WHOO HOO! I would say that I am mildly proud of myself for finishing this first project! For 6 1/2 months now our wine bottles have been sitting in a cardboard box (super classy) and for a month my brand spanking new margarita maker has been in it's box, never even used! Well folks, today was the day! I brought the new stand inside and loaded it up!
Here's how it looks!
What a nice looking drink stand!
I feel like the light at the end of the tunnel is becoming more and more real lately. My mind has shifted from sadness and slight depression to mild excitement as I prepare myself and the house. I always have the urge to clean and make sure all it well with the furniture, the urge to figure out what other kind of furnishings and accessories we need to complete our space. It's a great switch in mentality. I'm just excited to have him back.
**David Update**
I don't have an update yet, David is still asleep for the night.
Look how handsome he is!!
David, there were 2 dead roaches under your nightstand, all I have to say is that I'm glad it's not my side...oh man, I would FREAK out!!
I'm here, with freshly baked cookies, waiting for you to come home.
Can I just say that I'm being to get a little depressed about job hunting? I've been applying since September, that's 5 months and no luck thus far. I can't even get hired as a PT, seasonal employee at Lowe's! This is just crazy! I don't know anyone here to even try and help me out! Jeez. I just want to help people and make a little bit of money in a job where I'm not completely unhappy, I guess that's a lot to ask. Oh well! I'll keep it up!
I've started taking a class two nights a week now and it's really going to hinder my time talking to David. I'm not necessarily okay with that. I LOVE being able to chat with David as often as I do, I'm gong to miss not being able to e-mail him at any given moment! I understand the lack of communication while he is off the wire, but I don't like the lack when he is available and I'm not! I know that I don't have to be available for him at any moment, but I like to be. I was asked what my current job/profession was today, my answer, "married". Ha. Welcome to my life! Married with no husband at home!
Oh man, someone thinks that they are pretty BA!
**David Update**
I don't have one today. He sent me a short e-mail but nothing too crazy in it. He says that he likes working out and that he will be on base for a little while. (However long that is!)
David, I wish we could text! That would be SO dreamy, but alas we cannot. I'm okay with that, but not super pleased. You know, that because I'm needy, I like to have constant communication with you. I love you anyway.
I'm here, with a freshly cleaned room, waiting for you to come home to me.
It was another emotional day as my neighbor, Jon, left today for a 6 month tour in Africa. He leaves behind 3 children and my NC best friend, Tina. First I want to tell you how my of a difference in my life that Tina has had. The morning that David was leaving, Tina saw those dreaded green bags being loaded in the back of our car, she went up to David and began to talk to him and reassured him that she would take care of me. David then gave Tina "the tightest" hug. She knew what it would be like as she and her husband have been through deployments before. Tina brought me cookies that night and just offered a hug. She has text me late at night when I needed it, hugged me when I needed it and has let me fall to weep in her arms. I can't even explain the gratitude that I will forever have for her.
Now, it's my turn. I get to be that person. I will continue to her friend and now a surrogate spouse. I will help with dinners, kids, driving kids to activities, be the emergency contact, and anything else she will need. My heart pours out to her tonight. The first night without your husband. Here is a little writing from my first night without David:
"As the buses arrived, I started to cry, not a loud cry, not a sobbing cry, it was weird. It was a calm cry, the one where you know you can't control anything and you are loosing everything. Just steady tears streaming down my face as I silently prayed hard for my husband.
I know he is nervous, I know he is scared, I know he is sad. But there is nothing I can do to calm him. I can't hold him, I can't tell him jokes, I can't even be by his side. As he got on the bus, I couldn't even bare to stand, I slunk to the ground grabbed my camera and put my hands over my mouth.
Sobbing.
Emptiness.
The feeling of a void that can't be filled.
I love him with all my heart, body and soul. I wish we could be next to each other everyday. He is living out his dream and I would never stand in the way, but I miss my husband."
I even begin to cry as I re-read those feelings. Please prayer for my friends, Jon and Tina and their children. Pray for strength and patience over the next 6 months.
