Yep, that's him! The tall one with the darker green camo, on a humanitarian mission earlier this week.
It's amazing how a 20 minute facebook chat with Andrew can totally turn around my entire
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
This is my Soldier...
Yep, that's him! The tall one with the darker green camo, on a humanitarian mission earlier this week.
It's amazing how a 20 minute facebook chat with Andrew can totally turn around my entire
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Deployment Positive Thursday- Week 27
Sometimes I think I must have been crazy to come up with this whole "deployment positive" idea. Yeah, the concept is nice and dandy and all, but some weeks I feel like I am completely sugar coating a horrible situation. I'm not talking about missing Andrew, because while that is difficult most days, it is nothing compared to the pain that the families of our fallen soldiers feel.
Honestly, it's hard for me some days to go on facebook and see people complaining about the little things in life- like the air conditioning not working, or getting a blister from running in their brand new, state-of-the-art running shoes- when I know that so many men and women are sacrificing their lives so that we can make complaints like that. There are so many more important things in life, I really just wish some people would take a step back for a moment and realize how good life is and how lucky they are. It's sad, but for most Americans, it seems like the war and our soldiers are not on the forefront of their minds.
Regardless of your political opinions, the fact of the matter is that we are at war. The men and women in our armed forces are there by choice, they feel it is their duty and their honor and they are all so incredibly brave. I wish I could individually thank each and every Soldier, Marine, Airman, Sailor and Coastie who has ever served but obviously I can't. And I can't send my condolences and hug each Gold Star family member who has lost a loved one.
I am so proud of my fiance's chosen profession. I admire him so much for everything he does and everything he stands for, and I feel honored to be a part of a military family (because even though we haven't signed the papers or said "I do" yet, we are a family). Sometimes it is just hard to watch other families in such pain and realize it just isn't fair. You feel guilty that you still have your soldier and they don't have their's.
I'm rambling. I didn't mean this to post to be a rant or a lecture, I've just had a lot on my mind lately. I guess it all boils down to one of my favorite quotes of all time, and my new favorite song by James Otto.
Honestly, it's hard for me some days to go on facebook and see people complaining about the little things in life- like the air conditioning not working, or getting a blister from running in their brand new, state-of-the-art running shoes- when I know that so many men and women are sacrificing their lives so that we can make complaints like that. There are so many more important things in life, I really just wish some people would take a step back for a moment and realize how good life is and how lucky they are. It's sad, but for most Americans, it seems like the war and our soldiers are not on the forefront of their minds.
Regardless of your political opinions, the fact of the matter is that we are at war. The men and women in our armed forces are there by choice, they feel it is their duty and their honor and they are all so incredibly brave. I wish I could individually thank each and every Soldier, Marine, Airman, Sailor and Coastie who has ever served but obviously I can't. And I can't send my condolences and hug each Gold Star family member who has lost a loved one.
I am so proud of my fiance's chosen profession. I admire him so much for everything he does and everything he stands for, and I feel honored to be a part of a military family (because even though we haven't signed the papers or said "I do" yet, we are a family). Sometimes it is just hard to watch other families in such pain and realize it just isn't fair. You feel guilty that you still have your soldier and they don't have their's.
I'm rambling. I didn't mean this to post to be a rant or a lecture, I've just had a lot on my mind lately. I guess it all boils down to one of my favorite quotes of all time, and my new favorite song by James Otto.
"Only two men have ever offered to die for you: Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom"
Monday, July 18, 2011
Part II
Many couples break a deployment into two distinct halves; before R&R and after. Since we have been "blessed" with a very late midtour leave, I find it hard to believe that we will be every categorizing this deployment in the traditional way. I am hoping that by the time Andrew takes leave we may even be lucky enough to have a tentative homecoming date... I say that knowing that it will change a million times, but it would be nice to have a general sense of how about many weeks (I will refuse to count in months after midtour) we'll have left to go. Probably setting myself up for disappointment on this one, but that's just the point I'm at right now.
The way things have worked out so far, I feel like we will experience two vastly different deployments all rolled into twelve months: literally divided right down the middle. Saturday (as I've told everyone who will listen a million times) marked six months since I wrapped my arms around Andrew, begged for just one more kiss, and watched him walk onto that white bus at Fort Knox. It's hard to believe we're on the downhill side of this, but at the same time, I know we still have a very long road ahead of us. Also on Saturday, Andrew was relocated to a new COP (Combat Outpost). He is so excited to have moved off of the big FOB and to a smaller base with ALL American Soldiers! It just so happens that this move took place on the same day of his six month "anniversary" (which, by the way, is a weird way to look at it, but I'm going with it). Communication will be different, his job will be different, his meals will be different, and of course, his address is different (for those of you who are interested in the new address, email me and I'll send it right along).
It will be an adjustment for sure. I am the first to admit that I have been spoiled over the last six months. It is extremely rare for family to be able to talk to their soldier almost every day, even by email. Often times I felt like I was cheating this deployment, because I talk to so many other spouses who are not as fortunate. It's hard to get caught up in the communication aspect of all this when Andrew is so excited for this change, and it is impossible not to be excited for him! Honestly, the change doesn't really phase me much at this point. I'm genuinely excited for him, plus with the miracles of modern technology (thank you, Steve Jobs) I am able to be reached via any form of communication at any hour of the day just because of my iPhone! I love that little thing!
