Light at the End

I was thinking: Steve has been gone over a year in the past 22 months, about 1/4 of our marriage, and 1/2 of Christian's life between his lengthy TDYs (Fort Bragg and Hurlburt Field) and this deployment. Needless to say, it will be so nice to have him home. Hopefully he can stick around for awhile. In some ways I don't remember what it was like to have him home...how sad is that? I guess I have just gotten used to the solo days and evenings. Setting up new routines in hopes that it will help Mommy and Christian get through the day. Sometimes we are just in survival mode. And in the end, we have nearly made it. I am not quite sure how some military families have been able to sacrifice so much of their life together. I am grateful that this was a shorter deployment compared to the year-long+ commitments, and I am thankful that Steve will (cross my fingers) not have to go back soon. God has kept him in safe territory and I am incredibly grateful that he is not on the front lines. No, this lifestyle is not ideal, but I am SO thankful that God has given us the grace to get through these rough separations. So...as we look at these last couple weeks, I am just so thrilled that there is light at the end of the tunnel. And can I just say, "Thank You" to all military members and families, past and present, who have served (in a multitude of ways) for our country. We have gotten just a taste of what that sacrifice looks like.

It's Coming...

As some of you may already know, Steve will be deploying to the Middle East late summer for a "number of months" (Yay, another desert!) Fortunately, we have known about the possibility of this deployment since last July when he returned from his training at Fort Bragg, so it does not come as a huge surprise. My plans during this time is to simply keep busy and PRAY constantly. I think that Christian and I will probably travel to Colorado a couple of times to visit with family and friends, and other than that I am not sure.

We have obviously been apart various times since Steve and I have been together (I am now counting five, with the longest being 6.5 months during our engagement) but never at such a distance, or for this long without a visit or two in between, and certainly not with a busy little boy added to the mix. Please pray for us during this time! While it will obviously be challenging on this end, Steve will be in the Middle East away from civilization and family. We are definitely planning to take advantage of Skype if possible so that we can communicate and "see" each other. Have any of you tried it before? How do you like it? Also, for those of you who have experienced a deployment before or any type of lengthy separation, what is your advice? Any tips for staying connected especially with young children?

A Little Trip to NC

Mmm...fortune cookie...eating at Panda Express (Steve is very disappointed that there are no Panda's in SC.)

This Memorial weekend we drove up to North Carolina- we stayed for 1 night. Steve showed me a little of Fort Bragg (a HUGE base!) and then we visited with Steve's cousin, Lauren and her husband, Derrick in Raleigh. So fun to get away, even if it was for just a day.

We also explored a bit of Lake Johnson Park. Can we say beautiful!? I love being able to explore the east and see new things, and I just cannot get over how green it is here. Of course, this is highly attributed to all the rain (which is another wonderful thing all in itself!)

Time to go! Someone was getting a little grumpy...

Irises

Some fresh irises at Swan Lake. It had just rained so they are a little droopy...yet still pretty all the same. Swan Lake has an "Iris Festival" this weekend for Memorial Day that we are hoping to be able to check out. But first, we plan to drive to NC tomorrow to visit Steve's cousin in Raleigh-Durham and also to take a mini-tour of Fayetteville and Fort Bragg where Steve spent last Memorial Day (and most of the summer.) Hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Getting Ready for Move Part II

We are getting ready to make our 27 hour drive to South Carolina in 2 weeks! (My mom will be helping me drive out to SC.) Crazy how fast these (almost) 3 months have gone. It has been such a blessing to be home in Colorado while Steve has been at his trainings in Florida. Can't beat the comforts of home and being near family and friends. I am really thankful that our families have been so welcoming, and that Christian has had a chance to see both sets of grandparents, his aunts and uncles, and cousins often. We have certainly been spoiled here, and we will miss the privilege of seeing family everyday. We are really going to miss you all!

On the other hand, we are excited to be a family again...to actually be together. I know how excited Steve is to see us again and to stop living out of a hotel room. Poor guy...he has been away at trainings (Fort Bragg and Hurlburt Field) about 6 of the past 12 months. So it will definitely be nice to settle down...at least for a little while.

We haven't ever been to South Carolina so we are excited to see new places and meet new people. A fresh start and a new perspective. A little scary in some ways, but exciting all the same. A whole new adventure awaits us....

Coming Down the Home Stretch

I cannot believe it! Steve is almost done with his 15 week training at Fort Bragg, NC. (I haven't seen him since Easter.) He was supposed to come home this Friday, but they changed his graduation to Thursday and he booked a flight back to California for late Thursday night. Hooray!

These 15 weeks have been interesting.... It has been good for our marriage in terms of communication and appreciation for each other. I also enjoyed taking two long trips to Colorado to visit family and would not have had that opportunity if Steve had not gone. On the other hand, it has been difficult as Steve has missed some big moments in my pregnancy and will return when I am 7 months along. (Of course, he will be here for the BEST part!) There were some hard moments when I was alone at Edwards and felt overwhelmed. Fortunately I have some good friends that were supportive and kept me occupied. So overall, the TDY to NC has had its pros and cons. It was nice knowing that Steve was in a safe place and not overseas, but obviously I would rather have him here with me. :o)

Steve Update

Steve just completed week 9 of his 15 week TDY in North Carolina. We are both hoping that the last 6 weeks will fly by quickly. (I cannot wait to see him!) I think it has been difficult for him being away from home, living out of a hotel room, and eating out a little too often. He seems to be enjoying what he is learning and has made some Army friends. :) His cousin Lauren and her new husband live in Chapel Hill so he has had the chance to meet them a couple of times in Raleigh. Last weekend Steve's parents came to visit and I know that it was encouraging for him to see familiar faces and to get away from Fort Bragg for awhile. Here are a couple of Steve's mom's pictures from their trip.

Outside of Steve's hotel on post (at least its GREEN)

Visiting Duke University, Bob and Steve

I like this one! Steve and his parents took a trip to Babies R Us :)

Saying Goodbye :(

Early yesterday morning Steve left for a 15 week TDY to Fort Bragg Army Base in North Carolina. He is doing a special training with the Army. Although we debated for awhile if this was something that he should do, we both felt that God was leading us in this way. Unfortunately because of the intensity of the program, it didn't make sense for me to go along with him, so I am still here at Edwards. I spoke with Steve earlier this evening and he seemed a little overwhelmed with the schedule for the weeks ahead. They have PT (physical training) every morning at 6:30am, class until 5pm, and lots of homework in the evenings. Because it is an Army Base there will be different expectations and new challenges.

Please pray for Steve these next 4 months as he is away from home and living in the unfamiliar. Also I ask that you please pray for our marriage- that we will be able to communicate through the distance, and hopefully find a way to see each other sometime during his training.