**David Update**
No update better than yesterday. He is up and at the gym already.
David, I'm ready for you to be home.
I'm here, without cookies, waiting for you to come home.
Another productive day! I woke up and went to my favorite coffee joint, Dunkin Donuts, came home and watched an episode of Alaskan State Troopers (to further fuel my mini love obsession with Alaska). Then, I continued work on my margarita stand. I finished the second coat of paint and stained the top! Next step, polyurethane!
It's going to be AWESOME! (not unlike myself!)
In between painting and staining my beautiful new piece of furniture, I made dinner for myself! I made baked sweet potato fries with homemade chipotle mayo, corn and grilled lime mesquite chicken! It was pretty yummy if I do say so myself.
I feel pretty good about this being handy stuff, I feel like I'm really going to pull the house together by the time that David gets home. My next Handy Andy adventure I will pick up tomorrow! It's a surprise! I love that my deployment to-do list is actually getting things crossed off, it's such a great feeling of accomplishment. I know that David will appreciate everything I do, so that helps keep me going when I'm feeling lazy about life.
**David Update**
He is doing well. He is busy with more paperwork (as always) and is going to start a new schedule for working out and working while on Camp LNK.
David, I just want you to know that I think that you have an AWESOME wife. She is always sending your the best cards, thoughtful boxes and thinks of you in everything that she does! You are one lucky man. ;)
I'm here, with my deployment to-do list, waiting for you to come home to me.
Well, day 2 of the project! I had to put it off this morning as I was sending a birthday box and it was raining all morning! I wish that I wasn't so focused on this to-do list because I would have loved to sit around in my PJs, watch TV and drink coffee....dreamy. Anyway, I had to flip over the rack today and paint the underside, because, you know, people will see the underside! Here's how it looks today:
Looking awesome!
**David Update**
David said that he was working on a supply request and taking some online classes today, sounds very important. He took a day off from lifting because he said his body was getting tired, but one day off must be enough. He is back and at the gym today doing some squats (his personal fav). He also sent me this photo of him and his Ssgt!
It's a very nice mother and father photo!
David, can you just come home already? Skip the last 3 months? I think that's fair! Or Angela and I were talking about her idea of splitting the deployment with spouses, Marines for half, Spouses for half. I SO got that!! Bring it on sandbox!
I'm here, with very cold feet, waiting for you to come home to me.
Handy Andy should definitely be my name! I followed through on the wine cart idea! I took some great guidance last night on how to accomplish my project and had another visit to Lowe's Hardware! (I think they love me there!) SO, I got paint, polyurethane, brushes, gloves, rags, stain, sand paper, and a rug! I bought a remnant of outdoor furniture and got a 7x12 rug for $40! I'm going to go ahead and say, "It's a GREAT deal"! I feel productive.
Step one - Gather supplies (and coffee!)
Step two -- remove varnish, sand and paint first coat!
Besides accomplishing that today, I cleaned the garage, hung up our (4) bikes and hung the kayak outside! All with a little help from a friend with much larger muscles than myself, thanks Nash!
**David Update**
I asked David for a big update with some detail on what he had been doing, here is what he gave me: "I've been busy with catching up on paperwork and preparing classes for my Marines. Say hello to professor Cook". Oh dear. I feel bad for those Marines! With his little sense of humor thrown in there, I can say he is in good spirits! Don't forget to send birthday wishes his way! He will be a whopping 25 years old on February 8th.
David, I feel like you would be proud of all my hard work lately! I am getting things accomplished! (Oh yea, and I bought a carpet...haha.) I'm making brownies right now and I just want you to know that I did not hesitate to lick the beaters, then the spatula, then my finger, then the bowl! YUM! I'm so happy you didn't get your little fingers in there, more for me! YAY!
I'm here, with a chocolate covered face and paint covered fingers, waiting for you to come home to me!