This move is the answer to countless prayers, and if it means I have to revert back to my ranger school days of waiting weeks for a letter, then so be it.
The way things have worked out so far, I feel like we will experience two vastly different deployments all rolled into twelve months: literally divided right down the middle. Saturday (as I've told everyone who will listen a million times) marked six months since I wrapped my arms around Andrew, begged for just one more kiss, and watched him walk onto that white bus at Fort Knox. It's hard to believe we're on the downhill side of this, but at the same time, I know we still have a very long road ahead of us. Also on Saturday, Andrew was relocated to a new COP (Combat Outpost). He is so excited to have moved off of the big FOB and to a smaller base with ALL American Soldiers! It just so happens that this move took place on the same day of his six month "anniversary" (which, by the way, is a weird way to look at it, but I'm going with it). Communication will be different, his job will be different, his meals will be different, and of course, his address is different (for those of you who are interested in the new address, email me and I'll send it right along).
It will be an adjustment for sure. I am the first to admit that I have been spoiled over the last six months. It is extremely rare for family to be able to talk to their soldier almost every day, even by email. Often times I felt like I was cheating this deployment, because I talk to so many other spouses who are not as fortunate. It's hard to get caught up in the communication aspect of all this when Andrew is so excited for this change, and it is impossible not to be excited for him! Honestly, the change doesn't really phase me much at this point. I'm genuinely excited for him, plus with the miracles of modern technology (thank you, Steve Jobs) I am able to be reached via any form of communication at any hour of the day just because of my iPhone! I love that little thing!
This move is the answer to countless prayers, and if it means I have to revert back to my ranger school days of waiting weeks for a letter, then so be it.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Deployment Positive Thursday- Weeks 25 & 26
So we meet again. Things have been slightly busy around here the past two weeks to say the lest. Between a Trans-Atlantic vacation, getting caught up at work, and trying to get back into my routine, some things (eh hem, my blog) have seemed to fallen by the wayside. As we begin to gear up for the second half of this deployment (YUP, this is really happening!) I find myself getting more and more excited for the fall! The poor kids must be so sick of me asking them how excited they are to start school up again, but what's a girl to do? I've got to have things to look forward to.
Maybe it's foolish, but as we hit the 6 month mark, I keep having to remind myself that it's not over yet. I guess this is the beauty of having midtour leave late in a deployment. Not only that, but I have been planning lots of smaller milestone trips as well with friends and family. Plus with the Holidays seemingly right after midtour is over, it'll be 2012 before we know it. And I couldn't be happier.
I also wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from my visit to Germany. We crammed a lot of fun (and food and beer) into 5 short days, but it was great to see family again. These are mostly in random order, but I tried to just pick my favorites. Hope you enjoy:
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| Cemeteries in Europe are a lot different than in the states. There is something so beautiful about families owning a plot and taking care of their loved ones and making it their own. |
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| My Omama and Opapa Hilsbos & Opa Jakob |
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| Creative "Tombstone"... this was one of my favorites. |
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| The house my mom grew up in just outside Dusseldorf |
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| My "single" hotel room. |
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| Gut Hahn for lunch |
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| At Gut Hahn with my Oma and Dad |
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| Ein Pills, Bitte |
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| Empty Beer |
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| My favorite meal; Filet mit Pfefferlinger und Rosti |
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| German Countryside |
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| Kaffee und kuchen |
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| My Oma and Opa on their wedding day in December 1943 |
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| A rainbow on our last afternoon |
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| And a beautiful sunset walking back to the hotel |
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Deployment Positive Thursday- Week 24
Well, I think it is safe to say that the summer has been a busy time for me- and honestly, I couldn't be happier about it! Just looking at my blogging, or lack there of, it's easy to see that I haven't had a spare moment the last few weeks. (I'll admit though, that my scarce blogging habits can also be blamed on the fact that we just don't have all that much to report- it's still hot and sandy in Afghanistan, and I'm still not-so-patiently waiting for R&R.) To make up for my lack of posts recently, I'm blogging everything that's been floating around my mind lately in one mammoth post. So today's DPT is a BOGO, if you will.
To start, I have to admit, I am loving that I am able to honestly say we are about halfway done at this point. It's so funny because the last 5 1/2 months have been such a blur, but also have seemed to drag on at the same time. Now with the promise of midtour leave seemingly right around the corner (obviously still a huge exaggeration at this point: we still have over three months until October even starts), I feel like we are finally making some real headway.
