Deployment Positive Thursday- Week 50

I'll be honest. I'm a blogging planner.

I've had this plan that towards the end of deployment I would blog about how prepared I am, how I've been packed for weeks on end, and how all I need is that call and I'd be ready to hit the road to Kentucky.

The problem: no matter how excited I am for something, I just can't motivate myself to pack. I hate it! I hate it, so much! (One time my dad asked me which I hated more: packing or terrorists. And I actually had to think about it) I really, truly believed that I would have been so excited for Andrew's return that I would have just been packed.

Nope. Nope. Nope.

I am, however, getting prepared to pack, which I guess is a step in the right direction. I have lists and lists and list of things I need to remember to bring down. Andrew's stuff, my stuff, our stuff... big things, little things, new songs and audio books on my iPhone. Everything has been accounted for, I've even printed out several different versions of directions for my drive to Louisville. But in regards to actually packing, nothing has been done. It's somewhat pathetic, but apparently I am the only one who is actually surprised by this, everyone else I've mentioned this to says "no, kidding, you HATE packing!"

I know it's not exactly the best picture I've ever taken, but here is my list. 2' X 3' ... and still being added to! (aslo check out my sweet mapquest directions, just incase my GPS decides to crap-out on me)

I think it's safe to say that I'm pretty excited for Andrew to come home. We still don't have a firm grasp on when he is expected to be stateside again, but I know it is soon. Each day is a step closer. Unfortunately, at this point in the deployment though, time       

                                                                      is

                                                                                dragging.............................................

Deployment Positive Thursday- Week 49

I think this time of year it is reasonably normal for one to do a lot of reflecting. As we enter into the heart of the Holiday Season, everyone seems to be focused on Christmas and New Years which is right around the corner.

"What a year it's been" and "can you believe that XYZ happened this year" along with tv specials, news articles and blogs (my own included) are seen and heard everywhere reminding us of everything that has happened in the world in the past (almost) 365 days.

I have to say, it's pretty neat to book-end this deployment with New Years Celebrations. It shows me how far I've come, how much has changed around me, and exactly how many celebrities and political figures have completely lost their minds since Andrew has been deployed. Especially for me, the absolute freak about numbers and dates, it's beet a pretty cool way to wind down this deployment.

For example, Charlie Sheen was somewhat sane on X-Day. Nobody outside the state of New York had ever heard of Anthony Weiner, Kim Kardashian had only been on a few dates with her now ex-husband, and oh yeah... Osama bin Laden was still creepin' around. It's just been cool to see all the re-caps going on lately and realize that although I sometimes feel like life and the world around me has been on a stand-still this year, that is in fact, not the case.

Keeping with the Holiday theme, I'd like to share with you all what I asked for for Christmas this year. The only thing I want is for Andrew to call home on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Nothing could replace hearing his voice actually talking to him!

But my soldier had other plans for my Christmas gift this year, and forgive me but I have to brag a little bit about how absolutely amazing this guy is! Waiting for me under the Dolan Family Christmas Tree tonight (my last night in Etown before heading home to New Hampshire) was a very small box with a beautiful white ribbon, and inside were the most gorgeous pair of diamond and sapphire earrings I have ever seen!

I was absolutely overwhelmed (and even teared up a bit) as Dad said "AJ really wanted to make sure you opened this before you left". I really miss Andrew (understatement of the year) and opening that gift that I was in no way expecting just absolutely warmed my heart. I can't wait to have that boy back home soon and give him his Christmas present!

That is one of the very few benefits of spending the holidays apart... making other days into holidays! We had Christmas today when I opened my earrings, Christmas will happen for the world on Sunday, and we'll have Christmas again when Andrew is home! Not too shabby for a couple-weeks' span!

Deployment Positive Thursday- Week 48

Another week down. Thank God.

For the record- Deployment "Positive" Thursday was a horrible idea. Some weeks just plain stink. I am soooooo ready for this deployment to be over and for life to stop feeling like it is on hold. Some nights I just need to have a big, huge bear hug from my big, strong man. It just plain stinks to wait months on end for a single hug.

There is good news though, Andrew got his last care package a few days ago! It also happened to be his Christmas Care Package, so it's just one more sign that we are that much closer to the end of the holiday season and his homecoming. (Once again, Thank GOD!)

I went all out on decorating this care package (kinda like his birthday one) and it was by far the biggest one that I have sent all year..

Can you spot the tree? Complete with ornaments!

I absolutely did NOT send that nasty ugly terrible towel. Gross.

Hump-Day Happiness

These days, nothing gets me quite as happy as seeing a picture of my favorite boy.

So imagine my surprise when I logged onto Facebook this morning and one of his soldiers had uploaded this sucker:

If that's not a great way to start my day, I don't know what is!

