Reflecting on 2009

Wow I can't believe the end of 2009 is here, wow what a year?!?!

So I try to sit back and think about the blessings and wonderful things about this year. I think of all the time together we spend and places we went and visited.
I was going to do a month by month recap of the year but I don't know if I could think of something to say about each month so here it goes:

January: The training began for Jeremy, we knew that by the end of this year we would have to say good bye to each other but was going to make it a great year. Also, this month my nephew Parker was born, but I could not wait for the chance to meet him!
February: We had a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner. My husband suprise me with a already paid Manicure and Pedicure to get me out of the house while he made a wonderful 3 course meal. This was also after he made me breakfast in bed. A wonderful day!
March: I think we made a trip down to Florida to see the Jacksonville Zoo, I know we are 2 adults but we enjoy going to zoos and aquariums together those are our favorite places to visit.
April: We had a wonderful yard sale and sold alot of the much junk we had around the house. We took the money and went on a little get away to Tybee Island, GA. There we just relaxed and spend some time together.
May and June: These month we did not do anything exciting but was able to spend some time together and get to know each other better. We dealt with some issues during this time but it all worked out for the best.
July: Beka got to come stay with us for 3 weeks and have a WONDERFUL JULY 4th with us. She even enjoy dancing to Trace Adkins. Anyways that was great to spend time with her. Also, in July Jeremy finally got a promoted to PFC. I was so happy!
August: This month Jeremy began his really serious training for deployment. He attended Raider Focus out in the field for most of the month. He also was promoted again to SPC. Way to go again!
September: We were able to take leave and go back home to Texas and visit our love ones there. I was so excitied to finally meet my nephew Parker. The trip was wonderful and it was so nice to see everyone and even ended with some crabbing.
October: Jeremy went away for almost 4 weeks to Fort Irwin, CA for NTC training. There he learn alot more and training and almost real life Iraq situations. I missed him alot but we made it trough.
November: This month was my birthday and thanks to my husband I enjoyed. We also got to spend my birthday at Hilton Head, SC at a Marriage retreat. It was fun and a great relationship building classes. Anyways, we started the count down and knew he was leaving soon.
December: The month everything happen in, We started off the month with a trip up to Kentucky/ Tennessee to see my brother in law, Jason and his new girlfriend. On one day on the way up there we stop in Chattanooga, TN and enjoy some of the sites of the city together. Then we came home and begun to prepare for the goodbye. That day arrived fast but we did it and now we just wait for the hello again. Also this month, my husband was able to resign for another 6 years into the Army but will change jobs into something he enjoys more.

So basically that has been our year a lot of training and preparing but It was a great year together and I look forward to 2010 and hopes it brings even more joy and blessings!

Day one at the Gym

That is right, I hit the gym today. So one goal while my husband is away is get in shape, lose weight and learn to enjoy it. So, Jeremy has been gone 16 days and I still have not even started my goal. I kept making up excuses like maybe I should wait till after the holidays, start in the new year and things like that. So today or better tonight I was bored and wanted to get out of the house but had no money, so what shall I do. I know go to the gym, but really, alone. But I brave myself and did it. I was scared at first, sorry I feel like the big fat person there cause for some reason it seem like the everyone at the gym is already in shape... Does anyone else feel like that? LOL! Anyways, I did it and got over my fear of going to the gym.
So I did the treadmill and was able to do ONE mile in 27:43. I don't know if that is bad or not for me being 29 and never really run in my life. So I am proud that it was under 30 minutes. Hopefully I could do 2 miles in that time by next year. I also went to the weight room with the machines. I don't know anything about free weights but I can find things to do on the mechanics. Anyways, that is where I was beginning to doubt myself and think maybe I should just leave. But I close my eyes to do another life and I swear i could here my husband voice like he was like there telling me not to give you and that he was proud of me. After that I was feeling great to keep working out. So I did more legs, arms and crunches. Then I decide to go back to the cardio room and end with some bike. But, on my way I hear a terrible noise. Some how the fire alarm went off so everyone had to leave the building. They said we did not HAVE to leave but they close in a hour, but it will be awhile cause they have to wait till MPs and fire deptartment comes and clear the building before anyone could come back in;. So, there is no telling how much time we would have so I decide not to sit around in the freezing cold to wait. I think I had a good workout. 55 minutes was good enough for me. Now, lets see if I could do this everyday. Wish me luck!

