Deployment

I can hardly believe that it's been 6 months since my last blog entry.  It seems like a lifetime ago and at the same time it feels like yesterday.  Our life since last December has been a whirlwind.  We began to get ready for our move and then at lightening speed it all took off.  Where has the time gone.

We knew back then that Jim would be deploying soon after our arrival in Hawaii.  We arrived in April and thought that we had so much time since he wouldn't leave until late June or early July.  Was I ever wrong about that.  Between In processing, the pre-deployment prep and our move into our house, the time moved quickly.  It seems like we were barely into the house when it was time for Jim to leave.

Back during Dessert Storm Jim was an NCO with an MI unit.  He went on several missions of which I had no idea where he was.  Those missions would last only 1-4 weeks.  This deployment is a year long.  It's only been two weeks and I'm feeling pretty bad at this point.  Now I'm not saying these things to make anyone feel sorry for me. While I dislike him being gone and I feel incredibly lonely, I wouldn't change this life for anything.  I'm so proud of my husband for obeying our Lord and Savior and following his call.  The Army Chaplaincy is a perfect fit for him and for our family.  I just can't wait until he gets home. I'm also wondering how long it will take until I don't have to remind myself to breathe :(

I've always been a morning person and that's when I've had the most energy and when I've been the most outgoing.  These past two weeks have been very different.  Now I feel like it's another 12 hours of trying to pull myself through the day.  Some of my new friends here have said that the first two weeks are the most difficult.  I suppose that is because it is a huge adjustment.  My heart is in Iraq and I'm learning to live on my own with our son.  Our 19 year old daughter was here with us from May until just the other day.  She left within one week of Jim leaving.  I felt as though I had to grieve all over again.  Perhaps this is why I'm still feeling sad.  I know I'll pull myself together and get out but I have to do it in my own time.

                                                                   My heart in Iraq

Now for Hawaii.  This is paradise!  When I imagine what Heaven will look like, this is it!!!  We've seen so many things since we arrived and haven't even touched the tip of what there is here.  I'm planning on taking advantage of the time I'll have over the next year to get out and explore with Cody.  One of the things him and I want to do the most is go to the big island to see the volcano.

We miss our friends back home and we miss our newer friends that we made while we were at Ft Jackson.  Army life is a good life and we are all like one big family.  Thank you all who have prayed for us during this journey.

I'll try to do a better job with blogging in the future.  :)  For now, here is a poem that was sent to me by a good friend (a military wife of over 18 years)  This poem sums up our life during deployment.

A Military Wife in the Army of One
You aren’t issued with the uniform, boots and weapon,
But you are one lady no one should step on.
It usually goes “With this ring, I thee wed,”
But add in “Even if it means me in an empty bed.”
“and the weeks in the field with many late nights,”
“which will at some point lead to fights.”
Yes, a military wife is courageous and strong,
Even when the days seem so long.
When you feel like you’re at your wits end,
You “Suck it up” and start to mend.
You learn the Army language,
All those acronyms, “How can I manage.”
PX, AAFES, LES, MOS - the list goes on and on,
All those letters would make an ordinary woman yawn.
But those letters are part of your life,
The life of a proud military wife.
You move too much and decorate too little,
Because you always seem to leave in the middle.
Don’t get too settled and make lots of friends
Because home is wherever the Army sends.
And then one day the orders come down,
Your husband soon will be leaving town.
“Up to 365 days or until mission complete”
You know your heart just skipped a beat.
You stare at the orders in front of you,
This was a possibility you always knew.
Now life takes on new meaning
And the tears start streaming.
You hug each other tight and kiss farewell,
How you feel, words could never tell.
You go back to an empty home,
And try not to sit by the phone.
You wait, wonder and worry,
And hope this year goes by in a hurry.
Things are different now.
You’ll do things you once did not know how.
Yellow ribbons are a new accessory,
You make your outfit match- it is a necessity
You cry when the National Anthem is played,
And you get your child that much needed band-aid.
You have your daily chores, as always,
Except now you’re the only one to sweep the hallways.
You’re “IT”- the only one
But you do it and try to have fun.
You say your prayers and wish on a star in the sky,
When he’s back in your arms, you’ll forget the year that went by.
And you’ll think how strong you had become,
When you were truly the army of “one.”