I love making to-do lists. As many pages as I have on my to-do list, I've only just begun! I started my "deployment to-dos" is October! Ah! It's now January and I have officially started. :) One project down; yesterday I took our beautiful patio furniture out of the garage (where it's always been!), put the outdoor finish on it and put it on the porch! YAY! Next project began today. My lovely husband bought me a mega margarita maker! (Yumm.) So, I need somewhere to put it along with our wine bottles (which are still in a cardboard box!). I bought, from Lejeune Yardsales, a used kitchen cart and headed straight to Lowe's Hardware to get some needed supplies. I will strip the varnish and refinish it to match our dining area! I can't wait to continue to cross things off my list. You can just call in Handy Andy!
I think I need some power tools. I tried to talk the guy at Lowe's into letting me buy one for this project, but he kept telling me that it was unnecessary! He said to come find him with my next project and he might let me get one! Good thing for David's wallet!
Here are some photos from my last power tool job!
Look at that precision!
I think I'm a natural!
Oh no! What happened to Greg's face!?
**David Update**
I don't have one yet, he is still asleep. I'm assuming that he has been very busy at work since I haven't gotten a good update in a while. He seems happy and has his thoughts on coming home. Every once in a while he mentions something that he wants to do when he gets back! He is looking forward to getting back, hearing the new music, watching some new movies, hanging out with friends and family and, of course, lots of golfing!
David, when you get back to our house, it will finally feel like a home! It's going to be great!
I'm here, with a delicious brownie, waiting for you to come home.
I have been on a mini high today. When I woke up this morning I had the most adorable e-mail from David. I send him random and hilarious greeting cards in the mail quite often, so David felt the need to write me about it. David went on to tell me that he makes an effort to let me know that he loves me and that he is constantly thinking about me. He loves that even though around the world, I can make him feel warm and loved. We both know that our circumstances stink, but in their own way. I moved states, got married and live where I know no one. I'm lonely and the one person that I can connect to here, is on the other side of the globe risking his life. He has been called to deploy to a war zone, where he can't be himself, he can't relax, he is always in Marine Mode. I'm glad that I got to marry this one. He is the best and understands me even when I don't understand me, that's when you know it's real love. I can't wait to get my best friend back.
That pretty much sums it up, and it goes the other way too.
**David Update**
I haven't gotten much of an update from David. I did get to briefly chat with him last night and he was practicing his golf swing, well, his putting swing. So, at least his mind was clear enough to goof off for a minute.
David, I know that you love and if I didn't love you so much I wouldn't have given up my life for you.
I'm here, so full of food, waiting for you to come home to me.
I'm glad that I learned how to use a firearm, but I still check the shower curtain when I pee and shrink into my bed when I hear a strange noise outside. Haha. I am such a sissy for weird noises, that's okay, I'll get used to them eventually! But I do wanna say that I think blankets do make us feel so hidden!
**David Update**
David was up and at 'em and headed to the gym already this morning! He is well and safe.
David, your birthday is coming up! You are about to catch up to me! We are getting older but not together. I wish that we could do that together too. But, soon, soon enough you will be home.
I'm here, planning a potential road trip, waiting for you to come home.
I love rainy days. I wish I could have laid around my house all day and watched TV, cleaned and baked. How dreamy. Instead I had a packed day! I ran a 1 mile fun run with my neighbor and her daughter, went to the shooting range to learn how to shoot David's pistol with my buddy Nash and then had dinner with wives from David's battalion. All in all, it was a pretty good rainy day out of the house.
I'm not having a bad night, but I think this is always something good to have tucked away in the back of your beautiful brain. Sometimes I feel like every night is dark and cold, but thankfully, each and every morning, I wake up to the sun shining in my window. The sun will never fail to rise.
**David Update**
HE'S BACK! He said that his mission was successful and everyone is safe. Not much more of an update than that. I will try to get a better one tomorrow.
David, I'm glad that you made it back safely and everyone else is safe too.
I'm here, with a rainy night, waiting for you to come home to me.
