I miss my honey...

There really isn't a day that goes by where I don't miss my Mikey. But now that I face the reality that being without him every morning when I awake or every supper I eat or even every night when I close my eyes to sleep is tough. Every step I take to making my temporary home in ND reminds me that this is our families reality. My office is looking more like I inhabit it daily and soon I may have an apartment. And I know that Mikey has those same struggles, but he isn't blessed with the "normal" lifestyle I can live in. He doesn't get hugs from those who love and care for him, nor is he able to get any packages from anyone yet. And this, this difference in our lives and knowing that I'm able to live the American lifestyle is what makes this entire situation the toughest. I know he has his own struggles, but this is mine. I want to be the wife that takes care of him and now I really don't know how. So please, keep Mikey in your prayers and thoughts and give him strength to find his way, his comfort for the next 51 Wednesdays.

With that said, I do cherish the quick phone calls where I get to hear his voice and know his daily routine and I relish in his sweet voice messages from before he left and I treasure the email I got because with each of these I know he is doing this because he loves and misses me as well. He doesn't get much time right now to communicate, which makes each piece more precious. I know he wishes he could call or email everyone right now, but his days are long. Please bear with him as he finds his way in how to manage day-to-day life and communication with all of us back home. I don't mean to speak for him (as I know his words would be more eloquent), but I just want to give everyone some insight.

Thank you ALL for your love, support, thoughts and prayers...we are down to 51 Wednesdays and this number will only get smaller.

...love you Mikey!

annie

52 Wednesday's

My dear, loving husband said it best, "This isn't 365 days, it's 52 Wednesday's." So, tonight begins our 52 week countdown.

Nobody can prepare you for a long good-bye. We found ourselves eating and watching the clock as we counted down the minutes until we had to go on post for the good-bye. Sitting, waiting and wishing we could rewind the clock. Before we knew it the clock struck 7 pm and we were standing there watching Mikey gather the troops to assure everyone was there. Looking around you see children playing, mothers crying and wives and husbands keeping a constant eye on their soldier. We were blessed with another hour and a half, so we sat and visited about anything but what faced us. And, at every pause in the conversation that reminder went off in my mind...he's leaving for a year, go hug him as long as you can. Tears filled my eyes, then laughter filled the air. We kept the mood as light hearted as possible. But we knew as the sky continued to darken the clock had to be coming towards the end. Then the words came from my husbands lips - "only 15 more minutes." Ugh. My heart fell into my stomach and I suddenly wanted to fall to the ground and throw a tantrum like a toddler. I took another look around as Mikey hugged his parents and watched as the kids became fussy, the mothers reached for their son or daughter and the wives/husbands starred at their loved one crying - no longer caring who was watching them. I hated that I had to give the last hug we would share for a year, and a kiss that would last as long. How do you do that in 5 minutes? How do you tell them everything you will miss in 5 minutes? How do you look at your husband and send them off to war knowing those little moments in life will be "on hold." I still don't know how...

I love my husband, I know he'll be home in a year and so now with the help of all my loving friends and family I will survive. I'll miss the "good morning honey" or the "good night sweetheart" or the little glances as we are making supper or just watching him walk through the front door completely exhausted from work. As I told Mikey, I'm not sure what to do with myself when I'm not taking care of him. I love that new role and as we both determined, I'll still do that, just through packages, letters, emails and short phone calls.

Thank you to each of you for all your thoughts, prayers and continued support. I know the year will go quick and we will be in each others arms again soon. I look forward to our second honeymoon and in the mean time I look forward to making memories with everyone here. (And a VERY special THANK YOU to my brother for making a surprise visit to be here as my rock. I was happy to have him join me so I didn't enter our empty home alone. And THANK YOU to my mom and Shannon who are coming to drive me home...I love EACH of you so much - and I know that many others volunteered too...I am a blessed girl)

I love all of you...and Mikey, if you get to read this...Triple Much (and I promise I will be okay)!

hugs...

annie



Thank you John and Jan for being here...your help was appreciated. Thanks for being my rock too - I'm proud to be your daughter. I love you guys!




I love you Mister Mikey....

Burr...

We have been back in North Dakota for a week now and we are both still shivering when we go outside in the mornings. (Okay, let's be honest - I go to work and see the mornings and Mikey sleeps in so he misses that part...but I'll allow it as this IS his vacation!)

We enjoyed our two-day trip up here and Mikey was kind enough to put up with me on constant conference calls and emailing from my new phone. I had hoped to watch our path better so when I take the trip again next week I know where I'm going, but unfortunately I didn't look up much! Which leaves my mom, my sister and I all on our own adventure on the way home! Wish us luck!!!

I want to post more photos on here soon, but right now I just wanted to let everyone know how much warmth we are feeling (even though it isn't our normal 80 degrees outside). We are enjoying our time with friends and family. The memories we have made this week will stick with us forever, which is what happens every time we are here. We laugh, play and are entertained by simply seeing what new things are built in Fargo! Thank you ALL for being such dear friends. We meet up with you and even though months have gone by it never feels like we've missed a single beat.

We hope to see as many people as possible in the last couple days here, so beware...we'll be out! Oh, and thanks to my hubby you WILL feel like the paparatzi have invaded your personal space as I now have a professional camera that I am lovin! So basically my face will look different to everyone as you will only see it with the camera pushed up against my left eye!

tata for now - hugs to everyone and we hope to make the rounds and see all of you.

annie