~Letisha E Wheeler October 16, 2005~

 Jeremiah 29:11

Moving along on that long and winding road.

I have sat myself down so many times to write and have not been able to find the exact words that I want to say.  My last entry was on 3 December and so much has happened during that time.  As I sat down today to begin typing I was listening to the radio.  The Beatles, Long and Winding Road began to play....how ironic since this is what I first named my blog page.  This was also the title of the story that I wrote which was published in Army Wife Magazine.

Our pastor held the ordination and farewell ceremony for Jim on 3 January that I mentioned in my last blog and it was wonderful!!  Leaving our home church, family and friends is a bitter-sweet time. We will miss everyone but know that this is the path that God has chosen for us.

Since last spring when we first knew that the Army Chaplaincy was going to be a reality, it seemed that time moved so slowly.  Suddenly, as December came along, everything went into high speed and life flashed before our eyes.  We started to organize and clean out the house.  We "purged" so much junk it was amazing.  We didn't think we had accumulated so much over the years. Then Christmas came and went.  Now the serious cleaning began.  We went through the house from top to bottom.  Every time we thought we were done, we discovered another closet or cubby to clean.

Jim left on 10 January for school which left me to take care of our move.  It then seemed like I didn't have time to do anything and I wouldn't be ready for the movers to come.  

I got a call from someone at the school on 13 January to tell me that Jim was to receive a leadership initiative award.  They asked if Cody and I could come down the next day for it to surprise Jim.  I panicked at first thinking, "how can I do this?  I have to get things packed up to move."......but of course I can come down.  This was such a great honor and I didn't want to miss it.
Cody and I arrived at Ft Jackson the next morning and met the lady that called me.  She brought us into the back of the classroom after everyone has assembled.  The Commandant of the school was up in front and he began to speak.  He talked about leadership and the roles of Chaplains and soldiers.  He then called Jim up front.  Jim still didn't see Cody and I in the back of the class.  The Commandant presented his personal coin to Jim.  I could tell that Jim was very humbled by this.  Then the Commandant told Jim that he may also be surprised that Cody and I were in the back of the class.  I thought Jim was going to drop.  It was so sweet. :)

Jim received an exception to policy from the school.  He was given an apartment on post that has enough room for Cody and I.  This was a huge blessing for us.  We had moved our moving date up so it wouldn't be at the last minute before leaving for Hawaii. (that would have been very difficult) I was looking for an apartment off post to live in while Jim was in school but now we were able to stay with him. 

So then came the move....arghhh.  I was totally stressed about it all but it went perfectly.  Of course our things still need to get to Hawaii in one piece so we'll see if truly is a "perfect" move.
The movers came in on the 19th and were scheduled to do pack out that day and the next.  The move was to be on the 21st but it all went so well they were ready by the morning of the 20th to move us out....so we did.

Cody and I are now at Ft Jackson.  I can't remember when I have ever been so tired.  It took me a couple of days to unwind and settle in.  So now, here we are.  We are back to our homeschooling routine and my stress level seems to have calmed down.  The only thing that would make this better would be if Nicole had decided to come along.  It is so difficult for us to leave her behind.  I'm praying that she'll change her mind before we leave and come along to Hawaii.  She'll come this summer for a few weeks but I would much prefer it if she would live with us.

Jim fell right back into his military mode as I knew he would.  He's like a pea in a pod with this new career.  He was interviewed for a leadership position by the Cadre at the school when he first arrived and was selected as 1st Platoon leader.  Their platoon is the All American Platoon which represents the 82nd Airborne.  Ironic again....Ft Bragg, home of the 82nd, was where Jim spent the majority of his time in the Army when he was an NCO back in the day.

As I reflect on the last 6 years since Jim was first called to this ministry, I can now see some of the "whys" of the trials we endured to get here.  God has a plan for each of us.  All we have to do is have faith and trust in Him alone.  We Praise God that He has led us down this road.  We are humbled that He would choose us to serve Him in the United States Army Chaplaincy....HOOAH!!

Jeremiah 29:11