Being a military, USMC, wife has it's ups and downs. We never know where we will be in a few years, we can't count on our husbands to come home from work by 6 to have dinner, we never know when they may deploy. We get free healthcare, we get tickets to concerts and comedy shows for free, we have tax free shopping as an option, and our husbands have job security. Now, let's switch to mentality of a wife whose husband is deployed. We are without him for months on end, we loose sleep, we loose weight, we gain weight, we are stressed, everything breaks, we wait for and dread phone calls from numbers we don't know, we panic when a car we don't know pulls in the driveway or our doorbell rings, we break out in tears at the oddest moments, we've never felt so lonely, and every time we hear of a fatality in country of a US Marine, we silently freak out.
This morning after breaking news about the downed helicopter in Helmand Provence, Afghanistan, a fellow Marine Corps wife was in panic that it might have been her husband. Thankfully, it was not him. Can we be thankful that someone has lost their life? Thankful that it was not our husband, but rather that it was someone else husband, father, son? How can we not feel slightly awful and guilty for wishing it wasn't us? That it happened to another family. Such mixed emotions come out of situations like that, and, if we focus on the news all the time, this can happened a lot. Panic, to sadness, to relief, to guilt. What an emotional roller coaster.
**David Update**
Still no word from David. Continued prayers are welcome. Think smart and be safe.
David, I can't wait until you're back at LNK and we get to talk! I miss hearing from you and getting random e-mails throughout the day. Come back safely.
I'm here, with a Dog the Bounty Hunter marathon, waiting for you to come home.
Oh my gosh, how excited are you about Valentine's Day? It's less than a month away and it's totally a secular holiday. I am all about holidays, whether they be religious, secular or a Hallmark holiday, I tend to enjoy celebrating them. Valentine's Day is about my man making me feel girly. He is pretty good about it on a daily basis, but it's just another reason to expect tons from him. David has done a good job in the past few Valentine's day, last year he even sent me on a mini scavenger hunt (he in VA, I in OH), what a sneaky man. I haven't figured out what I'm going to do for him, but, if I say so myself, it's going to be great!
Love this man.
I'm so grateful that I have found the love that I have found within David. It's pure and raw. It's the best feeling in the world, something that you can't explain. You have to feel it, emotionally, intellectually, physically, and with every part of your being. It's a wonderful and beautiful thing. I love my husband.
**David Update**
No word from David yet. Think smart and stay safe.
David, Valentine's Day is coming up! YAY! It's almost better than my birthday!
I'm here, with some new online shopping items, waiting for you to come home to me.
First and foremost, I need to tell you all that I am on hour 3 of watching Dog the Bounty Hunter, I can't help myself. David would not be happy that I am a) sitting in front of the TV that long and b) that I'm OBSESSED with reality TV! I just love it, it's so addicting (and awesome)!
Well, it's been a few more days since I have heard from David. Missing him never gets old, and I hope that it never does. I always want him to want him to be around.
I love this for many, many reasons. We, David and I, aren't perfect, no one is, but we seem to be a perfect fit for each other. There is one part that speaks so loudly to the Marine spouse part of me, "he's not thinking thinking about you every moment...don't hurt him...". I know that David isn't thinking if me at every moment, sometimes I think that he should be, but he needs to focus on his job and his missions so that he will be able to come home safely to me. I think that in any marriage trust is a necessity, but even more so in a marriage where one part deploys. That person must leave the country for months at a time and completely trust that their spouse back here is 100% faithful to him and that they aren't doing anything to hurt them. I'm glad that David and I have that trust. I'm so happy that he can trust me by myself in a new state with LOTS of other men running around everywhere, all the time. I would never do anything to jeopardize that trust. I admire all the men and women who can stay faithful, loving, committed, and caring for so long without their spouse. I have met a great handful of women who are perfect examples of this. Thank you for showing me that lasting, loving marriages can last in The Corps.
**David Update**
No update today.
David, hurry home, I think that my retinas are burning from the too large of a TV.
I'm here, so tired, waiting for you to come home to me.
