Michael's Home!!!!

This isn't the greatest of pictures, but here he is!!! I wasn't really that nervous, but it was so hot that day. We're both adjusting to being together again. We had a date today which was awesome. He's not in a sleep pattern yet. We were both awake at 3am this morning, but he kept going and I went right back to sleep.

He looks great. He hasn't told me too many stories yet, but I know as time goes on he'll tell me the ones that won't scare me too much. It's just so amazing to have him here. I couldn't stop staring at him yesterday because it didn't feel completely real yet.

I just want to say thank you to everyone for all their prayers and support. We wouldn't have made it through the past 15 months without them. Keep praying for us though through this adjustment of being together again. We actually will probably have the next year together, which will be a shock because we're so used to him going away every 6 weeks.

Until next time....

Friends

This is my friend Tania and her daughter Emily. Our husbands are in the same company. Her husband, RT, came home on Monday. I have made such wonderful new friends from all over the US. Tania from Georgia and definintely a southern girl...accent and all. She's a blessing to me and such a great friend. There's 4 of us from the company that go to the same church service....and it's funny to see a row of Legion ladies sitting together in church. For the past month about 8 of us have been getting together twice a week to get the barracks ready for the single soldiers. We have lunch and just a great time together. I'm so blessed to have made such wonderful friends. It's so nice to have friends that are going through and dealing with deployment. We've been able to share our frustrations together.

So thanks Tania for being such a great friend!

Until next time....

Still waiting....

Last night 500 soldiers returned home. I got to welcome one of Michael's medics home. I think I have about 3 more sleeps until Michael gets his boots on the ground. I spoke with him briefly today and he sounded really upbeat, which is good.

Just wanted to keep you in the loop. Keep him in your prayers and we're hoping for him to be home on Friday.

Until next time....

Still not home yet....

Michael still isn't home yet. He's in Bagram and should be home this week. We've got about 500 soldiers coming in tomorrow and then, from what I hear, the rest are coming on Wednesday. Hopefully that includes Michael. It's getting exciting to finally have him home.

I know this is short but there's really nothing going on here.

Until next time....

Excitement

Well family and friends....I want to update you on what's going on over here. Michael made it to Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan on Wednesday. I'm hoping and praying he gets on the plane tomorrow which would mean he would be home by Monday!! There are over 400 soldiers that need to come back.....they're just hanging out at Bagram waiting to get out of there.

I'm just happy he's out of the COP where he's been for 14 months. He's one step closer to coming home.

Keep him and the guys in your prayers as they're making their way home.

Until next time....

Getting Frustrated

OK....so I've started a countdown for Michael's homecoming. Unfortunately the Air Force has a different countdown than mine. Michael is not sure when he's going to leave where he's at. The group that was supposed to come home yesterday or today still hasn't left Bagram. The Air Force has a mind of it's own. And they don't deploy for long periods of time, so they don't understand the anxiousness of families waiting for their spouses to come home after 15 months of being away. I guess I'm just so ready for Michael to come home that I'm ready to fly a plane to Afghanistan and pick the guys up myself. Now, if I only knew how to fly a plane then we'd be set!!! So there's my frustration in a nut shell. It doesn't help that the guys are getting frustrated also. On top of that they have nothing to do, so major boredom has set into place.

Hopefully the Air Force will get themselves put together and fly out there to get my husband!

Until next time......maybe i'll have better news!!!

This weekend's skirmish

I wanted to write about what happened this past weekend in Afghanistan. I know my mom and grandmother have been a bit worried, so I wanted to just post what I know. Michael is fine. We chatted online last night for his birthday. The 9 soldiers killed were all from our post. They were with the 2nd battalion. This battalion has lost many soldiers. The sad thing is, they are starting to come back to Italy in the next 3 weeks as their deployment is also ending. They did not have any family in this community, but please keep their families in the states in your prayers.

We are down to the final week of Michael's deployment. I am so excited that he will be coming home next week. As I was telling Stephanie Baker yesterday that I am so nervous. We were both saying how quick this deployment has gone. Even though there were some days that I would sit in her office on the verge of tears complaining that this deployment was just dragging and I wanted Michael home, there were the days where I was shocked that another month was done.

