Thoughts on Memorial Day

As I sat here this morning watching the graduation at West Point I had a lot of mixed emotions. I am so proud of each of the graduates and their families.

As Memorial Day is fast approaching I hope people remember what the day is for. Until I read a letter from a American Widow last week I hadn't give much thought to the words, Happy Memorial Day, but after reading her letter I now do. Honestly it isn't a "Happy" day, it is a day to remember all those who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy the "official" start to summer, the BBQ's, the pools being open and numerous sales. If you go to a cemetery on Memorial Day and you see someone at a loved one's grave and you notice they are a veteran don't say Happy Memorial Day to them but instead how about saying Thank You for your sacrifice. I have made several trips though out the years and didn't really think about it but now I do. Please remember that the people you see there are remembering the good times when their loves ones where here with them and maybe if you see a young person at the grave of a loved one with small children how about asking if you can keep an eye on the little ones so that the loved one can have a moment alone.

As we continue on in our fight we are losing so many of our hero's and it isn't just happening on the battle field. We are loosing them even when they return home. Each and everyone we loose or have lost leave behind so many loved ones that continue on each and everyday. Not only are the lost ones our hero's but their loved ones are too. They are the ones that make the trips to lay flowers, flags, pictures or other times at their site, they are the ones who go to bed at night and get up the next day and continue on rather they want to or not. So many who have lost loved ones have gone on to make changes in so many people's lives.

Memorial Day is a great day but a sad day. It is the one day a year that we are to honor those who have left us. It is the one day that we are supposed to remember those who had the courage to stand up and want to make a difference in this country. It seems that a lot of people find the day as a day to throw huge parties, go shopping or get that extra day off work or school but really don't give thought to the true meaning of the day. Since we have been down here, I go to the walls that we have here on post and last year had the pleasure of meeting two families whose loved ones names were etched on the black granite wall for 1st Cav. I thanked them and spent time with them. All they wanted to do was to have someone listen to them talk about their loved ones and that was the most important thing to do, was to just stand there and listen to them. Yes tears were shed but I got so much from talking with them and I will never forget them.

So as you get ready to plan your BBQ's, day at the lake or whatever it is you do for Memorial Day, please take the time to really remember what Memorial Day is for and if you are fortunate enough to see family members who are honoring their loved ones, thank them for their sacrifice and for what they do each and everyday.

Please continue to keep all members of our military and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

We made it!!!

We made it!!! Mike is home safe and sound. He got home last Friday. The welcome home ceremony was at 9:45 p.m., thank goodness we only live about 10 minutes from the parade field.

I want to thank all of our friends and family for the support, thoughts and prayers while he was gone. Especially my on-line friends who I have not had the pleasure to meet yet. Without my fellow army wives it would have been hell. God Bless each and everyone one of you!!! I only hope that one day we get to meet in person.

The weeks and days coming up to homecoming were a huge bag of emotions. You get to hear from your spouse and your told an approximate time frame. Because of security we are not supposed to say anything and let alone post it on the internet so we learn creative ways of doing that. So many trash days, so many holidays, a certain date minus so many days. People just do not understand that we can not release certain information for our soldiers safety and for our own.

The day finally arrived. I took Kyla to school since the flight wasn't scheduled until that evening. Made sure laundry was done, house spotless, all Mike's favorite foods and drinks were bought and stocked in the house, his car was ready for him, camera charged and Welcome Home signs hung up. Finally we are down to single digit hours!! We got to the parade field about 2 hours ahead of time. Had to make sure we got a good parking spot next to the tent where their bags were going to be. We got to see the plane fly over post and tip it's wings. Oh my goodness the emotions and tears just went into overdrive. They had to large TV's set up so we could watch the soldiers get off the plane and once I seen Mike on the runway I knew for sure he was home safely. I can't explain the feeling of elation I had. I had sent out a link so that family and friends could watch the ceremony on line as it was happening. We waited some more and finally we were told they were getting closer to us!! Once we seen the flashing lights of the MP car we knew they had arrived. The white buses pulled, the same white buses that I really disliked 12 months ago, and the cheers, screams, jumping and tears started. Again we waited .. Once they were all of the buses and in formation the buses moved and our soldiers marched onto the field!! Just seeing all of them home finally was the best feeling ever. The CO made a very short speech and then yelled it was finally time for us to get our soldiers. I don't think he even got the first word out of his mouth before the running started. Kyla was holding a poster with her daddy's name on it and we searched the crowd, who by the way all the guys look alike in uniform and when your eyes are full of tears, we finally spotted his smiling face. We ran to him and just held on as tight as we could. We had Peanut with us and she was so excited to see her "daddy"!! Needless to say pictures didn't happen. I had taken some of the buses but my hands were shaking so bad they look like moving pictures. We hugged and held onto Mike and finally he was ready to get his bags and come home.