I can say, as most of you will agree, life is crazy. You never know what each day will bring, whether it will be a great day or an awful day, filled with lots of love or filled with loneliness. Everyday can be completely different, or it can feel like Groundhog Day (BTW -- I just learned what that meant!). Life is SO unpredictable, yet I try to predict my life all the time. It never seems to go like I have thought it should, rather it takes some bends and turns that I don't expect.
Dang, wouldn't it be nice to know what's going to happen? How you can prepare your mind and body for what's about to come? Sure, it would be nice, but would it be as fun? I don't think so. As much I can complain about how my days go sometimes and how often I feel like the world is against me, it always ends up the way it's supposed to be. Some say the stars are aligned, some call it luck, I call it God's Divine plan for me. I don't know what it is and I never know what's going to happen (or what's going on), but hey, I'm along for the ride.
**David Update**
And as unpredictable as life can be, I haven't heard from David in at least two days now. He must be out and about! I hope that he and his Marines are thinking smart and being safe. All my thoughts and prayers go out to them tonight.
David, I know I like to complain sometimes (okay, well, a lot) but life isn't awful. We have had our ups and downs and I'm sure there are many more to come. I love you and only wish the best for our lives together.
I'm here, with paint swatches on the walls, waiting for you to come home to me.
One of my new goals is to build my friendships with those who I most care about. Tonight, I helped my goal by having dinner with a dear friend. By the way, I totally love this friend. He always has my best interest in mind and knows when to play the devil's advocate. He cares for me as a person and as much for my husband. People like this are who I need in my life. I'm going to bed tonight on a friend high, I love the friends that I have, here and at home. I have blessed.
Friends are the foundation of life. You can have a lover and family, but nothing compares to the value of friends and the relationships that they offer you. There is nothing comparable to having a friend. Someone who cares for you as much as you care for them, a person who is always there, even when you don't think you need them, someone to love you unconditionally, friends. I love mine.
Cute as newbies to the Corps. :)
**David Update**
I haven't heard from David today. Work is busy or he is out and about. Keep him in your prayers.
David, I can't wait to have you back in my life. You are the number one friend that I want to build my relationship with. I can't wait to have you back as my husband and my friend.
I'm here, with paint samples, waiting for you to come home to me.
Something in my brain is whacked out. I forgot that yesterday was our 4 months down in the deployment, this morning I was an entire hour early for church, while all morning thinking I was running late, then this evening had a mini break-down. Why is life being so weird to me the past 2 days? Nothing is different than it has been for months. Nothing will be different for a while.
I definitely don't think this is the worst that life could give me or has given me, but it's really screwing my mood up. I would appreciate it if my mind could go back to normal, I want to function as a productive (and not batty) human being! Is that too much to ask?
**David Update**
David called me last night! YAY! It was 0130 and he said that the first phone call I hung up on him. Whoops. I don't remember much of the conversation, but it was great to hear his voice. He sounded well. He was out of calling card money, so he was back at the USO making phone calls. He e-mailed me this morning his time at 0330, he said that he was up and ready to go to work.
David, what is going on in my head!? It's like my brain is out of control! Not fair to the rest of my life! I can't wait to have you back.
I'm here, with hot chocolate and the Kardashians, waiting for you to come home to me.
Well, let another lonely night begin. Today started and is ending with a headache, which I completely hate, and David might hate it more. I think about all the things that can keep me busy tomorrow, but still my mind wanders to the lack of my husband. I can do laundry, I should grocery shop a little bit, I can organize the basement (and the garage), I can clean, I need to find my air vents, so many things to do! Yet, I think about David.
I guess it's alright in the end, he will be home in 3 months. And, what the heck!? Just this very moment it hit me, today is 4 months down! That is just insane. I can't believe that I just remembered that! Every 14th of the month has been such a big day and I normally go out and get something for myself or do something awesome. Not today, today it has slipped my mind, I feel like I'm loosing my mind.
Well, Happy 4 Months Down honey. I am so excited that it is only 3 more months. It brings a sense of relief as well as joy. I can't wait for life to be completely awesome again. I miss it.
