I remember the day so clearly... trying to remember everything. I still can. The house and how it was a mess with Christmas toys everywhere. The little poppers and noise makers that blow out streamers they were everywhere. Food and drink containers laying around the kitchen after our New Years Eve night at home. My mom stopping by and me embarrassed as she walked into the mess. It was New Years Day 2012. I remember trying to memorize every move, every sight, everything because I knew the next day he would leave for Afghanistan. He had been gone for 3 months prior to Christmas day training in everywhere from Mississippi to California. He was home on leave for 10 days and as wonderful as it was it also went very quickly as the holidays generally do under normal circumstances. These were not normal circumstances by any means. I kept looking at the clock just praying for time to stop that day. Why couldn't this day last longer. Why did it have to be almost January 2nd already. I knew once I went to bed that night the alarm would be going off just a few hours later and we would be driving to the armory. I just watched him and looked at him trying to take it all in because I knew soon he would be gone for months. Military spouses won't always admit it but the worst eventually crosses your mind. "What if he doesn't come home?" I memorized every detail of him. I could not fathom this idea but in my head I had to be prepared heaven forbid I ever receive that news. He fell asleep and as I cried for awhile the exhaustion must have taken over because soon I woke up to the alarm going off. Oh no, its here, the morning I have been dreading for months. Poor Audrey didn't have a clue what was about to happen. She innocently went to bed as she would any other night to be woken up in the very early morning hours, bundled up in a blanket and shuffled into the car. He drove and I just cried. I can remember the cold January morning with just a dusting of snow. I remember it all. I may not remember what I did yesterday but those first 2 days of January 2012 are so vivid still I can recount ever detail. It was awful and that's where it all began. 2012 started out as the worst year of my entire life. Our first deployment was completely different. We were pregnant with Audrey the entire time of the deployment. This time she was 3 and had some idea what was happening now. I just hugged him and held onto his shirt hoping that I would not have to let go. Finally he said, "I have to go." As I cried in the car as he loaded the bus I just hoped they would get off or drive away. The agony of watching then boarded on the bus while dozens of cars just sat there with their headlights on was awful. And then they left. And somehow I had to pull it together to try and drive home on these country roads, in the snow, hysterical, with Audrey in the car. So I did and that's where the deployment and the deployment blog started. And here we are an entire year later! Oh man, what a year it was!
He returned home in September 2012 a year after his training and deployment began. With hopefully no deployment in sight it was wonderful to spend the holidays together. All of them. We have a very busy fall season so when Chris was away training he missed it all. Audrey's birthday, his birthday, our anniversary, and Thanksgiving. This year he was home for it all! New Years Ever and Day were so much more relaxing and stress free as I knew he would not be leaving the next day. So here we go with 2013... Starting out pretty slow and I am completely content with that. After pulling myself out of bed after he left for deployment I hit the ground running. Literally. 2012 was filled with a lot of great things but was also the toughest year of my life. Hand down. Those of you who have followed our deployment through the year know how tough it was for me but also how I managed to make it through with out a nervous breakdown. I ran my first marathon and graduated college! Woah, two huge accomplishments with a deployed husband. Audrey was so wonderful while Chris was deployed... a few meltdowns but by keeping her busy with crafts, trips, school and all the other busy things 3 year olds do she did just fine. Now as she turns 4 and has adjusted very quickly to Dad being home she is becoming smarter and funnier than ever. As for Chris his adjustments have come fairly easy. He still works out everyday and even talks of tough man competitions. He works a lot now as he has resumed his job with The Anderson working in their maintenance and fabrication shop and reenlisted his contract with the military so he drills once a month and that's plenty for me. So 2013 looks great for us! We have a pretty "typical" life now. Hopefully no talk of deployment and just concentrating on us. 2012 you were definitely a tough one. I am actually glad to see you go and I am so excited to see what 2013 has in store for us! Happy New Year to everyone and thank you so much for the love and support throughout a very tough 2012!
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