The News...

Our journey began around 4 months ago. It was a normal Sunday night after Michael had returned home from drill. I had cooked dinner (if you know me at all, you know this probably consisted of either spaghetti or French toast!), and we were just finishing up. Michael began, "Well, I have good news and I have bad news..." I knew there was no way this could end in a good way. He informed me that he was being transferred to a different unit, which I knew he wanted because he is due for a promotion and in his current position, this promotion was not possible. He then informed that the unit he was transferred to was rumored to be deployed in September of this year.

And so it began....

As the time I don't think I understood the gravity of the situation. He had not yet received his mobilization order, so nothing was confirmed. Even now, as he has his mob order (as of March), I don't think it has fully sunk in. I take for granted everyday that my husband gets up first and lets the dogs out so I can sleep an extra 15 minutes. I take for granted that he is there to cook me breakfast (and dinner) or pay the bills. I have people who hear that he is being deployed and they ask how I am doing. The honest answer is I am not sure. With a little over four months to go, I still don't think I completely have internalized it. Everyday is normal to me. We get up, go to work, come home, eat dinner and go to bed. The only times when it become real is when I attend our Family Readiness Meetings once a month. I have taken a position on the executive committee so I can stay informed. (Again if you know anything about me, you know I have a tendency to volunteer for everything!) When I attend the meetings and they talk about the emotional cycle we can expect to have or what to expect during the reunion (which by the way I think is RIDICULOUS to discuss when they haven't even left and I can't imagine saying 'goodbye' let alone welcoming him home) it seems to hit me a little bit harder. But then, I go back to my normal days and again the deployment is just something in the distance I don't have to think about yet. The other common response I get to this news is, "I am so sorry to hear that." I have no idea how to respond to this. Am I sorry that I will be without my husband of not even a year, for a year? Yes, of course, but he has volunteered for this job. He loves it. The soldiers he is in charge of are his family. Their families, are our friends. I am so proud of him for what he does that I can't even begin to describe it. Don't be sorry for us, or sad to hear it. Instead, thank him for what he does.

We decided to start this blog so our friends and family can see how we are doing. Michael won't be able to call everyone while he is gone, (I have made him promise to call me every chance he can - sorry kids) but hopefully he can update on here. I am not the type of person who voices how I feel all the time, so I am hoping this will be a good outlet for me. We will be half a world apart, living very separate lives. We hope you will share this year with us.