Monday, July 29, 2013

Deployment Positive Monday- Weeks 7 and 8

Yep, well now I've just skipped an entire week. I've been petty disappointed in myself for my lack of blogging this deployment, but for some reason, I just can't get myself to keep at it. I really don't understand it because I can't even put a price on how much my book of the first deployment's blog posts means to me, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. It kills me to think that I just won't have the same experience with this deployment. 

Maybe it's because I have been approaching this deployment with a completely different mindset. Part of it still doesn't seam real to me for some reason.  Obviously I know Andrew is away and at war, but everything from our communication to my living situation to his job is different. There hasn't been a single day since Andrew left 53 days ago that we haven't had some sort of communication (hopefully I'm not jinxing it by posting about it). I am working a job that I absolutely love and coming home each night to a home that a share with my husband (and the hardest part of this is that I still haven't adjusted to the idea of cooking for 1- I made about 4 times too many servings of dinner tonight... Hello leftovers!). Andrews job is allowing for us to communicate more, and giving him a lot more down time. Lately one of our favorite activities has been to do the same crossfit workout (same workout for both of us, but he completes it with more weight) and compare times. I kinda love it and can't wait to have him home to workout side by side again! Another favorite pastime has been planning for homecoming and all the things we want to do and trips we want to take before we are onto our next duty station. It's a little weird to think that chances are we won't be living in Kentucky at this time next year, but exciting weird. We'll be on to bigger and better things and we are both so excited to move and explore a new duty station together for the first time. Depending on where we are sent maybe we will even become first time homeowners! The future is an exciting time for us Dolans!

But, not to get ahead of myself too much, I'm still doing my best to keep busy and travel as much as possible while Andrew is gone. Last week I had a great trip to the Jersey Shore with my amazing inlaws then had a friend visit from Nashville over the weekend. It was great to have a girls night and we even went to a wine and paint bar and painted ourselves some "funky trees". It was a blast! 



That soldier husband of mine has been keeping busy too. He has been getting care packages in an average of under two weeks which is great and even received his anniversary care package this morning. It's still pretty hard to believe that this time last year we were in last minute wedding mode finalizing each and every detail. Hopefully this time next year we will be curled up on the couch together watching American Ninja Warrior and loving life in a brand new state. I can't think of anything better than spending our second anniversary together. 

Andrew has been getting lots of time in with his SFAAT team and his Battalion Commander even posted this picture of them on Facebook earlier this week. Can you spot my handsome soldier? 


Thursday, July 18, 2013

Deployment Positive (Insert Random Day of the Week Here)- Week 6

It's pretty hard to believe that we have already just about hit the 6 week mark of this deployment. I guess it's the same feeling I have always had during separations; day to day seems to go by slowly, but looking back I can't believe we've already come this far. 

I've said it before and I will say it again... A large part of my sanity during Andrews time away has to be credited to my amazing family and friends. This past weekend I went up to my parents' house in New Hampshire and visited with them, my uncle, grandmother, brother and future sister in law! It was so great to catch up on lost time, and I love that my brother has found somebody who is such an amazing fit in our small little family. We spent lots of time talking about the upcoming wedding, which is one of my favorite pastimes!

Monday and Tuesday were strictly girls days. On Monday, Emily and I went down to spend the day in Boston and I met up with the greatest friends a girl could have. It was so great to see my girls from college and high school and pick up right where we left off. It's one of the best feeling in the world, knowing that months and months can pass and true friends are always there for you. It's amazing how we are all at different phases of our lives, but we hold a common bond of the past that will keep us together forever. Wow, that got sappy in a hurry... I guess what I am trying to say is that I'm a very blessed girl to have such amazing friends. 

