Well we are almost at the 4 month mark. While it has been so hot and dry here it is nothing like what Mike is dealing with. The other day it was 130 degrees over there. I don't think I will ever complain about cold weather again. Rain would be nice to have too. Mike has not seen rain since he left the states. We have finally been give R&R, rest and relaxation, dates!!! We are so happy and counting down. I've told Mike that from the minute I pick him up at the airport he isn't doing anything. I just want to be able to look over at his chair and see him sitting or sleeping there with Peanut snuggled up to him. We are not going anywhere or doing anything. Mike decided before he left that when R&R time came he just wanted to come home and that is what we are doing, staying at our home.
While it has not been a good past few weeks here, I have the best husband in the world who reminds me that he is proud of me for handling everything here. What some don't realize is that those of us left back here deal with more than just normal day to day things, we have loved ones who are in a war zone, we have to deal with children, car repairs and people who just don't understand and all the while keeping a "happy face" on. While things have happened that really make me question the mom and wife I am, I know in my heart that I am doing the best I can do and that without God's help and guidance it would be a lot worse. In my prayers every day and night are for our families and friends, for God to watch over our loved ones who are away from us. Please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
I know that getting to chat on line has helped what some need to realize that we don't get to chat, talk or see or loved ones everyday. We can't see their faces to see how they are doing, we can't hear their voices to hear how they are. What some need to know also is that chatting does help it does not take away the lonliness, the pain or the worry. There are days that I don't think my shoulders can get any larger and carry anymore but knowing what Mike is doing and that all of them are doing it for our protection and freedoms makes my shoulders grow more and a little easier to carry on. A friend of mine whose husband just left and like all of us her heart is broken. The best piece of advice I could give her was that the shower makes a perfect place to have your breakdowns. We have a saying that we have to wear our "big girl panties" well let me tell you sometimes we get tired of those dang things.
Thank goodness school finally starts down here tomorrow, the 24th. I swear I will be doing cartwheels in the street when I get back from taking her to school!!! It has been a very long summer.. Kyla will be starting her sophmore year. That is hard to believe!! She is looking forward to it.
While I have mentioned this before I am going to mention it again. Please take the time and visit: www.bubbasbellyrun.com This is a site and fundraiser a dear friend of mine has started. Her husband had been home on R&R earlier this year and had just been back in Afghan for 2 weeks and lost his life. Capt. Brian "Bubba" Bunting left behind his wife and a beautiful little boy. His wife found out several days after notification of his death that she is pregnant. It was her and her husbands dream to add to their family and that dream will continue. She is having a walk/run in September in the DC area. They are selling flags for $5.00 each. She is hoping to have a flag for each American Hero that has lost their life, right now that count is a little over 5,000. While I can't be there this year for the walk/run I have purchased my flags to help out. The money raised will be going to flat daddies, American Widow's Project and an education fund for their children.
Since I have had Mike's address to send him care packages I think we have sent almost 20 boxes so far!! It helps Kyla and I to feel like we are still able to take care of him even if we can't be with him daily. He loves the microwavable meals, microwavable soups and snack foods. We can't send chocolate over yet but when we can we will stock him up. Once school starts I will be sending him Kyla's grades and work so he can feel in contact with us. I have already started planning on the "special" boxes, Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthday's his and Kyla's. It normally takes about a week for them to reach the guys over there. If anyone is planning on sending boxes at Christmas time please remember it can and will take extra time.
Please continue to keep Mike and all our troops in your thoughts and prayers. Just knowing that we back home are supporting them means the world to them.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
3 months down
Well we are now at 3 months down. While it seems like it has been a short time it also seems like it has been the longest 3 months ever. Sometimes I sit here and think it has only been 3 months but then there are the times that it seems like it has been forever. We still have a ways to go but we are making it. Has it gotten easier, not so much. I don't think the loneliness, the feeling of being lost and not hearing Mike snore or come in from work or getting after Kyla will ever get easy.
Mike's parents, grandma and niece came down this past weekend and we had a really good visit. Thank goodness Mike was able to get online on Sunday and web cam so his parents and grandma could see him and talk to him. I am so glad the Internet cooperated for us. We went shopping and I took the girls to the pool. It was a relaxing yet very quick visit. Thank goodness they did come down since Mike's dad was able to fix my car without me having to pay a boat load of money. It was so good to see everyone, especially Mike's grandma. This was her first visit down here and to see the look on her face Sunday when she seen Mike on the computer screen was priceless. It took all I had not to start crying just seeing the joy in her eyes. It was hard to say bye to them this morning but Kyla and I are planning on going back to Missouri in November for a few days. It will be good to go back so I can see my side of our family. While some have asked if it would have been easier to move back home while Mike is gone, in some ways it might be but being down here with everyone who is going thru the same thing has been so much easier on us.