We walked to the tent which they didn't allow family in there or it would have been a huge mess but we waited again, for those who don't know waiting is the military way, finally Mike had his bags and out he came. Luckily I had parked right by the tent so in went the bags and off we came home. Since it was night he didn't get to see his sign on the side fence but who cares. We were finally home and together again!! All the bags were inside and Mike was in his chair. Peanut still was bouncing all over the place. After we finished hugging and talking Mike was off to shower. I hopped on Facebook long enough to say he was home. I'm thinking he really loved that shower because he was in there about an hour..LOL At least now he doesn't have to worry about running out of hot water or just water for that fact.

The weekend was great!! I can not say how happy it was to look over and see him sleeping in his chair and snoring. You never know how much you miss their noises and habits until they are gone. Even Sheba our cat was so happy to see him. Mike was so happy to get to BBQ finally. It was so nice to have the weekend and not have to get up to take Kyla to school. Kyla could not stop smiling all weekend. Every time I looked over and seen him sleeping I smiled.

Mike had to go back to work on Wednesday which was supposed to be a short day but in the Army fashion that didn't happen but to know that at the end of the day he would be pulling up in the carport and getting out of his car was unbelievable. He has several short days coming up but with Kyla in school it really doesn't give much family time to get reintegrated but we take full advantage of every single minute.

It is so nice to see more and more flights coming home. Even though they get 2 weeks to come home during the deployment that time is their time to rest and relax. This has been one long year and it has shown me that I am stronger than what I thought I was. I am not going to say that everything went perfectly and there was no problems because that is so not true but we managed to get through each hurdle and come out stronger because of it. No Kyla and I did not get along all the time but again we made it through stronger. Between things happening back in Missouri with family and all the lost communications from Iraq and missing my husband more than words can say, life did go on and it made me realize that I can do anything.

I can not tell anyone how proud I am of Mike. He not only had to deal with the sacrifices, missing family, keeping his mind on the task, he pulled through with flying colors. He makes me so proud each and everyday to say that I am his wife. Anyone that knows Mike knows he does not like attention on him but I have already put up his awards and certificates so that we can see them. If that seems like I am bragging, yes I am! He and all the military deserve so much more than what they are given and I am not talking about just money. Please remember each and everyone of our military daily in your thoughts and prayers.

I don't think there are words to say how happy I was to relinquish the remote control! I love to hear him snoring, love to just sit and watch him sleep. We take things for granted but then when they are taken away you realize what you miss. I have a dear friend who lost her husband in Afghan and year ago and she has been such an inspiration to me and to so many. She is now raising two of the cutest little boys and still helping so many and she does it with such grace and flair. She was there when I needed to talk. While I can't say in words the emotions we felt when we finally had our soldiers in our arms, my mind still goes to those who do not have the happy homecoming, the waving flags, the ceremonies and parties. Those are our true American Hero's and their families. Please remember each of them and their families daily. They gave the ultimate sacrifice and will forever be in my heart.

We do not know when we will be going back to Missouri for a visit as we are also preparing for a move to Georgia this summer. The next chapter of our lives will be an exciting one. Love Georgia, Kyla will love being so close to the beach and above all she wants to go to Paula Deen's restaurant more than anything..LOL That is all she talks about. We know as military families that each and everyday we have with our loved ones is a precious day and the time is no longer taken for granted. We make each day count and cherish it because we know that they will be leaving us again all to soon.

Please remember to thank a Veteran when you see them, thank a member of our military and their family and please do not forget to remember those that gave the ultimate sacrifice and their families. Please keep each in your thoughts and prayers.

Life in a nutshell

As I sit here tonight and realize another month is almost gone, I've been thinking about the lives of deployed spouses.

We are told when the day will be so we put on our brave faces and broad shoulders each day. Then before you know it "that" time is coming sooner than you thought, you try not to cry so that everyone thinks you are strong. You learn the shower is the best place to let it out.

We get through the training, then they bring home all their gear and have to pack it and you still go with a strong face and no tears in front of anyone. You take so many pictures so that you have them to look at. You cherish each moment you have.

