When it comes to being apart Adam and I are no strangers....
The last 8 years in review
2004-2006 - Middle of August 2004- Adam and Paula meet and start dating in college, Christmas break 3 weeks long. summer break 3 months long.
2007- January- Adam enlisted into the USMC and leaves for boot camp for 12 weeks, all his training ends in late September 2007
2008- January-May Paula is in SC to finish college
2009- January- Adam is selected into the Officer program 10 weeks, summer/fall Adam is in the basic school which consumes his life, we got to see each other mainly on Sundays IF he didn't have to make up a class or do homework.
2010- Adam is in more training from November 2009-June2010
2011-January-September Adam is gone every couple months to training exercise for sometimes a couple days to weeks. October Adam starts leaving for work ups on his upcoming deployment gone 2 weeks to a month at a time.
2012- January-March- Adam is gone for weeks at a time for his last training before the deployment
March-? Adam is deployed
Each and every time we were apart, I was able to pick up the phone and call him. Talk to him, about whatever was on my mind. But this time i do not have the luxury. I can obviously deal with the distance, but not knowing if he is OK or when i will hear from him is what hurts the most. distance does make the heart grow founder but geeze I would love 1 full year without him being gone for days or months, but life in USMC= unlikely!
So I guess I just need to embrace it. Take this time (the longest time I have ever not worked since i was 14) and enjoy life. Enjoy and make a life long relationship with my kids, go and do different things that I wouldn't normally do. But it is hard to do those things when you are constantly worrying about your other half, or trying to deal with the stress of being a "single' parent.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
The what ifs.....
Just another Wednesday night at the Smith house, getting the kids ready for bed when all of a sudden....
I notice a message from a friend expressing her concern about the 24 MEU, and how they lost 2 men. IMMEDIATELY I start to research whats going on. Seconds later I find, http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2012/04/marine-morocco-embassy-says-2-killed-crash-041112/
I read it, then re-read it and my heart starts racing. I cant stop thinking about the last conversation I had with Adam. He was bummed out that he was NOT going to be able to get off the ship and train in Morocco. BUT the what ifs entered my mind and I panicked. I forward the link to my in-laws and a close friend. Reminder to all this is Adam and my first ever deployment. I put the kids in bed trying not to let on that anything is going on. As soon as I walk out of Allie's room I fell to my knees and started praying and through tears I begged, that Adam would be ok, safe and sound on the ship.
Thoughts all night while watching the news, talking with friends and researching for updates on-line, I could not help but think about the what ifs. What if Adam was needed to help train and was on that helicopter. What if he was one of those who are injured or deceased! WHAT IF?!! The thoughts just drove me crazy. Everyone just kept telling me "NO news is GOOD news". I could not get it out of my head. I was dreading the thought.....what if i heard my door bell ring!
The waiting game, hours felt like they were going by at a snails pace. I just wanted the media or the Marine corps to release the names of those involved in the crash. I wanted for my own selfish reasons to have some sense of relief. I WANTED more than anything an email or a phone call from my husband reassuring that he was safe and sound. BUT as I found out, ALL communication was shut down until families of those involved were notified.
When I finally woke up from what little sleep I did get, a friend of mine called and tried to re-assure me that Adam is ok. In my gut, i felt a little better and went about my birthday plans. I was sitting at lunch with some of my friends and I got the email I was waiting for. Then later that night, I got my call! To hear my husbands voice was the best feeling in the world. I am new to this whole deployment thing, but I HOPE I NEVER have to go thought the worry and wait again!
I hope all of you reading this will keep the families of those involved with crash in your prayers. Also for ALL the brave military members overseas!
I notice a message from a friend expressing her concern about the 24 MEU, and how they lost 2 men. IMMEDIATELY I start to research whats going on. Seconds later I find, http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2012/04/marine-morocco-embassy-says-2-killed-crash-041112/
I read it, then re-read it and my heart starts racing. I cant stop thinking about the last conversation I had with Adam. He was bummed out that he was NOT going to be able to get off the ship and train in Morocco. BUT the what ifs entered my mind and I panicked. I forward the link to my in-laws and a close friend. Reminder to all this is Adam and my first ever deployment. I put the kids in bed trying not to let on that anything is going on. As soon as I walk out of Allie's room I fell to my knees and started praying and through tears I begged, that Adam would be ok, safe and sound on the ship.
Thoughts all night while watching the news, talking with friends and researching for updates on-line, I could not help but think about the what ifs. What if Adam was needed to help train and was on that helicopter. What if he was one of those who are injured or deceased! WHAT IF?!! The thoughts just drove me crazy. Everyone just kept telling me "NO news is GOOD news". I could not get it out of my head. I was dreading the thought.....what if i heard my door bell ring!
The waiting game, hours felt like they were going by at a snails pace. I just wanted the media or the Marine corps to release the names of those involved in the crash. I wanted for my own selfish reasons to have some sense of relief. I WANTED more than anything an email or a phone call from my husband reassuring that he was safe and sound. BUT as I found out, ALL communication was shut down until families of those involved were notified.
When I finally woke up from what little sleep I did get, a friend of mine called and tried to re-assure me that Adam is ok. In my gut, i felt a little better and went about my birthday plans. I was sitting at lunch with some of my friends and I got the email I was waiting for. Then later that night, I got my call! To hear my husbands voice was the best feeling in the world. I am new to this whole deployment thing, but I HOPE I NEVER have to go thought the worry and wait again!