Mike looks good and sounds good. They are working very long hours. It helps me to go and buy things to send over to him, even if I can't be there it helps me to get different things and send to him so that I still feel I am taking care of him. If anyone would like to send him a letter or card or a package and needs his address please contact me and I can give it to you. It is still so hard to come home to an empty house, to go to bed at night, eat dinner without him sitting beside me. Mike was picked to give Gov. Nixon, from Missouri, a tour of their camp in July. Several govenors went overseas and toured the different military members. For those of you who havent seen the picture yet you can go to www.mo.gov and the picture was on their home page. While Mike didn't think it was a "big deal" Kyla and I are so proud of him. I think it helped when they realized that Mike was from Gov. Nixon's hometown too.
Kyla is doing really good. We have had our times but we work thru them. It is hard on her since this is the longest she has been without her daddy but she has grown up so much emotionally. I think "military kids" have to grow up so much so fast and it is sad but the majority of them are really good kids and have such huge hearts, it makes you so proud of them. Kyla has been working this summer. They have a summer internship down here on post. The kids work a few hours each day and have to keep a journal about their work and attend different workshops. Even with it being an internship they do get paid too. She has been working at a day care and has a whole new outlook on children.
I think it has taken this long for me to actually feel like a person again. I am sleeping a little better and actually feel like getting out of the house. I just really hate going places without Mike. If we go anywhere and are gone for awhile, I just can't wait to get back home. I hate being away from home, I don't think that feeling will ever change until Mike comes back home.
Please remember to visit the following website: http://www.bubbasbellyrun.com/ It is a fellow military spouse's site. Nicki lost her husband in Afghan in February of this year and a few days after loosing her husband she found out she was pregnant. Her husband had just been back in Afghan 2 weeks when he was killed after being home for R&R, rest and relaxation. It was their dream to have more children as they have one precious little boy so this baby is a true miracle. Nicki has started a memorial run/walk in "Bubba's" memory. It will be held in the DC area in September on their anniversary. The money raised is going to some great causes. Even if you can't be at the run you can purchase a flag that will be in honor of those that have been lost in Afghan and Iraq. It is her hope to have a flag for each of our Hero's who have been lost.
Please keep Mike and his fellow soldiers in your thoughts and prayers. All of our military members need your prayers and please remember their families also.
Mike's parents, grandma and niece came down this past weekend and we had a really good visit. Thank goodness Mike was able to get online on Sunday and web cam so his parents and grandma could see him and talk to him. I am so glad the Internet cooperated for us. We went shopping and I took the girls to the pool. It was a relaxing yet very quick visit. Thank goodness they did come down since Mike's dad was able to fix my car without me having to pay a boat load of money. It was so good to see everyone, especially Mike's grandma. This was her first visit down here and to see the look on her face Sunday when she seen Mike on the computer screen was priceless. It took all I had not to start crying just seeing the joy in her eyes. It was hard to say bye to them this morning but Kyla and I are planning on going back to Missouri in November for a few days. It will be good to go back so I can see my side of our family. While some have asked if it would have been easier to move back home while Mike is gone, in some ways it might be but being down here with everyone who is going thru the same thing has been so much easier on us.
Mike looks good and sounds good. They are working very long hours. It helps me to go and buy things to send over to him, even if I can't be there it helps me to get different things and send to him so that I still feel I am taking care of him. If anyone would like to send him a letter or card or a package and needs his address please contact me and I can give it to you. It is still so hard to come home to an empty house, to go to bed at night, eat dinner without him sitting beside me. Mike was picked to give Gov. Nixon, from Missouri, a tour of their camp in July. Several govenors went overseas and toured the different military members. For those of you who havent seen the picture yet you can go to www.mo.gov and the picture was on their home page. While Mike didn't think it was a "big deal" Kyla and I are so proud of him. I think it helped when they realized that Mike was from Gov. Nixon's hometown too.
Kyla is doing really good. We have had our times but we work thru them. It is hard on her since this is the longest she has been without her daddy but she has grown up so much emotionally. I think "military kids" have to grow up so much so fast and it is sad but the majority of them are really good kids and have such huge hearts, it makes you so proud of them. Kyla has been working this summer. They have a summer internship down here on post. The kids work a few hours each day and have to keep a journal about their work and attend different workshops. Even with it being an internship they do get paid too. She has been working at a day care and has a whole new outlook on children.
I think it has taken this long for me to actually feel like a person again. I am sleeping a little better and actually feel like getting out of the house. I just really hate going places without Mike. If we go anywhere and are gone for awhile, I just can't wait to get back home. I hate being away from home, I don't think that feeling will ever change until Mike comes back home.
Please remember to visit the following website: http://www.bubbasbellyrun.com/ It is a fellow military spouse's site. Nicki lost her husband in Afghan in February of this year and a few days after loosing her husband she found out she was pregnant. Her husband had just been back in Afghan 2 weeks when he was killed after being home for R&R, rest and relaxation. It was their dream to have more children as they have one precious little boy so this baby is a true miracle. Nicki has started a memorial run/walk in "Bubba's" memory. It will be held in the DC area in September on their anniversary. The money raised is going to some great causes. Even if you can't be at the run you can purchase a flag that will be in honor of those that have been lost in Afghan and Iraq. It is her hope to have a flag for each of our Hero's who have been lost.
Please keep Mike and his fellow soldiers in your thoughts and prayers. All of our military members need your prayers and please remember their families also.
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