A couple of years ago, when we were really just starting out on this military journey and long distance relationship, a good friend of mine gave me one of the best pieces of advice I have received. I was getting so upset every time I would have to leave Andrew to go home again.
She told me: "every goodbye now is one goodbye less until you won't have to say goodbyes anymore". At the time, I couldn't even imagine a world without long distance phone calls, good morning text messages and airport goodbyes, but here we are. This weekend will be my last trip to Kentucky (and my first attempt at cooking a holiday meal- yikes) before moving down to be with Andrew next month. It is hard to believe we made it through four Army training schools, including ranger school, and a 12 month deployment and now the beginning of our lives together can actually start.
Of course, the Army throws a wrench in the traditional American family lifestyle, so we will have our fair share of "see ya laters" coming our way, but I love knowing that for the foreseeable future I will get to see my future husband every day. We've almost made it... Just a couple more weeks to go!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Thank YOU!
I checked my blog this afternoon for the first time in a couple of days (I love how busy and back to normal life is lately- between visits to see Andrew, working, job searching, planning a wedding and getting ready for a move, blogging seems to be the thing being left behind) and was absolutely astonished when I saw that it had over 15,000 hits.
MY blog! My little itty bitty corner of the internet. (What's even more amazing is that the several dozen email subscribers never even opened the URL, just got updates right in their inbox. Imagine the numbers I would have without that feature!) That's pretty impressive, if I do say so myself, for a blog that has only been public for just over a year.
It's pretty darn cool to think that what started as a way to journal my thoughts and our journey while Andrew was in Ranger School (because honestly, it's a million times faster for me to type than it is to write with a pen) became what it has. I needed this venting mechanism over the past year. I needed a place to (try to) be positive even when things weren't looking so great; when I felt scared or lonely, or just sad. And when those times hit, sometimes it felt really good to put on my happy bloggy face and pretend like everything was peachy-keen for that moment in time.
So thank you, whoever you are, and wherever you may be, for letting me share our story. The feedback I have received from friends and family, along with complete strangers has been truly a gift, and has given me such strength.
MY blog! My little itty bitty corner of the internet. (What's even more amazing is that the several dozen email subscribers never even opened the URL, just got updates right in their inbox. Imagine the numbers I would have without that feature!) That's pretty impressive, if I do say so myself, for a blog that has only been public for just over a year.
It's pretty darn cool to think that what started as a way to journal my thoughts and our journey while Andrew was in Ranger School (because honestly, it's a million times faster for me to type than it is to write with a pen) became what it has. I needed this venting mechanism over the past year. I needed a place to (try to) be positive even when things weren't looking so great; when I felt scared or lonely, or just sad. And when those times hit, sometimes it felt really good to put on my happy bloggy face and pretend like everything was peachy-keen for that moment in time.
So thank you, whoever you are, and wherever you may be, for letting me share our story. The feedback I have received from friends and family, along with complete strangers has been truly a gift, and has given me such strength.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Leap!!!
Well it only comes around once every four years, so I always think February 29th is a great time for reflections. Four years ago I was living in beautiful Florence, Italy and Andrew was on a transatlantic flight to come visit me and explore my new home.
I can honestly say that four years ago I had no earthly idea that I would be living in Hershey Pennsylvania today. Or that we would have just finished a full year away from one another- that's "deployment" and "platoon" stuff Andrew was always talking about. We also had no idea what branch he would be in, or where we would be stationed (although, one time, very early on, Andrew asked me "so how do you feel about Kentucky, babe?"-- funny how things unfold).
So here we are, with a lot of the same questions about Leap Day 2016. Where will the army send us? What friends will we meet there? What will be going on in the world?
I don't know about you, but I'm excited for the ride and the adventures ahead of us!
I can honestly say that four years ago I had no earthly idea that I would be living in Hershey Pennsylvania today. Or that we would have just finished a full year away from one another- that's "deployment" and "platoon" stuff Andrew was always talking about. We also had no idea what branch he would be in, or where we would be stationed (although, one time, very early on, Andrew asked me "so how do you feel about Kentucky, babe?"-- funny how things unfold).
So here we are, with a lot of the same questions about Leap Day 2016. Where will the army send us? What friends will we meet there? What will be going on in the world?
I don't know about you, but I'm excited for the ride and the adventures ahead of us!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
A Different Take on Olde Glory
Last month, before Andrew came home to Pennsylvania for his first block leave, I wanted to do something different but fun for when he got back. Shannon saw a fun wreath handmade by one of her cousins online, so she and I and Mom Dolan decided to take a stab at it.
We started with what seemed like hundreds of 3 x 3 inch felt squares in red, white and blue.
Then we marked off our foam ring to make sure we didn't get too carried away with a certain color
This part took a little trial and error. First we tried putting pins in the middle of the squares, but then they didnt stay up.