The Year 2015

Well it is official Jeremy was sworn in yesterday again. So yes that means he resigned and agree to served 6 more years in the US Army. Yeah that sounds like a long time away but I am sure it will fly by again. I mean he has been in 2 1/2 years now. So I know the time will fly by.
Anyways, but the only way he could resign was to change his MOS (job). They have too many 63M in the army so his choices were to get out or reclass. So they gave him a list of MOS that he qualified for he had to pick one. So he reclass to 92G. What is a 92G?? A food Specialist, or basically a cook. So yeah he when he returns from Iraq he will no longer be a 63M but a 92G. I know what you must be thinking going from a Bradley Mechanic to a Cook, really!?!?! But, if you know my husband that is a good choice for him. He LOVES to cook and he has always wanted to know more and take lessons to learn more. So being a cook in the army is right up his ally. He has even thought of going to Houston Art Institute to take Culinary classes. So now if he does this he will get alot of training which would be awesome. So yeah i am excited for him, he will be doing something he ENJOYS doing. I think his experience would be better in the army.

So what does this mean for me.....it means we are probably going to get out of crazy ole' Fort Stewart. What will happen is whenever he gets back from deployment, he will check in and have to spend, I don't remember how long here checking in and then he will leave for AIT again. This time in Fort Lee, VA. So since he will be a reclass I don't think it is has strict has when they are the newbies out of basic. I don't know we will cross that bridge when we get there. I do like that this time Fort Lee is only like 7 hours away or so, so when he graduates this time I should be able to drive up there and see him. But after that we will come back here and start checking out and go wherever our (or I should say his) new orders tell us to go.
We are hoping the orders will be somewhere fun and exciting all over again. But i just keep laughting watch us in up here or some other place in GA. LOL! No, the chances of that happening is slim to none, due to his MOS now is an anywhere MOS there is no where he could no go, they need cooks everywhere. So we could end up in some werid places like Hawaii, Korea, or just a small post somewhere. Or even close to home like Fort Polk. No, he got to choice 4 places he would LIKE to go. So what places did he put?? I don't know why he chose these: but here it is: Germany, Alaska, Fort Lewis (in Washington) and Fort Campbell (in Kentucky/Tennessee border). So we shall see!

But other then that things are going good. But I need to get off here I will write later.

Prayers!

Okay, I have always had faith in prayers but there is always room for more faith in prayer. Last night and this morning I had a experience that just strength my testimony of prayer and everything else.
So last night (Tuesday night) I was having this sick feeling something was wrong. I was letting myself worry about Jeremy and making myself sick. I just knew something was not right and he had not called or gotten online in 4 days which is not like him, unless he was really busy. But being in Kuwait they aren't really doing missions just training. So that was not like him not to take the time to call or get online. I just knew that something was wrong so after awhile of dwelling in it. I decide to go to bed and on my way to bed, I hit the floor on my knees. After that I begin to feel better.
Well I awoke today (Wednesday) to my phone ringing. It was my hubby and he said he needed to talk to me. He explain that Sunday morning he got really sick and they sent him to the medical area and he had a SEVERE Kidney Infection. It was really bad and he said that they were talking about having to fly him out to either Germany or back here to have his Kidney taken out. Sunday night after he was seen he got a LDS chaplain to give him a blessing. So he said he was so scared what would happen. Then he said Wednesday morning (his time, which was Tuesday night my time) they decide to run some more test and make the ruling about flying him out. And the results came back that he has improved over 80%. So has of Wednesday night (his time) he is feeling okay, he says just hurting a little but nothing compare to earlier.
So thanks for everyone else that been keeping him in your prayers!!

