14 weeks down!

14 weeks down! Dang, I like the sound of that! Although week 14 has been the hardest yet. This week we lost 3 soldiers, I struggled with Audrey and we celebrated another holiday without Chris. This was definitely the saddest week we have had in this journey. The 148th lost three soldiers this week and as we hear about funeral arrangements as these men come back to the states my heart aches for them and their families. I cannot imagine the pain of these families. It was like a wake up call for me (and for Chris I think) that how fast things can change. Do not take anything for granted no matter what your situation because everything could change so quick. But as week 14 comes to an end I also realize that I cannot live everyday in fear. Chris would not want me to. So we move on with life here as we know no matter how hard it may be.

Flags flown at half staff this week for our fallen Ohio soldiers. Such a somber reminder of the scarifies our military men and women make everyday. God bless them all.

This week will be my final week of preparation for the Glass City Marathon and my training is anything but traditional. After the major injury to my leg, back and butt from falling down the stairs three weeks ago I am just able to start running again. Taking it very slow. And I now have an issue with my left knee (I think I am overcompensating) but am pushing through it. Add in a very sick babysitter and my schedule, that virtually leaves no time for running. So needless to say this full marathon, my first, is not going to be pretty. But I refuse to run anything but the full because it is in support of Chris and our troops and they give up a lot more than 26.2 miles. So I will finish this sucker even if it is not pretty. We got the final count on Team Miller runners and supporters at 32 who ordered T-shirts! What a wonderful turnout in support of Chris! My goal is under 5 hours and of course that was not my initial goal but I will take anything around 5 hours for my first full marathon especially given my injuries.

As we go into week 15 Chris will be moving bases in Afghanistan (which makes me nervous) but again I am trying not to live in fear. He will finish out his deployment there until September and then be home after that :) He had been hitting the gym a lot from what I hear and working on his "beach body". Apparently his goal is to wear a speed-o on our cruise in the fall. Anyone who know Chris can picture this lol. But at least they can pass their down time at the gym while in Afghanistan.

Audrey has her ups and down but she is doing okay. It just breaks our heart when she has a bad day or even a good day for that matter and her dad is not here. She is old enough to know that he is not home but not old enough to understand why :(

Not much else to say about week 14 other than I am glad it is over!! By far the hardest week yet in this deployment! Easter is over and I cannot believe it is April already :) Getting ready to take on 15 weeks of our deployment and couldn't be happier to be moving right along! God Bless our troops especially the soldier from Ohio that we lost last week. Never forgotten. Stay strong guys of the 148th <3