 

Winding Down, But Not Done Yet

Recently, I've been getting a lot of questions like "how does it feel" and "how much longer" in regards to my fiance's impending return from that nasty war zone he has called home for the past year.

Yeah, a year... but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Honestly, it feels down right amazing to know that we are nearing the end of our very first deployment. I have learned so much over the course of this year, and I know that Andrew and I have both grown individually, as well as in our relationship. It's interesting, because I felt a very similar sensation after Ranger School, and I have often expressed how military separations really do have a way of weeding out the weak couples, while building strong foundations for the strong.

Even though it does feel great that we will be reaching our last huge milestone on Friday (the 11 month mark), but there is always the ever-present thought that this deployment is not over, Andrew is not out of harms way until his boots are on the ground in front of me, and just because we are this close to the end does not make this part of the deployment any easier than any other part of deployment.

Andrew and I talked about this very briefly the other day. His attitude is perfect (for a soldier; I'm not so sure it works as well on the homefront though). I don't think Andrew thinks a whole lot about coming home yet. He says, "gotta play hard til the end, baby", and he is right. The Taliban aren't going to stop planting IEDs just because he is coming home to his gung-ho, pro-American wife-to-be in a couple of weeks. (I have to squeal a little when I say weeks, because we just can't count the months anymore!)

I guess my whole outlook on life lately has been a lot like this post, because this is taking an entirely different direction than I had planned. I feel unorganized, all over the place, and generally lost. Only recently have I realized that other peoples' lives have not stood still for the past year. Others had an entirely normal 2011 with promotions, birthdays, moves, new cars, additions to the family and kids moving on in school. Think about it: there are babies - real human beings - who exist today, who weren't even a gleam in their parents' eye yet when Andrew left last January. That is absolutely crazy!!!

I've just been very nostalgic lately, I think. I deeply miss my best friend. I miss staying up late, saying "let's just watch one more episode" of whatever show we happen to be bingeing on that week, I miss waking up to the smell of Chocolate Chip Pancakes, riding around in the truck and on the motorcycle, datenights, and generally just spending time together.

But what I am really missing lately is being complete goofballs together. We have a hard time taking anything too seriously, and it's one of my favorite parts about our relationship, we really do just like having fun with one another.

(This was one of our favorite pastimes in our early days.. PhotoBooth on Andrew's Mac. I think this was taken in the winter of 2007)

Deployment Positive Thursday (Saturday) - Week 47

Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know I'm late again. Just another reason I can't wait til Andrew comes home: NO MORE Deployment Positive Thursdays! I'm no good with a schedule, I think I'll be a much better blogger when I can post whenever I feel like it, about whatever I feel like!

Anywhoooo....

I guess this week I'm just happy we are another week closer to homecoming. Honestly though, it's been pretty darn tough to keep answering "I have no idea" whenever people ask when Andrew is going to be home. At least for R&R I had some idea, but this whole homecoming thing is really throwing me for a loop. I have about a three week range (the first three weeks of 2012) where it is highly probable that he will be home, but other than that, your guess is as good as mine. Every day I look forward to our daily FRG emails.. and every day (so far), it's been a little disheartening to still have no date. Andrew says its better this way, though.. so that I don't get too attached to a date which most definitely will change, but I would just love to look at a date on a calendar and think: "some day around that time will be the greatest day of my life". I will say though, it is nice to think that this time next month Andrew will most likely be on his way home, though.

Downrange, Andrew and his soldiers are doing well. It's starting to get a little colder over there as the year draws to an end, but it's nothing our brave soldiers can't handle.

It's also finally getting colder here. I've actually been looking forward to the cold weather; anything for a sign that it is actually winter and we are actually in the last season of this deployment. Every night I've been cuddling up with my woobie, a Christmas present I got from Andrew last year (he even had my name embroidered in pink). Whenever I cuddle up with that blanket, it makes me think of Andrew and it makes him seem like he's not all that far away. At this point, anything that makes me feel closer to him is a blessing.

So thanks, honey! For the best present ever!!

Why do they call it a woobie, you might ask? Because without it, you woobie cold. 

Miss you, boy :)

Deployment Positive Thursday- Week 46

(slightly delayed due to the craziest work-day ever yesterday)

Well lookie there....

Its finally that time of year where it's socially acceptable to countdown to something!

I've been waiting since MAY to hang this sucker (can you guess where I got it? Hint: It's the happiest place on earth!)

And, as I hung the first ornament on my wonderful advent calendar, I also did a small victory dance for having started our last full month of this deployment. Yep, you heard that right: Andrew will be home next month. I think I'm more excited for this advent calendar to be over than for any other countdown ever in my life. We are so close, 2011 is almost over and then just a few more wake-ups until I see my soldier!