So now he is on very lite duty. He says he can't do anything which is upsetting cause he been waiting for a PT test so he can resign. And guess what they are doing a PT test tomorrow so again he will miss out! UGH! how upsetting! But he will do!

To move or Not to Moveand I

To move or Not to Move that should be the question.... Okay, so Jeremy is in the sandbox now and I am still here living on post. So I am trying to figure out if I want to stay in our apartment here or move off post and try to save money. Choices and if you know me I can't decide so I going to make my Pro and Cons list so here I go:

Living On Post
Pros
1) No ulities bills - can run washer/dyer 24/7; sleep with lights on and my bill never goes up
2) Safe - Yes post is not any safer then off post, but it does feel safe cause you get to know your neighbors
3) Yard Work- I live downstairs and have a small yard. So Jeremy taught me how to use the weed eater to cut the grass because that is all you need and it only takes about 10 minutes to do.
4) Maintance - Yeah they are not the greatest but they are there if something happens.

Cons
1) It takes 20 minutes to get to ANYWHERE! Yes I spend 20 minutes going to Wal-Mart, my best Friend's house, church or ANY fast food places. So I spend alot of my money on gas to drive around. So yeah if I moved near my friend's house and was 5 mintues from her, I would only be 5 mintues from Wal-mart and everything else.
2) NOT HAVING A DISHWASHER - Sorry I hate not having a dishwasher!
3) It is VERY small - I am turning down right now in 2009 $1059 for a little 2/1 Apartment probably about 800 sq feet. My room is SO small that we hate it.
4) Forfeiting up all of my BAH. (BAH is the money the army pays us for housing but if you live onpost you have to give it all up)

Okay on to moving off Post
Pros
1) Living close to everything like I said before!
2) Having a dishwasher!!!!!!!!! This will Christmas to me!!!
3) Being about to save some BAH! (Like if I get BAH of $1056 and my rent is only $700 I save money)
4) Having a nicer place!

Cons
1) this is what is keeping me for doing it now - Deposits!!! It will cost me to move out of here, deposit for the place and to get electricity on. So yeah I need the money for deposits!
2) Moving! Which I am not afraid of I actually love moving and I get bored easily.
3) Having more bills like electricity and gas, trash, water, & sewer.

So there you go that are my choices and you can see why it might be hard cause the pros and cons are pretty equal and I don't have a clue what to do!

But there is always to other choices:
1) Pay the $500 to housing and just move to another bigger house on post with a dishwasher.
2) Put all my stuff in storage and go to Texas....hum!

So now I got to make a choice.......and if you know me you know I can't stand making choices epically with out Jeremy around. And if I try to ask him his answer is...."Baby, do what ever makes you happy!"
UGH! I hate that..... I want some one to TELL me what to do! LOL!

Anyways, if you got any advice I would love to hear it or tell me what you might do. Thanks!

One Week Later

Okay, well we are down one week and I am not going to start counting how many more I have left. Way to many! How am I doing? I am doing okay this week has been so crazy and busy that I have not even had the time to thing too much about missing him. I do miss him late at night and I have not been sleeping has well. But I am doing well. I think I will be better after the holidays cause that is the hard part but hey I am strong and can do it. Jeremy on the other hand is doing great I have talked to him a couple of times and he is doing Good enjoy the sites of Kuwait. So we are holding up.
Well, I have finished school now. I did GREAT in Sociology ...got a A in the class. I loved that class it was so interesting and I learned alot about the cultures and being judgemental about other cultural. So I did great in that class I mean I had to write 6 papers but every time I got 100% on them so Sociology I did excellent in! Now History that is another story......I don't know why I can read or understand history. I just don't get it out of a book epically the political part of it. But here is the catch I LOVE Historical Sites. I love going and learning about old towns, houses, forts, and lighthouses. And when I am there I absorb it all in. I want to look at everything, see it all. I love the read the signs and learn about that place but I can't read History out of a book. So anyways I did past the class with a C. I am kinda mad at myself but oh well I guess it equals out to a B average so that is good.

