Deployment Positive Monday- Week 11

This past weekend was I think the first weekend of this entire deployment that I wan't traveling somewhere or didn't have anyone come down to visit me. I'll be honest, I tried really hard to make sure a weekend like that didn't happen while Andrew was gone, but gosh darn it, was it nice! I got so much accomplished, our entire apartment has been cleaned and organized and honestly, it felt pretty good to just have nothing to do for an entire day.

I'm not saying I would want every weekend to be like that, but it was so nice to just focus on me for a little while. While Andrew is gone, it is so easy to look forward to what is to come and get caught up in future plans, but this weekend I just got to live in the moment. The biggest bummer of the weekend was that I seem to have hurt my back during a workout... I feel like such an old lady, I can barely stand without moaning and groaning. The worst part of the whole thing is that all I can think about is going to  visit Mickey Mouse next week and not being able to ride on Space Mountain.

I guess it's crazy that just as I'm saying how great it is to enjoy life as-is and in the moment, I'm simultaneously looking forward to my biggest trip of the summer: DISNEY WORLD! I told Andrew this is officially a tradition that I go down to Disney while he is deployed, since his mom and I went for a visit last time he was gone. My friend and I are driving down this Saturday and only staying for a couple of days, but we are both really looking forward to the little get-away. I don't think anything (other than running into my husband's arms in a crowded airport after a long separation) could make me happier than spending a couple of days on the most magical place on earth!

The Most Magical Day...

I suppose that it is time for my brief (and unintentional) hiatus from the blogging world to come to and end. To say that life over the last six months has been busy and exciting, would be nothing but an understatement. Two moves, a wedding, and a new job for both Andrew and myself is just the tip of the iceberg.

I've been finding myself really missing the blogging world, and now that Andrew's unit is back into full-swing training, I think it's a good time to reintroduce myself as the newest Mrs. Dolan!

Of course, the biggest milestone of the past six months was August 4th, our wedding day. People constantly ask me if it was the best day of my life, and it's a question that's hard for me to answer. Was it the best party of my life? Yes! The most fun I've ever had? Absolutely! But I will always have a very special place in my heart reserved for a mere six months and twenty eight days prior to our wedding day... Andrew's safe return home from his first deployment. It's impossible for me to chose between the two as my "favorite day", and truthfully I consider myself so blessed to have that problem.

Click here to view our Wedding Video!

Day 355. . . Utter Relief

Okay, okay... I think I've taken a long enough hiatus from blogging. Believe me though, you would have done the exact. same. thing. if you were in my shoes.

So far, 2012 has been nothing short of magical. Part of me still doesn't believe that this is all real; that everything I have been hoping and praying for for so long is finally here. But guess what? IT IS! And I couldn't be happier!

As our first deployment began to wind down, I noticed myself getting more and more impatient with everything that had just become "normal life" for the past year. I was over it, 8 Main Body flights with thousands of soldiers had already come home to Fort Knox, and I was ready for it to be our turn.

On Tuesday, January 3, 2012 I started the 599.6 mile journey to Louisville. It was a long drive, but totally worth it when I got to our apartment and had days to get everything cleaned and ready for my soldier's return.

On Wednesday Morning, I got my 72 hour notice call, letting me know that Andrew's flight was scheduled and that the homecoming ceremony for Main Body 9 would be on Friday Evening! I wanted so badly to shout it from the rooftops, announce it on every social media outlet on earth, and text everyone I knew. It was so hard to follow OPSEC and keep this information mainly to myself, but I did it, not only to keep the soldiers safe, but also to ensure that and OPSEC violation wouldn't further delay the flight.

The next few days were long, as I watched more friends return home to their loved ones, and finally Andrew's family arrived in Louisville on Friday afternoon. We had pizza at the apartment, and waited for what seemed like an eternity for my 4 hour notice call. When I got it at 6:58 pm I finally let myself get excited. This call meant that Andrew's flight had landed safely at the Louisville Airport. He was within 15 miles of me, and we just had to get through the next couple of hours (and outprocessing paperwork on his end) and a drive down to Fort Knox (about 40 minutes) before we were done with our first deployment.

