Friendships and Family

As I sat here this week finally able to breath a little better knowing Mike made it back over there safely, I realized I have a whole new "family". My military family.

I am getting ready to have surgery Monday and while it may seem minor to some, I am scared being unconscious for almost 2 hours without Mike being here and not being able to be on my feet for the rest of the week. Knowing though that I have a whole group of women that are praying for me and offer encouraging words does help. I have the best group of friends. Even though the majority of us have never met we consider each one our friend. We have a common bond and we know what each is going through. As the saying goes, "been there, done that and got the shirt". We lean on each other even though we are miles and miles apart. We are there for one another no matter what.

I know Mike has always said the friendship in the military is nothing like the friendship in the civilian world and he is so right. When you have people you have never met send you cards of encouragement just to let you know they are thinking of you says so much about them. I hate asking for help but had to this coming week and the one dear friend that is taking me to the hospital gladly offered to take me and bring me home even though her husband and kids will be home. I have another dear friend who has offered to take my box to the post office for me this week to get mailed off to Mike.

Like I said we know what each other is going through most of the time and it helps. While some people say they understand, they don't. Just knowing you can e-mail someone and vent and they understand and they won't judge you makes going through all the changes we do so much easier.

Sometimes in life we don't realize just how important having friendships can be but as we get older and have changes in our lives happen, we learn just how important friendships are. We talk online daily with some and even though we are far apart each of us are part of one an others lives. We are there through marriages, breakups, pregnancy's and seeing our children grow up. There is nothing like seeing pictures of children that you seen their newborn pictures and now they are up and about walking all over. In some way you just feel a part of that extended family. Even though I come from a big family, my "family" has increased so much in the last two years.

Mike is doing good now that he is back there. He misses everyone. We don't get to talk everyday but when we do it is so great!! We are on the backside of this finally. Please keep Mike and all our troops in your thoughts and prayers.

A hug and kiss and....

Well we start the second half of this deployment. We were at the airport at 0530. Nothing like being in a busy airport and trying to stay strong and not cry. I tried to stay strong for Kyla and not to cry in front of Mike. Didn't work to good. To try to make it easier Mike wanted to go outside and smoke before he boarded the plane and say our bye's there instead of inside the airport. Kyla did good and then it was time and we did the best we could.

Several hugs and kisses and a note slipped into his pocket and he was on his way..... I think about the time we pulled into the driveway we had stopped crying but then when I walked into our bedroom and held his shirt he left me it started again, at least it wasn't in front of Kyla. So now we start the days of not knowing where he is for a few days. Whoever thinks sending them back after R&R is easier, they are wrong!

We had a great 2 weeks. Mike wanted to do nothing and that is what he did. The main thing he did want to do was to drive since they have to walk everywhere. He got to drive all he wanted to and he was so happy, me on the other hand, sat in the passenger seat biting my lip and praying....LOL We got to go and get his early birthday present for him so he has a new game for his PSP to play. I'm glad we were able to get it since it just came out Thursday.

We are now on the backside of this deployment and hope and pray it goes by very very fast. Kyla is doing great in school this year and made varsity choir!! We have a lot going on this month so that will help and then Kyla and I will be going back to Missouri in November so that will keep us busy too.

Nothing breaks your heart more than seeing your teenager trying to be strong and hold back tears and knowing there isn't a whole lot you can do but just be there and have open arms for hugs....

Please keep all of our military in your thoughts and prayers....