We are both looking forward to having at least 8 months straight together. This deployment has made us both stronger. I never thought that this would be my life. I had always envisioned having a marriage like my parents - you know seeing each other every day, going on trips together, having dinner every night together. But every moment that Michael and I get to spend together, is precious.

So thank you for all your prayers and support. Please keep them coming! We'll need it as we are getting to the end.

Until next time....

Another Homecoming

On July 10th, we welcomed home about 250 soldiers. I just wanted to share some of the pictures with you.

It was a mad house. My friends and I were trying to figure out how we'd be able to find our husbands in this mess. 250 soldiers, all wearing the same uniforms, can be a bit confusing. I've already told Michael what i'd be wearing so it's up to him to find me!! Just kidding. We bring a company banner and all stand in that general area.

Of course the mad dash to find your husband. it was a bit easier this time......still had goosebumps but I didn't cry. We have a group of guys coming in this week. My friend Tania's husband is coming in so i've promised her i'd be there to support her.

The countdown has started for me. Roughly 10 days until Michael will be here!!! Keep him in your prayers as he should be starting his travels on July 18th'ish. Could be earlier, we're just not sure yet.

Until next time....

OH Sweet Freedom!!!

Well, not complete freedom, but at least I can leave the house on my own. Ludwig picked me up this afternoon and took me over to post. It took the PA a while to cut through all the stuffing, but alas my hairy leg saw the light of day. Here's what it looks like:

Ludwig and the PA thought I was weird for bringing my camera with me, but I had to have pics for Michael and whomever else is interested. Then it was off next door to the cast room to have my new cast put on. The cast guy looked at me and said you have 2 choices, black or stars & stripes. SO what do you think I chose???? HMMMM......

Of course...stars & stipes it was!!!! Very patriotic I must say, especially if Michael comes home before this comes off. This one is on for 2 weeks and then it's a boot. At least I can walk around and leave the house, which I am so grateful for.

We're getting ready for another group of our guys to come home on Thursday. I'll take my camera with me and hope to get some nice pictures. This is a few days earlier than expected, which is what I like to hear. Maybe Michael will come home ealier too?!?!? Who knows!

Until next time.....

YAY for July 8th!!!

I know this is a weird title for a post, but a this moment I have an itch on my ankle that I am unable to reach due to this stupid cast on my leg. Tomorrow this cast is coming off and something else is getting put on. At least I'll be able to drive so that I can leave the house. Not sure what my leg looks like, besides not having shaved in 12 days, but I will take a pic of the scar and post it.

Saturday evening, Tammy's husband Jason arrived home. She was caught off guard with her phone call that morning because she wasn't expecting him for another 2-3 weeks. She hadn't gotten her welcome home decorations up yet, so as we were chatting that morning she was trying to hang them up. I'm so glad Jason made it home safely, but to be quite honest I'm a bit jealous. It would be nice to have him home for some company. But I know he'll be home in 2-3 weeks, I'm just going a bit stir crazy because it seems so close to him coming home.

I was able to chat with Michael yesterday and he is doing well. He's counting down the days to come home too. It's been a long deployment but it's gone by pretty fast.

Until next time....

Asking for prayer....

This week there will be soldiers returning from deployment. And thus begins the return. If you could keep the soldiers in prayer for travelling mercies and for their transititions back to life away from Afghanistan, that would be great. Michael is not returning in this wave of soldiers, but he will be returning soon.

I'm doing well after the surgery. I spent the day at post with the ladies from our company working on plaques for the soldiers. I came home completely exhausted. Carrying around this extra 10 pounds on one leg is exhausting. This cast comes off July 10th and then I get another one put on that I'm hoping is much lighter. I now have tendonitis in my right knee from the cast, so now I have pain in my knee.

Other than that, things are going well. We are planning on coming to the states for 2 weeks in August - around August 12-26. Our plan is to make a trip or two to Star Lake Music Camp to see everyone there.

Thank you for all your prayers and support during this LONG deployment. I cannot wait for Michael to come home and know that he is safe here. Knowing that we had family and friends praying for us constantly, made this deployment bearable. We are both grateful for all of you.

Until next time....