I finished getting ready, got in the car with the rest of the family and we were on our way! I wish I could put every thought and feeling I had into words, but the truth of the matter is that the next couple of hours are nothing but a haze to me. I expected myself to be a complete emotional wreck (similar to the way I was when he returned home in October for R&R) but in all honesty, I was numb. Like I wouldn't let myself believe that the moment I had been waiting for so long for was finally here. And when I did see Andrew, I felt nothing but shear relief. No more waking in the middle of the night to a weird cell phone noise and not being able to get back to sleep, no more heart stopping every time the door bell rings (although, I think a part of my mind will always go 'there' when we have an unexpected visitor). My prayers had been answered and my soldier was home.

I know from experience, that the best part about other couples' homecomings are the pictures.... so here are some of our favorites

All of us waiting for HOURS!

Finally, they started lifting the curtain, and we could see boots.

My best guess is that it took about 7-10 minutes to fully raise the curtain. This was one of the longest waits of my life.

On 6 January at 2300 hours, 271 soldiers returned home to family and friends.

Searching the see of identical-looking men for mine!

FINALLY!

So what is next for us? Just enjoying life for once. Andrew is participating in his "reintegration training" daily at Fort Knox and I am returning to life as normal back in Pennsylvania. I have some responsibilities to finish at work before joining him in Kentucky this Spring.

As for the blog... don't worry, it's not going away! DPT's, however, are a thing of the past I'm afraid. I'll be around every now and then but probably not every single week. Just when exciting things are happening!

AMEN!!

Deployment Positive Thursday- Week 44

This week has been absolutely fantastic. I have the best friends and family in the entire world, hands down, but more on that later.

Yesterday marked ten months of deployment gone boy. SCORE!

Today, our unit welcomed home our very first soldiers from Afghanistan! These are the times I wish more than anything that I was living down at Fort Knox, I can't even imagine the joy on those families' faces when their soldiers returned home to them. It was just a small group, but the wave has started, and will continue over the next two and a half to three months.

Our FRG (Family Readiness Group- the wives of the soldiers in the unit) is sending out more emails than ever lately, all with new messages about homecoming and block leave and returning to "normal life" once the brigade returns home. It's oddly comforting to know that there really is a light at the end of this seemingly never-ending tunnel, it's not just me imagining it's there. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in a moment in time, and I forgot that this deployment will eventually end. It's almost our turn!

Now, onto the most amazing weekend EVER!

On Saturday morning, Mom Dolan and I set off for a Scrapbooking day at Dottie's (her best friend who lives a few towns away) house. I had my huge scrapbooking box with me (decoupaged with newspaper clippings from the Sox 04 World Series Run- one of my favorite home-made projects ever!) and as we walked in the door I was slapped in the face with the sound of "SURPRISE!!!!!" by what seemed like a million women.

I'll admit, the three seconds before I realized what was going on felt like they lasted for-ev-er. I walked into the room, and put my box down, just as I realized "oh, is this all happening for me?" and as I put my sunglasses on my head, I saw them. My girls. My roommates from college, and my best friend since the first grade. Not to mention the countless family (Em, that includes you!)

It's one of the strangest feelings in the world, and I'll never quite be able to describe it, but seeing people I cared so deeply about, here in an environment that I had never seen them before (nor did I ever think I would see them before our wedding) absolutely blew me away. Thank you thank you thank you girls for coming down and making me feel so loved. I am so very very blessed to have you all in my life.

The last time we (my seven roommates and I) were all together was our graduation from Stonehill in May 2009. I was a wreck. We all were. We had just spent the 4 best years of our lives with some of our greatest friends (and senior year with a couple of legitimately crazy boys living down the hall who loved to put fireplaces in our stairwell) and none of us could accept the fact that that chapter in our lives had come to a close. We huddled. There was nothing else to do, we didn't want to let go of that moment.

So what do you think we did the moment we were all 8 together again for the first time in nearly two and a half years (after I got over my initial shock, of course)? Yup! We huddled!

My Bridal Shower was nothing short of phenomenal! I can't describe the joy I felt that day! I really wish I could post a video of my reaction, but I'm having technology issues at the moment, hopefully I'll figure it out someday.

Thank you so very much to everybody who made this day happen! I feel so blessed to be loved by my family, my friends and to be coming into a family who is so loving as well. Saturday was probably one of my favorite deployment days, and I can't help but smile when I think of myself walking into that room and being completely bombarded with love!

Here I am with my Lexa Lou and my rehearsal bouquet! She did an awesome job!

