Wednesday, August 31, 2011
UPDATES
I just though I would drop a quick note and let you know about a few changes that I made to the blog. I have wanted to do it when I started it, but never really got that far. So here they are, along with some pictures and better print. Also I moved the music player to the bottom, so its still there if you ever actually listened to it! The biggest change that I made, is adding updates by email. its to the right and all you need to do is add your email address if you want to keep up with me and all those random things that happen in my life. Simple right! We all like simple. This way you dont have to actually have a goggle account to read the blog or post on it. Makes things a little easier then. Hopefully it gets used. I actually really want to write a lot tonight, but i feel really sick and think that sleep is best right now. NIGHT YA'LL
Monday, August 15, 2011
R and R = vacation
Some people don't know what r and r is. It means rest and relaxation. Something that a soldier gets when you do a year tour over seas. They are allowed 2 weeks of time back home. So when I said in the start of this deployment that I would not see my husband for 365 days, it was not the total truth. In all honesty, when the year is over it will be 351 days apart. Whatever the number of days, it feels like forever.
The day he was set to fly in, was like I was on cloud 9. Nothing could have ruined my mood. unless his flight was canceled I suppose. We got lucky there. I was nervous all day though. All the way to the airport, I was trying SO hard to not cry. I was so overwhelmed. I was shaking. his plane was a few minutes late landing. OH MY GOODNESS! That was like the longest few minutes I have ever had to go through. Then of course he was like the last one off the plane. Watching him walk in from the plane felt like it took forever. When I finally got him in my arms, there was 7 months of tears, but the time seemed to stand still. After who knows how long, we went home to surprise the boys. They were REALLY surprised.
So let me tell you what R and R was like for us. We had a great time. From the start to the finish. We choose to take a small week long vacation back home. Let me be clear. when a soldier takes R and R they can fly wherever they want as their chosen 'destination" So he could have flown straight to Minnesota and we could have meet him there. he however, wanted to be home a few days before we went and ride with us. It was great. We made the choice to stay at his grand parents cabin with them. That too was totally amazing. We were able to fish, swim, and just enjoy the wildlife. We let it known before we came that 5 days was not a long time and so pretty much if you wanted to see us you would pretty much have to come to us. With the understanding that he just had an 18 hour flight and then a 12 hour drive we were about done driving all over and wanted to actually enjoy it without being expected to be somewhere all the time.
I have to say that it was a great time. Other than the small issue we had back home for the first few days. Needless to say, though he might try to avoid the issue in front of people, i know that it bothers him, since he talks about it all the time. Put a small damper on the whole r and r. However as adults we pulled it together and played it all off to have a blast. we went to the train depot in Duluth where the boys were about to ride on Thomas the Train, and enjoy many other activities they had available. The boys had both sets of their great grandparents there and their grandparents.... which ment they were spoiled more or less. I can tell you that i couldn't wipe the smile off the boys faces if i wanted to. They loved it.
Our 4 year anniversary was the 11th and so we celebrated early so that we had a sitter. We got a hotel room, went to eat, hung out at the bar, and went back to the room for some jacuzzi time. It was great! I wouldn't trade the memories for the world.
The whole thing was a great time, and we grew. We grew as a family and as a couple, and it was the best feeling in the world. We bonded more than ever and he got to get closer to Colton who was a only a baby when he left. You could tell on his face that he was happy to be here. We talked and learned more about each other. We learned to do things without the TV and without all the electroincs. Though might I just add some advice, if you really want to have alone time, shut your phone off. Because when your soldier comes home for r and r, suddenly your phone rings more than it did the whole past 7 months, and not one call is even for you! He will get annoyed and so will you. Not so much that people call you and want to talk to him, thats understandable. Its those that get mad when you dont answer like you are just sitting there waiting for their call. Also those who sometimes forget that saying goodbye is not easy for him either. People seem to forget that a soldier, even if he is a man, feelings. I'm just saying there are some that could be a little more respectful. Others think they deserve all your attention.
I can say one thing, you can see yourself being greedy with your husband. You don't really want to share him and you don't really want to be away from him for any of the 14 days. I asked him if that was wrong, and he felt the same way. R and R was not just for him to relax, or to be with me, but about the kids to. They need that time. They need to have one on one time and bond with them too.
As they say, all good things must come to an end, and they sure did. I really thought that the 2 weeks would fly right by. I was happy to know that it did go fast, but not to fast. We were able to enjoy almost every minute of it. We as a family are stronger, and ready to be done with this.
As I brought him to the airport this morning, I realized that your heart can only break so many times before there is nothing left. Each time that he walks on that plane, my heart breaks a little more. I really don't think that this will get any easier the more times that I have to go through this. I know that I can do it. Can do is different than want to. I dont want to do this alone, but I know that he is needed. He is wanted and he wants to be there. He is fantastic at what he does and he needs to be there. I am not the only one that needs him, the country needs him and his squad and team need him. That's where he needs to be, but no where in the rule book says that I have to like it.