David looking so cute in his "Chucks".
**David Update**
Yet another day that I did not get to chat with David. We shot a few e-mails back and forth, but nothing with a substantial update.
David, hurry home.
I'm here, with another headache, waiting for you to come home to me.
Ugh, why do my days come to this? Good days followed by lonely nights. Why can't I just go to bed feeling good? Not remembering that half my bed is cold, not remembering that no one is here, not remembering what I'm missing? I mean I had a good day, the gym, driving around aimlessly, organizing, freshly baked bread, Papa John's, Dunkin Donuts, and Bananagrams on sale! Now, I'm home, missing David more than I did the night before. Dreaming of the homecoming, a hug, a kiss, a touch, just his presence.
Well, another feel good song:
**David Update**
I did not get a chance to chat with David today. I hope and assume all is well in the sandbox.
David, hurry home, I hate these nights. I hate every night knowing that I'm going to bed alone, doing everyday without you.
I'm here, with my music, waiting for you to come home to me.
Well, YouTube has bitten me again. I got sucked in by a video flying around on FB; because of the title I had strayed away from it until my cousin posted it, then I had to watch. It got me thinking about life and being a Christian. I don't agree with a lot of the video but it got my wheels turning. There are so many things in this world that make us stray from what is good and what it right. How do we not let the world influence us? I think it's impossible. How can we not let it influence ourselves? Our friends? Our children? How do we become good when our world is filled with so much bad? I have been so blessed to be raised by the best people in the world, my mom, my friends and the rest of my extended family. I don't have children yet, but I will forever strive to teach them right from wrong and how to show their beautiful good souls to everyone they encounter. In order to influence others in a positive manner, I must act that way. Another small way to have "the whole world at peace".
In my process of getting out of my funk, I have been listening to feel good music. One of these songs is "Murder of Crows". There is a lyric in this song that is "my mama told me to treat people the same, whether it's girl of boy or the Queen of Spain." It's a small way to influence everyone, treat everyone the same. No differences, no race, no gender, no social class, nothing.
Just equality and love.
Here is my feel good song of the day:
Miss Mandy Cook.
**David Update**
I don't have much of an update for you today on David. I chatted briefly this morning as he was waking up. He said that he was tired and off to go workout at the gym! Typical David, hitting the gym. That man takes care of his body!
David, today, again, I got excited to be married and to live to our life together. Can you hurry up and get back here? I hear all these lovely stories of marriage and see these beautiful examples of marriage. I can't wait. Ask Capt. Rob if you can take a vacation day and visit me!
I'm here, with coffee at 10 pm, waiting for you to come home to me.
Remember when I said that I was grumpy and needed to work my way out of a funk? Well, David did that for me. Today in the mail I received a dozen roses with a note saying "just cause". I love that man, from all the way on the other side of the world, he can make me feel girly and put me in a better mood.
I hope this phase is not just the honeymoon phase, I hope that it says here forever. I read another wife's FB status today and she said that she had Skyped with her Marine and he made her laugh so hard that tears were running down her face, so happy that he still makes her laugh like he did way back in high school. I LOVE that! That's what I want with my husband! That after a few years of marriage and a few kids later, he still makes me feel the way that he does now.
I want this pure joy.
**David Update**
I chatted with David a little as he was waking up. He said that is is getting a little warmer now and that his workload will increase shortly.
David, thank you for the flowers today, it made my day and the past couple days much better.
I'm here, with my beautiful flowers, waiting for you to come home to me.
Well, last night is the first night that I have not blogged. I feel kind of bad about it. It, blogging, has become a part of my nightly routine. Last night was the exception, I was being a grump, I don't know what my problem was! I couldn't get out of my funk! I'm normally pretty good at that, looking at old photos, a cup of coffee, eating chocolate, or talking to David normally works. Unfortunately it didn't. I fell asleep on the couch, woke up moved to my bed and hit snooze for an hour this morning.