But, anyways, I got some things to do and get off this computer. Now i got to start my goal list and did started on it.

I am glad That is over

Sunday Morning -( December 13, 2009) A date that I will always remember. It was a cold, rainy, and foggy morning. I guess the weather knew how our emotions were going to be and made the weather the same way. LOL! It was a long morning of standing around and knowing what was coming when ever the command decide to call for formation. I think I did good. If you know me, you know I can't stand to cry around people so I normal just say bye but some time later it will hit me and that is when I actually start crying. I don't like others to see me cry. Anyways, they called them to formation and let them know they had 20 minutes to say goodbye or see you later to their families. While Jeremy was in formation I was standing on the side and I looked over at his Sergent's wife and children and his little girl (who is around 7) is crying so hard, that my heart broke for her and I let the tears fall. Same thing when Jeremy saw her crying that was when he lost it too, but before he had to actually leave we had each other laughing again and thinking positive. So that was it! And now he is gone!

So now I just put a stamp on myself has a real Army Wife going though my 1st Deployment. How am I doing? I am doing good! Sunday it never hit me cause he called me a couple of times and after we said goodbye I was busy getting ready for church and 2 hours in the nursery with 17 children will keep you so busy you don't have time to think...LOL! Monday and Tuesday I was with my friend helping her Christmas shop for her son and hanging out. Well Tuesday night I had my first "OH MY GOSH....he is GONE!" moment. I left her house and drove on post, well we always call each other when we get back on post to let them know we are almost home. Well, I picked up my phone and started dialing his number and about the time I hit call it hit me he what am I doing? he aint going to answer. And I was like what do I do now I am out of routine but I just put the phone down and drove home. So that is the only time I been like I miss him.
Yesterday morning I did get to talk to him over Facebook chat cause since he is in Kuwait they have computers for them to use. So that was nice. Right now time feels like it is going so slow and at this rate 12 months will be a lifetime but I know after the holidays it will speed up. Right now thinking about the holidays is when i know I am going to miss him, cause I will be alone for Christmas and New Years Eve. I keep telling myself Christmas is over and I am thinking of taking the tree down but New Years I dont know. It is not like we have every done anything on New Years Eve, last year we even went to bed before midnight...lol.... I thought about going home for the holidays and staying until after Caleb and Parker's birthdays, but don't really have the money right now so that is out of the question. Oh, well... I will get though it!!!

Also I just want to say is, that I am proud of my husband and I support him. I am not mad that he is away. He joined after 9/11 when we knew the chances of going over seas would be high... then got station at Fort Stewart... one of top (not the top) deploy able units. I am just so happy that I got him home for as long has I did. I support him and will continue to support him! I love him and miss him... But I know he is doing what he sign up to do and he is excited so I stand by and will be excited for him!

Goodbye

Goodbye

When we say Goodbye

Don't be surprise when I cry

Those are just tears of love

They are meant to be share with you

So take them with you

As a token of my love

Absorb them all as you hold me tight

And tell me it might be goodbye

But it is not forever

Sorry just a poem I wrote for my husband and wanted to put it somewhere that I would not lose it. Let me know if you like it!

Please Slow down

Time is ticking away if only I could stop the hands of time!

There is no goodbyes because goodbye is forever; it is see you later - cause he will come back.

The hours separate us, but they bring us together again!

"Dear Deployment, I hate you as much as I love him."

The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected. ~Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Distance between two hearts is not an obstacle, rather a beautiful reminder of just how strong true love can be. ~Author Unknown

Goodbyes are not forever.
Goodbyes are not the end.
They simply mean I'll miss you
Until we meet again!

Where is the good in goodbye? ~Meredith Willson

Okay sorry about that but the time is here and days are going down so that was just my way of expressing how I feel about it.

Oh, yeah this site will become a Deployment journal so I hope you enjoy and feel free to bookmark and read and give encouragement and comments cause 12 month (if not longer is a long time)