So starting this morning, I am starting to get back into SUPER MOM mode. Time to be the Army Wife, the Strong person, the mentor to the kids, and the million other titles I now hold. We are ready for the last half of this deployment to be over with, we are ready to rock this out and come out strong!!!!!! Best wishes to anyone who is about to go through it, and know that each and ever r and r is different. there is no rules as to what you have to do during r and r, but I would suggest you make the best of it...... Make all the memories you can and hold on tight to those for as along as you can. Oh yeah and just for preparation R and R is REALLY EXPENSIVE. My husband has barely been able to shop for himself for 7 months or even buy anything. So when he had the chance he took it to the fullest. Ladies..... START SAVING
The day he was set to fly in, was like I was on cloud 9. Nothing could have ruined my mood. unless his flight was canceled I suppose. We got lucky there. I was nervous all day though. All the way to the airport, I was trying SO hard to not cry. I was so overwhelmed. I was shaking. his plane was a few minutes late landing. OH MY GOODNESS! That was like the longest few minutes I have ever had to go through. Then of course he was like the last one off the plane. Watching him walk in from the plane felt like it took forever. When I finally got him in my arms, there was 7 months of tears, but the time seemed to stand still. After who knows how long, we went home to surprise the boys. They were REALLY surprised.
So let me tell you what R and R was like for us. We had a great time. From the start to the finish. We choose to take a small week long vacation back home. Let me be clear. when a soldier takes R and R they can fly wherever they want as their chosen 'destination" So he could have flown straight to Minnesota and we could have meet him there. he however, wanted to be home a few days before we went and ride with us. It was great. We made the choice to stay at his grand parents cabin with them. That too was totally amazing. We were able to fish, swim, and just enjoy the wildlife. We let it known before we came that 5 days was not a long time and so pretty much if you wanted to see us you would pretty much have to come to us. With the understanding that he just had an 18 hour flight and then a 12 hour drive we were about done driving all over and wanted to actually enjoy it without being expected to be somewhere all the time.
I have to say that it was a great time. Other than the small issue we had back home for the first few days. Needless to say, though he might try to avoid the issue in front of people, i know that it bothers him, since he talks about it all the time. Put a small damper on the whole r and r. However as adults we pulled it together and played it all off to have a blast. we went to the train depot in Duluth where the boys were about to ride on Thomas the Train, and enjoy many other activities they had available. The boys had both sets of their great grandparents there and their grandparents.... which ment they were spoiled more or less. I can tell you that i couldn't wipe the smile off the boys faces if i wanted to. They loved it.
Our 4 year anniversary was the 11th and so we celebrated early so that we had a sitter. We got a hotel room, went to eat, hung out at the bar, and went back to the room for some jacuzzi time. It was great! I wouldn't trade the memories for the world.
The whole thing was a great time, and we grew. We grew as a family and as a couple, and it was the best feeling in the world. We bonded more than ever and he got to get closer to Colton who was a only a baby when he left. You could tell on his face that he was happy to be here. We talked and learned more about each other. We learned to do things without the TV and without all the electroincs. Though might I just add some advice, if you really want to have alone time, shut your phone off. Because when your soldier comes home for r and r, suddenly your phone rings more than it did the whole past 7 months, and not one call is even for you! He will get annoyed and so will you. Not so much that people call you and want to talk to him, thats understandable. Its those that get mad when you dont answer like you are just sitting there waiting for their call. Also those who sometimes forget that saying goodbye is not easy for him either. People seem to forget that a soldier, even if he is a man, feelings. I'm just saying there are some that could be a little more respectful. Others think they deserve all your attention.
I can say one thing, you can see yourself being greedy with your husband. You don't really want to share him and you don't really want to be away from him for any of the 14 days. I asked him if that was wrong, and he felt the same way. R and R was not just for him to relax, or to be with me, but about the kids to. They need that time. They need to have one on one time and bond with them too.
As they say, all good things must come to an end, and they sure did. I really thought that the 2 weeks would fly right by. I was happy to know that it did go fast, but not to fast. We were able to enjoy almost every minute of it. We as a family are stronger, and ready to be done with this.
As I brought him to the airport this morning, I realized that your heart can only break so many times before there is nothing left. Each time that he walks on that plane, my heart breaks a little more. I really don't think that this will get any easier the more times that I have to go through this. I know that I can do it. Can do is different than want to. I dont want to do this alone, but I know that he is needed. He is wanted and he wants to be there. He is fantastic at what he does and he needs to be there. I am not the only one that needs him, the country needs him and his squad and team need him. That's where he needs to be, but no where in the rule book says that I have to like it.
So starting this morning, I am starting to get back into SUPER MOM mode. Time to be the Army Wife, the Strong person, the mentor to the kids, and the million other titles I now hold. We are ready for the last half of this deployment to be over with, we are ready to rock this out and come out strong!!!!!! Best wishes to anyone who is about to go through it, and know that each and ever r and r is different. there is no rules as to what you have to do during r and r, but I would suggest you make the best of it...... Make all the memories you can and hold on tight to those for as along as you can. Oh yeah and just for preparation R and R is REALLY EXPENSIVE. My husband has barely been able to shop for himself for 7 months or even buy anything. So when he had the chance he took it to the fullest. Ladies..... START SAVING
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