I hope all of you reading this will keep the families of those involved with crash in your prayers. Also for ALL the brave military members overseas!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Technology
It is AMAZING to live in the day and time that we do! I am so happy to have communication with my husband at least once a day! We usually connect by email and we have talked on a couple phone calls. I get so excited when I hear the email notification ring on my phone. It is SO great to hear his voice, especially when I am having a no good, rotten day!! I'm not sure if once they get farther away if we wont be able to connect as much, but I am defiantly loving the communication right now!!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
This is NOT an april fools joke...
Adam is now officially deployed!
It has been a long time coming with all the many months off doing training and home for a couple weeks and then off for more training. But now I can officially start the count down to his return. As I wrote before, I CANNOT post dates of when he left, where he is or when he will be home. This is a security measure that is very important, I can say on facebook you can follow the deployment. It is the USMC 24th MEU page, the Commanding officer approves the things on there, No one is to re post in their own words but you can post the link:) confusing but those are the rules the wives are SUPPOSE to follow.
Pre-deployment leave-
Adam LOVES the mountains, so we rented a cabin in Gatlinburg, TN. We spend a few days there where it was absolutely beautiful weather. Our days were full of family fun and tons of sight seeing.
The week before "D" day-
Well if anyone has ever prepared for a big test, game or recital then you know there is a ton of tension right before. well amplify that tension with screaming, crying kids:) Adam and I were both on edge about everything.. we fought over some really silly things, but it wasn't the dishes we were mad about, it was the thought of having both kids by myself everyday, or the fact that Adam is going to miss the million things the kids will do from now till then.
The Day Before-
We spent the day packing up his gear and getting some last minute things. we actually drove up to where the ships were docked (4.5 hours away). Funny story- I'm busy packing up the things for the kids for the day, and don't notice what Adam packs. We get to the ship and he pulls out ONE bag, i was confused we drove 4.5 hours to drop off one bag?! oh well, we were able to see the ship, where he works, eats, stays fit, and sleeps. That night I was NOT able to sleep!
The day of-
I told Adam to wake me up early so we could spend some time together. He made me coffee and breakfast and we just talked. I had Adam do some last minute things, He wrote letters to Alexis, he made some video recordings of her favorite books and recordings of special messages for her. I started crying when he made Allie's birthday video- this is her first birthday he will miss, and just hearing him say how he wishes he could be here to do something special with her just broke my heart.
Adam was told to be there at 0700, WELL we get there to find a handful of people there (hurry up and wait is the way of the marine corps). We ended up coming home and spending some more time together. When we got back to his shop, it all went by so fast. He un-loaded his gear and we waited for the buses to arrive. When the buses pulled up it hit me like a brick. Alexis was playing with the other kids, caleb was napping, while Adam and I just looked at each other. Hearing the Major yell we had 5 more minutes made it feel so real. we called Alexis over gave our last hugs and kisses and he loaded up on the bus. Watching the buses pull away was both hard but at the same time it was a sort of sigh or relief. I say it was a sigh of relief because now I can count down the days till his return.
All I ask of blog readers is that you say a prayer for ALL the military members deployed and their families. Thank you all for reading and I will be posting many times a week!!
It has been a long time coming with all the many months off doing training and home for a couple weeks and then off for more training. But now I can officially start the count down to his return. As I wrote before, I CANNOT post dates of when he left, where he is or when he will be home. This is a security measure that is very important, I can say on facebook you can follow the deployment. It is the USMC 24th MEU page, the Commanding officer approves the things on there, No one is to re post in their own words but you can post the link:) confusing but those are the rules the wives are SUPPOSE to follow.
Pre-deployment leave-
Adam LOVES the mountains, so we rented a cabin in Gatlinburg, TN. We spend a few days there where it was absolutely beautiful weather. Our days were full of family fun and tons of sight seeing.
The week before "D" day-
Well if anyone has ever prepared for a big test, game or recital then you know there is a ton of tension right before. well amplify that tension with screaming, crying kids:) Adam and I were both on edge about everything.. we fought over some really silly things, but it wasn't the dishes we were mad about, it was the thought of having both kids by myself everyday, or the fact that Adam is going to miss the million things the kids will do from now till then.
The Day Before-
We spent the day packing up his gear and getting some last minute things. we actually drove up to where the ships were docked (4.5 hours away). Funny story- I'm busy packing up the things for the kids for the day, and don't notice what Adam packs. We get to the ship and he pulls out ONE bag, i was confused we drove 4.5 hours to drop off one bag?! oh well, we were able to see the ship, where he works, eats, stays fit, and sleeps. That night I was NOT able to sleep!
The day of-
I told Adam to wake me up early so we could spend some time together. He made me coffee and breakfast and we just talked. I had Adam do some last minute things, He wrote letters to Alexis, he made some video recordings of her favorite books and recordings of special messages for her. I started crying when he made Allie's birthday video- this is her first birthday he will miss, and just hearing him say how he wishes he could be here to do something special with her just broke my heart.
Adam was told to be there at 0700, WELL we get there to find a handful of people there (hurry up and wait is the way of the marine corps). We ended up coming home and spending some more time together. When we got back to his shop, it all went by so fast. He un-loaded his gear and we waited for the buses to arrive. When the buses pulled up it hit me like a brick. Alexis was playing with the other kids, caleb was napping, while Adam and I just looked at each other. Hearing the Major yell we had 5 more minutes made it feel so real. we called Alexis over gave our last hugs and kisses and he loaded up on the bus. Watching the buses pull away was both hard but at the same time it was a sort of sigh or relief. I say it was a sigh of relief because now I can count down the days till his return.
All I ask of blog readers is that you say a prayer for ALL the military members deployed and their families. Thank you all for reading and I will be posting many times a week!!
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