So we folded them into triangles and pinned them from the side
It worked like a charm!
In just over an hour, we had our wreath!
Shannon added stars, and then it was ready to hang on the front door, just in time to welcome our favorite soldier home, sweet home!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Love, Valentines, and Learning to Share Again
Considering the fact that on valentines day last year we were approximately 8,000 miles apart and not even 30 days into our first deployment, celebrating Valentines 2012 a few days early made me one of the happiest girls in the world. As military families will tell you, we don't ever miss holidays, we just don't always celebrate them when the calendar tells us to. So for Valentines Day this year, we had a fabulous dinner, I was showered with lots of thoughtful gifts, and I got to spend time with my man. Not much can top that.
However, I made a mistake long ago. Once upon a time, before I understood what "army life" really meant, I told Andrew that flowers were a waste of money. (I know ladies, what was I thinking?) So guess what, every birthday and holiday I drop hints for how pretty flowers are (because I do love flowers, I just don't think they are necessary all the time, especially when you see each other day in and day out... But for special occasions, holidays, birthday, feeling sick days, I think they are a beautiful way to show somebody you care) and every year Andrew reminds me that "you always agreed they are a waste of money". He doesn't even allow me to argue that he is taking this completely out of context before the conversation is over.
So imagine my delight and surprise when real-valentines day rolled around, and these beauties were waiting for me on the kitchen table!
I am one lucky, and very in love girl!
My first reaction was to call my favorite boy and thank him for completely warming my heart and making my Valentines Day special. The second thing I wanted to do was take pictures!
Problem.
Our nice camera is in Kentucky.
It was my camera for a whole year. But now Andrew is home and I spend a lot of time with him below the Mason-Dixon line with him, so it just made sense to have it there.
But in that moment, I wanted it here. I wanted it to be my camera again, and not have to share.
It took about .25 seconds for me to snap out of it (and take another look at my beautiful roses) before I realized how silly I was being. A year ago I would have given anything to call up Andrew just to say hi and thanks, all while knowing I would be seeing him in two weeks.
Six weeks into post-deployment life and real-life is back! It's so nice to not have every thought revolve around the deployment, or the fact that Andrew is home (and feeling stressed if I wasn't spending every.single.second. with him). It's so hard to explain, but I spend so long, praying for my life to be "normal" again, and now, seemingly in the blink of an eye, it is- and I couldn't be more thankful.
So yes, there are changes going on, and new situations to get used to. But they are wonderful changes, and I am grateful for them. We are at a healthy point in the reintegration process, finally back into the swing of our lives-- both separately and together-- and pretty much loving every moment of it. As I wrap up my final project with my job here in Pennsylvania, I'm really looking forward to the job search process and the promise of new challenges and adventures once I move to Kentucky in a few months.
However, I made a mistake long ago. Once upon a time, before I understood what "army life" really meant, I told Andrew that flowers were a waste of money. (I know ladies, what was I thinking?) So guess what, every birthday and holiday I drop hints for how pretty flowers are (because I do love flowers, I just don't think they are necessary all the time, especially when you see each other day in and day out... But for special occasions, holidays, birthday, feeling sick days, I think they are a beautiful way to show somebody you care) and every year Andrew reminds me that "you always agreed they are a waste of money". He doesn't even allow me to argue that he is taking this completely out of context before the conversation is over.
So imagine my delight and surprise when real-valentines day rolled around, and these beauties were waiting for me on the kitchen table!
I am one lucky, and very in love girl!
My first reaction was to call my favorite boy and thank him for completely warming my heart and making my Valentines Day special. The second thing I wanted to do was take pictures!
Problem.
Our nice camera is in Kentucky.
It was my camera for a whole year. But now Andrew is home and I spend a lot of time with him below the Mason-Dixon line with him, so it just made sense to have it there.
But in that moment, I wanted it here. I wanted it to be my camera again, and not have to share.
It took about .25 seconds for me to snap out of it (and take another look at my beautiful roses) before I realized how silly I was being. A year ago I would have given anything to call up Andrew just to say hi and thanks, all while knowing I would be seeing him in two weeks.
Six weeks into post-deployment life and real-life is back! It's so nice to not have every thought revolve around the deployment, or the fact that Andrew is home (and feeling stressed if I wasn't spending every.single.second. with him). It's so hard to explain, but I spend so long, praying for my life to be "normal" again, and now, seemingly in the blink of an eye, it is- and I couldn't be more thankful.
So yes, there are changes going on, and new situations to get used to. But they are wonderful changes, and I am grateful for them. We are at a healthy point in the reintegration process, finally back into the swing of our lives-- both separately and together-- and pretty much loving every moment of it. As I wrap up my final project with my job here in Pennsylvania, I'm really looking forward to the job search process and the promise of new challenges and adventures once I move to Kentucky in a few months.
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