Quick R&R Recap (aka Deployment Positive Thursday- Week 42)

As of 12 hours ago, the best two weeks of 2011 have officially come to an end. I can't put into words how perfect it felt to have him back in my arms after 9 long months apart. This morning it was so difficult to drop him off again and say our "see ya laters", but knowing that we are down to a matter of weeks before our first deployment is over forever made it a tiny bit easier.

R&R was nothing short of fantastic. I am going to try to post about it in sections over the next couple of days because it is way to much to summarize all in one post (plus I'm pretty exhausted to be completely honest with you), but in the meantime, here are some of my favorite highlights from the past 16 days:

Wow, narrowing thousands of pictures down to just 3 was nearly impossible. More to come soon, I promise, now I'm off to bed with my cellphone on for the first time in two weeks.

Deployment Positive Thursday- Week 38

Well I'm finally back home after a long week in Philadelphia for a work event. Events always drag every last bit of energy out of me so I am really really looking forward to this weekend. I am slowly recovering from my recent baseball heartbreak, but I don't know that I will ever completely get over that one.

This week I received an email from our unit's FRG (family readiness group) that filled my heart with joy. I was at a bar with coworkers and some of our exhibitors from the event when I realized a had gotten an email. I don't know what made me check it right then, but I started tearing up almost immediately. It may seem little to some people, but to me it is the very first step in the homecoming process. Not R&R, homecoming. This small, seemingly meaningless step just reassures me that this WILL eventually come to an end. I WILL see that boy again soon. And things WILL return to normal. Our new normal, and we can finally start our lives together.

So, what is this step? Our do-not-mail date! I can't believe it!! We have an actual, physical date that I can (and did) mark on my calendar that I can no longer send packages to Afghanistan any more! I cannot express the emotion that came with that email. This has been such a long road, and it has been challenging at times, but my God, the end is finally in sight.

As you may know, posting specific dates for anything regarding troop movement or redeployment (aka coming home) strictly violates OPSEC. Soldiers' safety is always the number one priority, but I'd be more than happy to tell anyone who asks/emails/texts me!!

So as I head to bed (early for once) I will leave you with this picture of my favorite soldier:


 

Andrew emailed me this picture this afternoon of his day today. "Training today....I like this picture, cause I think it shows us doing what we should be doing, preparing the Afghan Army to take over security in the country."

Look at that face. I don't know anyone on this planet who loves their job as much as he does.

... And I get to see that face in real life in front of my very eyes in a matter of DAYS. I really really really can't wait!

Deployment Positive Thursday- Week 35

I think I have intentionally been avoiding my blog lately. It would have been easy to have a huge long post about the significance of September 11th and what it means to all of us each and every day, but by now my opinions are pretty clear to those of you reading my blog. It was an emotional day, and for some reason I just didn't feel quite right bringing it to the blogosphere.

I will say that I was touched to see our country once again come together and show the unity we once had. I wish it could be like that every day, not just on certain dates we mark on our calendars, but I suppose we are taking a collective 'baby step' in the right direction.

The weekend of September 11th was also spent celebrating my birthday! Yup!! The big 2-5!! It's hard to believe that little old me is really that... Old... But I guess I'm getting used to it. I had a great weekend down in dc with my brother and his girlfriend (who, if I havent previously mentioned, I LOVE!) and we went to the Toby Keith concert on Saturday which was my actual birthday. He is amazing live, I highly recommend going to see him if you have the opportunity, but being that it was the "eve of September 11th" as he said so many times, it was particularly emotional and special for me. He is probably the most patriotic country singer who has ever lived and watching him pull soldiers onto the stage and sing songs like "American Soldier", "Courtesy of the red white and blue" and "Made in America" brought tears to my eyes. Hearing Toby say "thank god for all our heros fighting out there every day so that we can be here and have some fun tonight" gave me chills. It was a tough moment, and it made me miss Andrew almost more than I had at any other time this year.

Missing a soldier is hard to explain to people who don't live our life. It's not like when your husband goes on a business trip for a week or when your daughter studies abroad for a few months. Yes, there is an element of worry, but you have to put that out of your mind to a certain extent. Going a whole year without Andrew can sometimes be easier than just a week or two. It's hard to explain, but since it is such a long time, you just go through the motions without him here, almost like droning. You become numb to the "pain" of missing him simply because your body won't let you feel that way for months on end.

But there are moments in these long separations that my mind kicks me right back to the "I need him here now" mentality and I hate it so much. That concert was one of those moments. I didn't want to wait another second. Another was when we lost a solider in the community a few months ago. Or when one of the kids says something particularly cute about how proud they are of their ranger. I guess I go into emotion overload and that barrier I've been keeping up for so long gets torn down.