Sometimes it is hard to imagine that 2012 will ever actually get here, but yesterday for the first time ever, I saw a commercial for a line of 2012 Chevy cars and trucks! Hearing the word 2012 mentioned in a commercial for a product that is actually available to the general public RIGHT NOW was an amazing feeling; it's hard to explain, but it makes everything real. It's like when you are a kid and all you want is for Santa to come, but it's only December 1st and you still have 24 whole entire days to wait. You never think you'll actually get to Christmas Morning (at least, I never did when we started our Advent Calendars), but as more and more families begin to put up their Christmas Trees and decorations, you realize that soon Santa will come. That Chevy commercial made me realize that this deployment will eventually come to an end, that this lonely feeling will not always be my reality, even though sometimes it doesn't feel like it.
As June comes to a close, it feels like ages ago that we were in Disney. But today is a day to celebrate, not only because it is the last day of another month that we can forever bid farewell, but because of two very exciting events that happened in the Dolan household today. The first: Mom finally got her voice back after being told by an ENT not to talk at all for the past six weeks (we cheated a little at Disney, but who wouldn't) due to swollen vocal chords. And the second: Dad's big 60th birthday! We had the whole family over tonight for dinner and dessert by the pool and it was just a perfect evening. A great way to close out a pretty bum month!
And, with the start of July, brings another trip for me! Tomorrow I leave for 6 days in Germany visiting with family and friends. We grew up visiting my grandparents every summer, and as Mark and I grew older it got harder and harder to find time for all of us to go. I haven't seen my Oma in three long years (since I took a weekend trip to visit her while I was studying in Florence in '08) so I am definitely ready to wrap my arms around her. Mom Dolan helped my pack tonight (have I mentioned I hate packing? Literally I did dishes for as long as humanly possible tonight just to avoid it, then stomped around the house groaning about how much I was dreading the task ahead of me for almost a solid hour) but miraculously I fit everything into a single carry on suitcase! I'm pretty darn proud of myself.
I told Andrew that after post-deployment block leave and our Honeymoon, Germany is a vacation priority. It kills me that it is such a huge part of my life (and family) that he doesn't know. I dream of the day when my grandmother can finally meet him. Since my grandfather was in the military during WWII, she knows what it is like to have the love of her life away fighting a war, and she often tells me what a tough journey it is. She finds it so hard to fathom that Andrew and I are able to communicate so often and quickly. In her day, it took weeks and weeks (sometimes months) to get letters to one another, and she and my Opa wrote every.single.day. That is what I call love, and I think it is an excellent example they set for us.
To start, I have to admit, I am loving that I am able to honestly say we are about halfway done at this point. It's so funny because the last 5 1/2 months have been such a blur, but also have seemed to drag on at the same time. Now with the promise of midtour leave seemingly right around the corner (obviously still a huge exaggeration at this point: we still have over three months until October even starts), I feel like we are finally making some real headway.
Sometimes it is hard to imagine that 2012 will ever actually get here, but yesterday for the first time ever, I saw a commercial for a line of 2012 Chevy cars and trucks! Hearing the word 2012 mentioned in a commercial for a product that is actually available to the general public RIGHT NOW was an amazing feeling; it's hard to explain, but it makes everything real. It's like when you are a kid and all you want is for Santa to come, but it's only December 1st and you still have 24 whole entire days to wait. You never think you'll actually get to Christmas Morning (at least, I never did when we started our Advent Calendars), but as more and more families begin to put up their Christmas Trees and decorations, you realize that soon Santa will come. That Chevy commercial made me realize that this deployment will eventually come to an end, that this lonely feeling will not always be my reality, even though sometimes it doesn't feel like it.
As June comes to a close, it feels like ages ago that we were in Disney. But today is a day to celebrate, not only because it is the last day of another month that we can forever bid farewell, but because of two very exciting events that happened in the Dolan household today. The first: Mom finally got her voice back after being told by an ENT not to talk at all for the past six weeks (we cheated a little at Disney, but who wouldn't) due to swollen vocal chords. And the second: Dad's big 60th birthday! We had the whole family over tonight for dinner and dessert by the pool and it was just a perfect evening. A great way to close out a pretty bum month!
And, with the start of July, brings another trip for me! Tomorrow I leave for 6 days in Germany visiting with family and friends. We grew up visiting my grandparents every summer, and as Mark and I grew older it got harder and harder to find time for all of us to go. I haven't seen my Oma in three long years (since I took a weekend trip to visit her while I was studying in Florence in '08) so I am definitely ready to wrap my arms around her. Mom Dolan helped my pack tonight (have I mentioned I hate packing? Literally I did dishes for as long as humanly possible tonight just to avoid it, then stomped around the house groaning about how much I was dreading the task ahead of me for almost a solid hour) but miraculously I fit everything into a single carry on suitcase! I'm pretty darn proud of myself.
I told Andrew that after post-deployment block leave and our Honeymoon, Germany is a vacation priority. It kills me that it is such a huge part of my life (and family) that he doesn't know. I dream of the day when my grandmother can finally meet him. Since my grandfather was in the military during WWII, she knows what it is like to have the love of her life away fighting a war, and she often tells me what a tough journey it is. She finds it so hard to fathom that Andrew and I are able to communicate so often and quickly. In her day, it took weeks and weeks (sometimes months) to get letters to one another, and she and my Opa wrote every.single.day. That is what I call love, and I think it is an excellent example they set for us.
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