Before you know it "that" day or night is here. You go with your spouse all the while trying to hold your emotions in. You stay by their side the whole time, you hold them just a little closer and tighter. All of a sudden they make the announcement that it is time. At this point you can't hold it in any longer. You hug as tight as you can and try not to let go but you know in your gut you have to. We go outside and watch the buses pull away and then home you go by yourself or with your children.

Each day you get up of a morning by yourself, you drink your coffee alone, you eat alone and then night time comes and you go to bed alone. Anytime you hear a car door outside you immediately turn your head to the door to see if someone is out there. You learn what times to make sure you are online just in case they are able to get online. You make sure anytime you leave your house, you forward your messenger and home phone to your cell phone. If by chance you miss a phone call you curse yourself, yell and cry and swear it will never happen again. You also learn it is best not to watch the news because if you do it will make you hurt more. Once your home you make sure nothing is touched, shoes are left where your spouse left them, a piece of clothing that they had worn is not washed, a towel hanging over the shower curtain rod is not touched and even keep their cologne handy just so you can smell it, and Heaven help the person that touches any of those items.

You also learn how to make friends and how to say bye to those friends and to keep in touch with them no matter what part of the world you are moved to. You cherish those friendships forever how long you have them near you. You learn the best places to shop where you can stretch a dollar further than anyone can imagine.

Eventually you get some of the best news, it is almost over. As then end comes you make sure the house is cleaned top to bottom, groceries are stocked up on, all their favorites are bought and in the house and you wait.

If anyone were to ask me if I would change my life if I could, my answer would be NO. I am so proud of my husband each and everyday. No we do not like the separations, the hours but we know that our spouses are doing what makes them happy and if they are happy then we are. We have a different since of American Pride, we may cry at the National Anthem, at the site of buses on post, certain songs will bring most of us to uncontrollable tears but we continue on each and everyday because while we are not in a war zone, we are back at home dealing with the everyday tasks so that our spouses do not have to worry. There maybe times that we want to just throw our hands in the air and give up but we don't, we suck it up and go on.

We also learn that each day is a precious gift from God and that we should be so happy for it. Life is to short to be angry all the time and none of us should think that each and every moment you have with your loved ones should be taken for granted, instead each moment rather it be face to face, on the phone or on the computer you should be so thankful for that moment and cherish it with all your heart and soul.

Please keep our members of the military and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

Another month

Another month down!!!! We can see a little twinkle at the end of the tunnel. Have to say the Super Bowl isn't the same without Mike here yelling at the TV.. This weekend marked a milestone in my family, my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary! I wasn't able to go back for it but the pictures I have seen looks like everyone had a good time. When I think back on my childhood and remember the good times and bad times, the good ones outweigh the bad ones. No matter what, my mom always made things better and got us through. Dad was in the Army then an over the road truck driver so he usually was only home on weekends so how my mom raised 5 girls I will never know. Thank you so much for everything both of you did for us girls!!

As I sit here and think about the last 9 months and what all has happened it makes me think I am stronger than what I think I am, or at least I hope I am. I know once Mike gets back things will start moving fast with our move coming up. It is hard to believe that we have been in Texas almost 2 years. I am so proud of Mike for the sacrifices he has done and the accomplishments he has made. He knows what he has missed and yet he has not once said he regretted his decision to re-enlist. He makes me prouder each day to be his wife.

I know when we move I will miss the friends that I have made here but we will keep in contact. We look at this move as another adventure in our lives. I think this month I have really sat and thought about what family is and means to me. Looking back I realize that all each of us have gone through has made us a stronger family. We may argue and disagree but do not let anyone hurt one of us because if you do, then you have the rest of us against you.

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

Happy New Years

Well we are now in 2010. We have made it 8 months. My new year started off great by getting to IM with Mike. Kyla and I watched the "ball" drop in New York and then at midnight here she hugged and kissed me.

I sit here hoping that time speeds up while some of us are hoping it slows down. We are just in a vicious circle, but we all knew this so we don't have to be reminded of it.

As 2009 closed out it reminds us of a year of extreme highs and lows but without the support of our friends and family members we all know that we couldn't have made it, so thank you to each and everyone of you.

With the new year brings new hopes, dreams and changes. We will be heading to Georgia to new friends, different home, different time zone but knowing that we will all be together again makes it so much easier.

As we begin to countdown our time until we are a family under one roof and not thousands of miles apart, we are getting more and more excited. I can't wait until we get "that phone call". Mike said to thank each of you for keeping him and all our service members in your thoughts and prayers and thank you for the packages.

My wishes for the new year are for health and happiness to everyone and for all of our service members to return home safely.

Please remember to keep our service members in your thoughts and prayers..