So yes, I did shed a tear or two at that concert, not only because I missed Andrew, but also for the devastation our country going through ten years ago. (andrew will give me a hard time about that for sure, but it's the truth so whatcha gonna do?) Here are some of the highlights from the weekend:














Life for me other than that lately has been busy Great and busy. I'm looking forward to a few days of relaxing with my mom in town this weekend, then gearing up for a big Yankees Red Sox weekend in New York before we kick off another event for work. I'm looking forward to the event being over, not only for the post-stress relief I will feel, but also because it means I am that much closer to seeing my soldier.

Oh yeah, that soldier of mine. Remember him? He's busy too, just loving life and kicking bad-guy butt! Leave got moved AGAIN, but this time because we asked for it, and the army actually granted it, which is pretty out of character. Leave will happen a few weeks later in the month, but it allows us more flexibility (and I was worried about crossover between leave and our conference for work) and by the time Andrew goes back to the sandbox, it will be november! Huge mental milestone!!

My Girls!

The seven wonderful ladies I lived with in college are my best friends. I'd be lost without you girls and I think you so much for making my pre-birthday weekend special and hilarious!!

For the rest of you, here's a look into our lives. I love everything about this, and Ames, you're amazing for putting it all together in less than 24 hours! LOVE YOU!!!!

Updates on the rest of my amazing weekend at home coming soon, but this had to be shared!

Deployment Positive Thursday- Week 31

This week, for the first time, we had our very first realistic conversation about Andrew's Midtour leave. Scratch that. Not one conversation. Conversations, multiple conversations. (that was for you, honey) It pretty much occupies my every thought at this point. The good news is it got moved up a few weeks, and I feel like it kind of snuck up on me. Then I re-think it and I realize that this has been long time coming.

I'll preach the whole OPSEC thing again and tell you that I can't say when he'll be home, but it wouldn't matter anyways because whatever date the Army tells us is the only date within probably a three week span that has exactly ZERO probability of Andrew actually coming home on. This time that's actually a good thing though, I'm hoping for it to get pushed back as far as possible so that we have less left on the back end. 

I get so excited when I think about Andrew actually being home. It's actually a nice treat that we get to be so excited about the little things. What other couples get this anxious and excited about a simple dinner date or watching a baseball game together. Honestly, all I want to do is ride around in the truck flying down back roads with the country on as loud as it can go just singing the wrong words and laughing together. That's what I miss, spending time with my best friend. I keep telling myself it's right around the corner, but that just makes it seem like soooo far away.

On another note, does anybody know how to video record a skype of oovoo call? We have a little project we are working on for a friend but we need to record skype to make it happen. Any advice would be much appreciated!

Deployment Positive Thursday- Week 29

Well what do you know, I'm still slacking on my blogging. No excuse except a good clean fun all-American summer. Last week we were at Stone Harbor, New Jersey (although I only went for the last few days because I had to work) with the whole extended Dolan family. Unfortunately we forgot cardboard Andrew here... It would have been way more fun to have the real guy with us though. Instead we decided to pay tribute to our favorite soldier by dubbing our set up at the beach FOB Dolan:




Pretty sweet, right?!? Plus we thought that with eleven children under the age of 10, this would be a great way for any of our little wanderers to find their way back to the family! Plus it made me beam with pride every SINGLE time that flag caught my eye!

When we returned home life returned to normal. I was thankful to have the family home (being home alone is DEFINITELY not as much fun as Macully Culkin (spelling is totally off, but you get the idea) makes it out to be) and also so excited to flip the page on yet another month of this horrid 2011. August is finally here and I couldn't be happier!!






Today is probably my favorite day since Andrew has left. Not only does it mark the 200th day of deployment, but August 4th will forever be a special day for us. On this day 366 days from now (2012 is a leap year, the irony is not lost on me. Remind me to thank the universe for that extra little reminder that I'm not in control of anything in my life) Andrew and I will be married. I am absolutely overjoyed that I finally am within a year of our wedding date and that now the real countdown can begin. Some people might not think a pre-versary is worthy of celebration, but ummmm hello?!? I'll take any excuse to celebrate the days going by at this point, plus it's SUPER EXCITING!!!!

