A GREAT DAY

There were two reasons why today was great:

1. I sent my LAST piece of mail to Iraq. July 30 was the cut off for packages sent, and today was the last day for letters. I have sent Michael a piece of mail every week since he has been gone. Either a package or letter has made its way overseas every week for the last 10 1/2 months. I hope that it gave him something to look forward to at least.

2. I discovered that his replacement unit not only has their torch party on the ground already (the people that go ahead of the full brigade) but the brigade had their deployment ceremony and left THREE DAYS AGO. I still don't have an exact date of return, but this is a start! It is finally real. People are replacing them and they can come home SOON. Michael and I were talking about their replacements, and I mentioned they just HAD to be deploying soon. I decided to search it, and there it was...a news announcement about it. I was so excited I couldn't stand it. My dogs and Michael (on the video) looked at me like I was insane as I danced on the couch.

I almost hate celebrating someone else's deployment ceremony. Every ceremony means more families have to be torn apart for 12 months at a time, if not more. I feel so badly for these families and hope their year flies by and they come out of it stronger, but I am still celebrating because I miss and need my husband.