rough nights. FYI, some of those posters were critical. The word suicide would often come up and RIF from all those miles across the sea, desert, whatever was able to reach out and calm then down. That takes a lot of heart and hard work.

Welcome home RIF. BTW, another MBer is headed your way. He w/b docking in a couple of weeks (I think). Sure wish u 2 could hook up somehow even for a little while.

Bob, U R a very caring person. Thanks for this tribute to RIF.

Much aloha,
L.

Hey Orchid - I'm sorry I'm not going to have the opportunity to met this other MBer.... but it's time for me to go home! Thank you for the kinds words... You, too, are one of the special people that are always here for the newbies that hare hurting so and I can tell that you're heart really does care... I'll still be around, just in a different time zone! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Hey NOW* - Thank you for the prayers and kind words. I really do appreciate both. I'm so glad that you and RH are doing so well. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hey Believer - <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />***waving with both arms as I get on the airplane!*** 7 days and a wake up... we fly out of here a week from Monday.

Hey Jen - My N/S buddy! It's been an honor to be on the N/S with you and Bob and TT and AW and Aussie and GG and Orchid and (I know I'm forgetting someone <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />) and I'm still working on getting one of those cool Kiwi patches before I leave <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />... I'll still be around idotville and the other boards <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hi RIF,

just wanted to say a big thankyou for your patience, tolerance, compassion and empathy ...
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />I imagine it could get wearisome at times, listening to the same kinds of issues, and being reminded of your own issues.

I am really grateful that you have stayed here and given us your caring presence. I hope you have a great time back home with your family and remember that whenever you want to drop in here you will have a warm welcome! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

RIF,

Welcome back, brother.

NCWalker
CPT, EN

RIF,

Thank you for your wisdom and humanity. Thank you for the sacrifice that you have made to make our lives easier and safer. You have made me aware of some of my own failings with your patience and demeanor.

I hope that Mrs. RIF appreciates you as much as the people of MB forums