Today is the day to work on my mood. I need to get back to what I normally am. My mood should be great, I'm more than halfway through the deployment! My husband will be back sooner than I know. There are so many things I have to do, I have a 2 page to-do list. That should keep me busy enough not to be grumpy.
This picture helps put me in a better mood.
**David Update**
The other day I posted that it was the first morning that David had taken off (working out) since he'd been at LNK. I had been a little misinformed. He has taken days off, especially when he is off the wire (not on base). It was the first morning in a while that he had taken off, he needed to rest his body. I chatted with him for a while last night and he seemed like things were going well. He had a handle on his Marines and his paperwork. He said it is cold there and he has to layer his clothing to go to work.
David, sorry I was a grump last night, I'll be better at it now!
I'm here, with coffee and goldfish for breakfast, waiting for you to come home.
What makes a day better? Chocolate, lots of chocolate. Fortunately, I have a LOT of chocolate leftover from Christmas, so I plan on eating it for the next couple hours.
I miss this.
**David Update**
I only got to chat briefly with him as he was on his way to the gym. No complaints, so the job and life at LNK must be going well.
David, I miss you a lot today.
I'm here, stuffing my face, waiting for you to come home to me.
Fitness is the topic of the day. My neighbor and I are back at running in the afternoons and we have laid out all of our potential races for the year. This includes a couple family fun runs, a mud run, an all terrain run, and a potential half marathon. Wish us luck!
I know that I tell you that David works out every morning and maybe more than once a day. Below is a picture of the gym at the Motor Pool (where David works). It's nice to know what his surroundings look like.
**David Update**
After not talking to him for 2 days, David finally has means of communication again. He seemed well and was off to the gym (again) when I got to briefly chat with him.
David, I made a de-clutter calender all the way through April. So the house should be good to go by the time you eventually get back.
I'm here, in our freshly changed sheets, waiting for you to come home to me.
For only having experienced the Marine Corps first hand for two years, I think that I have been given great opportunities to learn about what David does and to simulate some of it as well. I have attended 4 events that I mark as extremely important in understanding my husband's career.
The first was Family Day at TBS (The Basic School). At this event we got to shoot guns, watch the obstacle course, sit through a few videos and lectures, watch small arms demonstrations, and even launch from a grenade launcher. It was my first real eye-opening experience.
Family Day -- TBS Graduation
The second was a day spent with David. He was in the midst of pre-deployment training and David and his platoon were in a simulator. I had the chance to go inside and watch what they do. It was a room split down the middle where the platoon would simulate real life events and situations that they might encounter. After the mission, the platoon would watch a recording of their training and get briefed on what they did. It was cool to be on the inside of a cool instrument such as the simulator. Unfortunately, no photos from this event.
The third event was thanks to Lt. James Nash. I was afforded the opportunity to attend Jane Wayne Day for 2nd Tanks Bn. This was similar to Family Day at TBS. At Tanks Jane Wayne Day we got to ride in real tanks, a 7 ton, and an AAV (Amphibious Assault Vehicle). We also got to shoot guns, learn a little MCMAP (USMC martial arts) and watch a live fire demonstration.
Jane Wayne Day -- 2nd Tanks Bn.
The fourth opportunity was presented today. I was given the chance to get a tour of the Infantry Immersion Trainer. This is a facility where Marines train for combat and deployment in Afghanistan. It was great as a spouse to get to see what our Marines used as training for what they are doing while on this deployment. We were given a tour and descriptions by the man who was in charge of creating the training and running it, pretty cool to hear the information from the man himself.
**David Update**
I didn't hear much from David today. Yesterday he told me that his day was full of paperwork and briefing, so I'm assuming that's what he has been doing.
David, I hope you know that I still love you as much as I do when you were here. Always know that you are on my mind and that I'm proud of you.
I'm here, with a half finished puzzle, waiting for you to come home to me.
