A Year Ago VS. A Week Ago

Here we were a year ago right before saying goodbye but already having tears in the eyes...

And now, as of a week ago, we have been reunited and I couldn't be happier (even if we were outside in 20 degree weather and we were all freezing)!It is hard to believe that he is finally home, but it really does come to an end. I have been reminded over and over again as to why this past year was worth going through. It has been wonderful to have him back! I love you A!

Changes

...that's exactly what keeps happening with A's return information. A few weeks ago, we were given one date for his return. I had been slightly stressed because of the timing in comparison to my final exams, etc. but had gotten passed this issue after talking to my professors and working it all out. So I was getting really excited as this date was approaching and getting closer and closer.

There is a website where the homecoming ceremony information is posted and I kept waiting to see his flights ceremony information. Well, I was excited yesterday to see this information, but it was listed as being a few days later than I had thought. Ok, not what I was expecting, but this might be better...after all, then I can go to my classes and be in GA when he gets in and not miss as much school. So I was annoyed it was a few days late, but was trying to look at the bright side of things.

Well...now, we are being told that the information that was posted on the website is wrong and that you should go with the information being told to you by your soldier. WHAT?!?! Maybe if they could just get this stuff straight...of course, I know that the date can change ANY time, so I'm dealing with it as it comes and I need to not get comfortable with any sort of "definite" information, but it's getting frustrating! AHHH. Thanks for letting me vent. Regardless, it's just around the corner and I can't wait to be wrapped in his arms again :-)

I Know TOO Much

Nope...I'm not talking about being super intelligent and knowing too much. (Not that I'm saying I lack intelligence ~ HAHA!) But that's not what I mean.

What I mean is...

I know too much that has happened in the last 7 (almost 8) years of our country being at war.

I know too much about things my brother has experienced when he was deployed.

I know too much about the bad things that CAN happen.

I know too much about what A has experienced during this deployment.

I know too much!

In an email that I received a couple days ago, A said it himself. He said that he knows he shares too much information with me sometimes and that he knows it causes me to worry. This is true, but I always tell him to talk to me about things if he needs to and not to be concerned about me worrying. I'm going to worry regardless of what I know. I love the fact that he is comfortable talking to me about things, but there are times that I feel like I know too much. And that's ok, I've been dealing with it pretty well throughout this deployment. I am just ready for it to come to an end. Obviously, I have been ready for that since it began, but it has truly gotten to me at this point. I have a lot of things coming up in the next couple of weeks which have me looking forward to them and then into those events comes A coming home. So before I know it, it will be here, but I'm ready to no longer worry about "Knowing Too Much"!

How much does your soldier/sailor/airman/marine/coastie share with you during a deployment? Have you felt like you "Knew Too Much"?

A New Month!

Welcome October!!!

I can't believe that another month has come and gone and here we are in October now. This just means that the end is even MORE in sight. So...in September I posted an entire 6 times due to the fact that my life is being run completely by school (and a little work!). My goal for this month is to post at least double that...I just miss you all so much!

Additional goals for this month:
-Continue doing well in my classes
-Go to GA to look at possible homes for A and I (even though I won't be there until May ~ BUMMER!)
-Save (a little) money
-Have fun with my girlfriends
-Let A know that I love him as often as possible! :-)
-Send 2 packages to A
-Spend time with my mom
-Eat healthier
-Work out AT LEAST 4 times a week
-Loose 5 lbs (Hopefully more...but I want to be realistic!)

Well...wish me luck! The new month starts now (well...really 10 minutes ago!)

I Want It Wednesday

...to see the end of this deployment!

I know this has been a great week since we've hit 8 months now. However, this deployment seems to have been really getting to me this week. I don't really know why, but it has. I feel like the end is still so far away. A has been incredibly wonderful and positive. I am so glad that he continues to be doing well. But I can't get over the fact that although we've made it through 8 months...we still have about 4 (ish) to go. I know, it's not like this is a shock considering I knew this was a year long deployment. It's just gotten tougher this week. I'm sure once I start classes again in a week and a half for the fall semester I will not even have enough time to realize how much time is left until this deployment comes to an end. But for right now...I JUST WANT HIM HOME!!! Is that so much to ask for? (Actually...yes, it kind of is!) I know. He's doing his job and the US Army owns him. But I'm ready for this year to hurry up and finish. Fortunately I'll be super busy again soon. For right now though, I am so proud of A for all he has done, is doing right now, and will be doing in the next few months. He is so wonderful and amazing. I could not ask to have a better guy in my life! :-) I love you babe!

Thankful Thursday!

I feel like there are times that I get so stressed about life, deployment, etc. that I forget to be thankful for all of the little things. Plus, I think I have quite a few things to be thankful for the past few days. So here it goes...