Boston is probably my favorite place in the entire world, and this was the first time I had been there since the tragic events that happened at the marathon this year. To me, Boston has always had its own identity and there is some sort of unspoken bond between those who have called it home at any point in their lives. My heart absolutely swelled with pride and simultaneously broke into a million prices  when I watched the footage of the first responders and the heroes that emerged from the horrors of those events. I have never taken my roots in New England for granted, but I never ached as badly as I did in April that I wasn't there with my fellow Bostonians... Through the good and bad. It was amazing, albeit not surprising, to observe how the city has bounced back, and I am proud to always have a piece of Boston in my heart. Not only because it is where I met the love of my life, or because it is where he asked me to be his wife, or because of all of the little moments I have spent there over the course of my 26 years. It's because of the history of Bostonians, and what they have always been proud to sacrifice for the greater good of our fine nation.  It's the place that always makes me happy, no matter what. 

Speaking of things that make me happy no matter what, that husband of mine is still doing well over in the sandbox. He keeps telling me there isn't really anything new to report, but I suppose no news is good news. Next week I am heading to the Jersey Shore with his (excuse me, OUR) family! I can't wait for another getaway, but it definitely won't be the same without him. I sure do love keeping busy! Before we know it, he'll be home safe in my arms... And I can't wait!!'


Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Deployment Positive Monday- Week 5

Just to preface this: in all honesty, I planned to delay this week's post.

There are some days at work that are just so rewarding, and today happened to be one of them. There is a nationwide charity called Brides Across America, which donates weddings gowns to military brides at events twice a year. I am proud to say that my wedding boutique is one of the participating partners for this event and today was our Fourth of July Giveaway!

We had about 15-20 women register for the event and each one is engaged to a man in the military who is either currently deployed or has had a recent deployment. Actually, one was even in the military herself, which I thought was pretty cool. It was such a special day for me to help to give back to those in my own community! We gave away one dress to every bride who came today (they got to try on a couple of different ones to have the bridal experience and could choose their favorite) and most for veils and bridesmaid dresses as well. To see these women be so thankful and overjoyed was really an overwhelming feeling for me. 

I know first hand how difficult it is to plan a wedding during a deployment. There is so much weight behind every single decision you make. Every penny you spend, you question. Every contract you sign, you prepare for the worst. The anxiety level is high to say the least. So I can't imagine how what it meant to these ladies today to not have to stress abut the expense of a wedding gown. I'm proud of the management at my boutique for being a part of this amazing organization long before they ever had a military wife as an employee. I truly work for and with such kind-hearted people. I left work today feeling so fulfilled and happy!

In deployment news, Andrew is doing well and trying to keep busy working out once or twice a day during the downtime in between missions outside the wire. I realized a couple of days ago that if I am going to make our first wedding anniversary special for that boy I need to get a care package together and out to him soon. To me it still feels like August is so far away, but its only a couple of weeks from now! It is crazy how quickly the summer flies by, even when he it gone. I guess I'm just a lucky girl to be so busy!

Monday, July 1, 2013

Deployment Positive Monday- Week 4

Woohoo! I finally got to my blog on a Monday! Huge step for me, apparently. 

This week I am so so thankful for amazing friends and family who keep me busy and occupied while Andrew is away. I love looking ahead to the coming months and seeing every single weekend for the next two months occupied with visitors or trips! Honestly, nothing could be more exciting to me!

It all started this weekend with my moms visit to town. We had a great time shopping and catching up! Oh... And I died my hair. It's dark. Like, really really brunette. I'm still not quite used to it yet, but Andrew seems to like the pictures he's seen of it. It's funny because less than a month after Andrew left for his first deployment I cut off about 8-10 inches of my hair. It was a huge change for me at the time, as I had had the same hair style for years before that. Now, a couple of weeks into this deployment I have another big hair change. Maybe it's just my way of coping with a big void in my life. 

It's not only the weekends I have to look forward to. Today after work a friend and I decided to hit the mall for dinner and shopping... Literally until we dropped. It's so nice to not have to rush home after work to an empty house every day. AND when I got home the little neighbor girls came knocking on my door and offered me fresh baked cupcakes--- funfetti with bright Barbie pink icing and sprinkles. Seriously a great end to my day and perfect beginning to the week and month that we celebrate our great nation's independence. Not too shabby at all.