Some nights I sit on my couch and get really excited about David coming home. I just think about it for hours, imaging what it will be like, what's the first thing we will do, what will we have for dinner, what's our new routine gong to be? I imagine what he will look like in person, will he have lost weight, gained weight, be tanner, be balder? Will we sleep for hours when he gets home because of the days of travel he will have had, or will we sleep a few hours then wake up because of the excitement of seeing each other. It's a feeling that I can't wait for, a feeling I'm not sure I'm going to be able to describe. But, from here on out, it is looking up! So excited to be excited!!
Here is a photo of David's 1st Sgt giving his "diamond cuts" for another Marine! What a great barber!
**David Update**
David says that time has been good lately. He took a few phone calls yesterday and took a day off from the gym, the first day he can remember taking off since they arrived. Today he said that he has more paperwork to fill out and will be briefing his Marines.
David, I'm so excited for you to come home! I imagine that you are excited too!
I'm here, with my space heater blowing, waiting for you to come home.
What is a hero? What defines a hero? Are they someone famous who does great things? Are they superheros who fight the world's villains? Are they leaders in our communities? Are they your parents? Who are your heroes? Where do they come from? Are they born that way? So many questions about what makes up a hero.
David is my hero.
A hero to me can be defined as someone who fights for the greater good of everyone around them and succeeds in that mission. I would say that David fits that category pretty well. He, as all service members, have dedicated a certain amount of time, and sometimes their whole lives, to a cause that serves the greater good. That amazes me. He has found a calling higher than that of most, to defend his country and therefore, literally, risk his life for it. For this reason, he can be considered a hero, but for other reasons as well. He, and the Marines in his company that I have met, don't stand up and shout what they are doing. They don't run around telling everyone that they are fighting for our country, they are quiet about it. Silently proud of what they represent. There is no need to "toot their own horns", no need to brag, no need to boast. We the families of these Marines are proud of them, are impressed by what they do. We, the wives, are secretly turned on by the thought of our man's "manliness" (and dress blues!). We are forever proud of them. Even on the down days, when they are just doing paperwork or are doing work in support of someone else, we are proud. We are proud to be part of the Marine Corps family, it might not always be a cup of tea and we probably don't like a lot of things about it, but we still carry that silent pride.
So, David, never forget that I am so proud of you. For everything that you do, for your country, for your Marines, for your family, for your friends, for me. I am impressed by you daily. You never cease to impress me. I can't express verbally how much I am proud of you. You are my hero.
**David Update**
Well, no update today, David sent me a quick note from work this morning saying that his internet had been down. I did receive a letter from him today! He described different parts of a convoy that they had been on. David explains that he spends his time reading books, paperback and from his Kindle, that his driver has a good sense of humor so they get along, and that for a while that they experienced a sandstorm. I think it blew David's mind, he kept mentioned how weird the weather is in Afghanistan.
David, I'm here, with my ukulele, waiting for you to come home.
As the end of 2011 came and the beginning of 2012 is happening, the deployment is half way done. As this is my first deployment, this will be the first time that I get to look positive about the deployment! Light at the end of the tunnel! Finally! I can't wait. I have no more trips planned, no where I need to be, all I get to do is get the home ready for my husband to be back home. I have lots to do here, maybe paint, get a rug, move the workout equipment, get desk chairs, clean the fans, fix the blinds, so forth and so on! The list can go on and I think it's time for me to stop procrastinating. Time to get my booty in gear! David will be home sooner than I know and it will definitely sneak up on me!
David took my golfing last year with him! (Well, I walked, he golfed!)
**David Update**
I received a good morning e-mail from David this morning. I haven't gotten an update on his life on LNK, but I will get something and update you tomorrow!
David, I promise, the house will be better when you get back! I will get things accomplished!!
I'm here, cold, waiting for you to come home to me.
As we drove back to NC yesterday I began to search through my music and found songs that remind me of David. Our favorite band, OAR, has been a long time favorite for us. We love their music, we love their concerts, so much that one of their songs became our wedding song.
Take a minute and listen to this song. It's a sweet song about souls connecting and being there for each other. As David is on the other side of the world I feel even more connected to this song and long for his presence.
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