I am thankful for...

the fact that I have my car back from the dealership. It "just" needed a new battery. Expensive? Yes. But I have great family...plus it is looking like we should be refunded because I got a new battery less than 3 years ago and there's a warranty.

my wonderful family and friends that are helping me get through one of the hardest times in my life.

the fantastic Expat Girl and Mrs. G. I. Joe who I got to meet up with tonight for dinner and just getting to chat and hang out with them. It is wonderful having them close by during this deployment and dealing with struggles with EG and have the Mrs. to share her wealth of knowledge and experience.

my job which helps me pay the bills and keeps me busy.

my classmates and friends at school. I have become very close with many of them.

A and how great he has been through this entire deployment. He is thousands of miles away and in a war zone...yet, he takes care of me and worries about me? Really?! :-) Oh how I love him.

7 Months Down!

I can't believe it. It has been 7 months since A left for deployment. Since then so much has happened. I can't believe that we have really passed the half way point now. Now that it's an extra month it truly feels like we are getting to that downhill slope to his coming home. And no, it hasn't really gotten any easier...but I feel like I can actually start thinking about looking at places in GA for him. And get excited about the idea of getting his stuff settled into his new place before he gets back. With school this fall semester sneaky up quickly, I am going to be super busy. This will be great because hopefully time will fly by.

And not only has it been 7 months since deployment began, it's been (just under) a month since he left after R&R. That was of course a very bitter sweet time to spend together as well as farewell afterward. It was very bitter because I didn't want to see him EVER leave again. However, it was nice to know we were at/past the halfway point already. We are going strong and can make it throgh anything. I just can't wait to continue our lives once he gets back. But I do think that we have both been able to grow a lot through this experience!

I Hate This

Here it goes...and if you don't want to hear me vent then don't read. But you can all probably relate so that's why I'm writing.

I Hate This! What you say? DEPLOYMENT!!! AHHH. It's just getting to me right now. Probably because I've just started back in classes so I'm extra busy and stressed. Therefore, not having A to talk to whenever I want just sucks. I hate it. I want him home. I want him sitting here next to me right now. I just want him back. I feel like when he left in December it was hard...but now that he left after R&R it has gotten harder. It was such a tease having him home for 2 weeks. We had a great time together but I hated having to say good-bye again.

With the way his work schedule is right now, we figured out a couple days ago that the best time to talk is when he gets up for the day and I am off to bed (or half asleep as it was last night!). So I've just been leaving Skype up on my computer when I go to bed and he calls when he gets up. It's been great getting to talk to him and see him before I go to sleep and I've been able to sleep better for the last couple days. That of course has been nice. However, last night I got on facebook at the same time as talking to him and was looking at pictures. When we decided I needed to get some sleep and he needed to get to work, we got off Skype. He also was on Facebook so I sent him a chat message letting him know that I love him! At that point we talked on there for a couple more minutes and I started crying. I dunno. He was saying the perfect things and all but I hate it. I am just glad that I was able to keep those tears in until we got off Skype. I miss him so much and can't wait for him to get back. I'll be fine and get over this funk I'm in right now. But I still HATE IT!

There's my rant for the moment. For those of you who read this...thanks! I'm sure many of you can completely understand.

Speechless...Which is Difficult for Me!

I have just been catching up on the blog world for the day and found out about the sad news of the loss of one of our Marines - the husband of Rachel (23) and father of Ariana (2 months old). Ariana has never met her father, but I believe that he is there now and always will be there with her. She now has somebody constantly watching over her. Do these thoughts make the terrible tragedy of their loss any easier? Of course not. But we have to TRY to move on after something like this happens. My thoughts and prayers are with Rachel, Ariana, and all of their family. I cannot imagine (nor do I want to) being in their shoes. But they are strong and will get through it with all the support around them.

If you would like to stop by and leave some thoughts with Rachel you can go to her page, A Little Pink in a World of Camo

3 Months Down

As of today, A has officially been gone for 3 months. I can't believe it. A lot has gone right, and a lot has gone wrong over these months. But throughout it all, we have always supported each other. He will have his R & R in about another 3 months...I just can't wait to be back in his arms again. I miss him like crazy, but knw that he is always there if I need to talk, need a laugh, need to cry, or really...just if I need ANYthing! Loving him always and constantly :-)

My First Post - Missing Him!

I have been writing a journal ever since the love of my life left for Iraq in December. However, one of my friends has been writing a blog and I've really enjoyed reading it. I told my "big sis" about it and she told me that I should write a blog as well. So here it goes! Hope my friend doesn't mind me stealing her idea! :-)

So it's been a long journey so far since he left, however, I cannot believe that more than a month has gone by. I just cannot wait to be in his arms again. Today I've been really missing him alot. I spoke to him on webcam Thursday before I went to class. It was amazing getting to see his face and hear his voice. But it's been hard because it's now Saturday and I have not heard anything from him since we spoke. I keep telling myself that "No news is good news"! But really? I would actually prefer to hear good news or just hear his voice.