To celebrate, a few of us went to look for wedding gowns today! It was so fun and something about wedding dress shopping can turn any day around! I am one lucky girl. I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful things to look forward to in the next year and so many more in the future. I have a man who loves me very much and even though I don't get to see him as often as I would like, I know that he is living his dream, and I am so proud of him for that.

I can't wait to marry my best friend, my true love and my hero one year from today! Nothing (except possibly his safe return home to me this winter) could make me happier.

NWY

Deployment Positive Thursday- Week 22

Seven Championships in Ten Years.

Boston, you're my home.

Okay there has been lots going on lately and in my mind I was going to write this post tomorrow night about something completely different, but sorry... I'm gonna need to brag about my hometown for just a second.

Since 2001 we've racked up 3 Superbowls, 2 World Series Victories, 1Larry O'Brien Trophy, and of course the newest member of the club: 1 Stanley Cup. That ain't too shabby. There is something about being from a small city with a huge heart that just makes me so proud. Even thought I'm not technically "from" Boston, New Englanders (with the exception of those Western Connecticut folks) stand together behind their teams. It's a magical thing, really. It's one of my favorite things about going home; seeing people in Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics gear everywhere I go. Just thinking about how crazy the parade is going to be for the Bruins this weekend is making me positively giddy. If only Andrew and I could celebrate in Boston with the rest of our city...

I was pleased to learn that Andrew was able to wake up super early (about 3:30am local time) to watch Game Seven tonight this morning. They played it on AFN at the MWR and I can totally picture his face and all of his excitement as the game unfolded. (Here is where I add that originally I had planned on blogging about him and how much progress we are making on this deployment. A quick update will have to suffice: 150 days down as of yesterday and today marks exactly 5 months. All told, it's been an exciting week as far as benchmarks are concerned).

But the fact of the matter remains that this is America. We're a baseball country and if nothing else proves that to you, check out Sports Center's Number 1 play of the day just an hour after the Bruins won Lord Stanley's Cup.... Johnny Gomes in makes a diving catch in left field. In a baseball game. The All-star break is right around the corner (okay, still like a month away yet, but I've told you before, a girl's got to have things to look forward to) and the Sox are kickin' some serious tail. Keep it up down the stretch boys, and we'll make it 8 parades along the Charles in 10 years. Welcome to Title Town, folks.

Deployment Positive Thursday- Week TWENTY!

OMG'sh (that's for you, honey!), we've made it through 20 weeks! woo!!! Sorry, I feel like I have been majorly slacking on my blog lately, but now that I'm back in the real world, I promise to get back on track.

Mom Dolan and I had a great trip to Florida, and once all the work was done it was time to let loose and PLAY! It was such an amazing vacation, and it felt so good to just throw all our cares away and just be like little kids again! We also spent a lot of time with her brother, Uncle Steve, who has worked for Disney for over 30 years and gave us all the behind-the-scenes secrets and stories. He works in resort development, which I've decided is basically the coolest job EVER! Also, he introduced me to "Hidden Mickey's" which I quickly became obsessed with. I may or may not see Mickey's when I close my eyes at night....

Here are some of the photo highlights of our trip (all taken from my iPhone, so please excuse the grainy quality):

Checking into the Polynesian! Absolutely Beautiful... with a bride there, no less!

Mickey was waiting for us on the bed!!!

Finally here!!!

One of my only memories from our Family Disney trip 20 years ago was getting these balloons with my brother! We were so upset when my parents deflated them before we got on the airplane (and definitely threw a fit in the airport, I'm sure) but were overjoyed when they were re-inflated once we got home!

Dinner with Uncle Steve. Please note my magical glowing ice cube! 

Back to the park for a late-night visit!

I LOVE THE BALLOONS! The Castle is behind me, even though you can't see it!

My favorite Parade!

"To Honor America!" 

Day 2: Lunch at Coral Reef at Epcot

Mom and I on the Nemo Ride!

Greetings from the Future

Mickey Ice Cream... I felt guilty eating him!!

My Favorite Hidden Mickey... can you see him?!

Last day, about to check out :( My balloon is still going strong though!

So after 5 long days of hard work, we had a great Disney vacation! My favorite part was when I started to get sad about leaving and not getting everything done, and then I realized that this will not be my last Disney trip! I'm marrying into a family that LOVES Disney and goes as much as possible!! I can't wait to come back with Andrew someday and race to see who can find the most Mickeys!! Oh, we've got so much to look forward to... If 2011 would just hurry up and end already, that would be just fantastic!