School starts Monday!

Well I'm all moved in and settled for my last semester in Norman. (yay) I've taken care of getting school supplies and my books (3 books-$450.00--ridiculous!). I finally got my ACU purse that is a lot bigger than I thought it would be so I think it's going to double as my school bag too. It's super cute! :) I keep getting asked though if I'm really an army wife. I really want to respond with "no I just like to carry it around for fun, it's a fashion statement." Yes. I'm really an Army wife.

The apartment is nice--clean, small, but just right for two people. The kitchen isn't bad--it'll do for 5 months.

We did have one drawer in the kitchen that wouldn't open unless the over door was open, but we pushed the oven as far back as it would go (even had to tilt it to one side) so that it would open with out opening the oven door.

On an unrelated note--Sam (my roommate and I) went and laid out by the pool yesterday:

I got so into my book that I was reading that I forgot to turn over a second time. I'm now a lobster on the front side of my body. haha

2 Weeks Down

Two weeks down--too many to count to go.

I went back to Norman last Monday to get settled back into my house and start working again before school started. Aaron successfully made it to Iraq last week and has already been out on a mission with his team. He called sooner than I expected him to saying he was back and my first reaction when I saw the number on my phone was oh gosh somethings gone wrong. But nothing was, he just got back early. He seems to be enjoying himself for the most part--as much as you can in the middle of the desert and was able to snap a couple of pictures--this one is my favorite--No one can decide how they're supposed to wear their beret:

I have been good at keeping myself occupied--I've been working everyday, but won't continue when school starts so I can focus on my class work and be readily available should Aaron need me. I just feel much better about having free time during the day to be able to talk to him when HE needs to--and it's on HIS time schedule, not mine. I've also been thoroughly engrossed in the Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Series. I bought the first one Sunday and was finished with it by Wednesday. SOO GOOD! I love books that grab your attention and "take you away" into a different place. It's a vampire love story--but not like Dracula--It's really good, and the first movie is coming out later this year.

Other than that I haven't done much-- Aaron sent me BEAUTIFUL flowers last week, it was an ordeal to get them to my house, but so totally worth it once I read his sweet words that went along with his beautiful gift. And I got a letter from him last week from while he was in Kuwait. I love reading his letters--Aaron can always make me smile! :)

I've missed him a lot, but I think that's to be expected--but I have pictures EVERY place you could imagine--my car, my room, my phone, my computer, it's decked out in Aaron and Chuck stuff (can't forget my other lazy boy in Cedar Park!! I miss his fat butt too!!)

But I'm two weeks stronger and absence really does make the heart grown fonder.

Love you, Aaron!! See you soon!

I won't let go

Today wasn't the best, lets be real here.

Aaron left this morning a little after 0500. We stayed up all night, and I'm still running on only 1 hour of sleep (if that). Our families gathered around 0230 to spend our last hours with him. I was queasy the whole time. But I did fine. We spent time together before we had to meet with everyone else--talking, joking, and reassuring each other. We went with him to draw his weapon at 0330. We sat around talking, joking, and taking pictures (Aaron has the camera, so when he can send them, I'll post some). A little after 0400 we went to brigade to see him off. We got to spend most of the time with him--all but maybe 5 minutes. We hugged and kissed--he hugged his mom.

Then that damn white bus came. It pulled into the parking lot around 0430-0445. It was taunting us. Just sitting there reminding us that it would take Aaron away and we wouldn't hear from him for a couple of days. It was like it was staring me in the face--mocking me and how sad I was becoming.

It became time for him to go. I hadn't cried the whole time we were on post until then. I saw his mom crying, him hugging her and reassuring her that he'd be home soon. I lost it. I didn't want to see him go. Aaron came to me last, wrapped me up and told me not to let go. I told him that I loved him and would see him soon. We said more to each other, but it's a blur right now after only an hour of sleep the whole night. He let go and started walking away. He didn't look back--for that I'm thankful. I wanted to run after him and storm the bus and take it over and drive everyone away. If he'd have looked back I seriously might have--I was ready to run. I watched him get up on the bus and find a seat in the front. Moments later the bus started to lurch forward. We stood in the same spot we'd been standing anticipating the moment we saw him for the last time.

As soon as I saw him, I waved...blew a kiss and mouthed "I love you, always..forever." I don't know if he knew or saw what I mouthed, but in his heart I know he did. I am trying not to dwell on the sad parts of the day--instead the times we were laughing--how we saw the new Batman 3 times in the past week and would quote it back to each other and smile--how he told me he'd be back and would call as soon as possible. Every time I say out loud "I love you" or "I'm fine baby" or "See you soon" I pray it's from my lips to God to Aaron's heart.

It's never goodbye--it's always see you soon

Everything right now is so surreal. Aaron leaves in two days (early Friday morning) and it just seems like time is running out. We're packing up tonight and moving out of his sisters house and will be in a hotel in Killeen through Friday morning. We'll be leaving our dog behind, and tonight is the last night that Aaron will get to see our sweet puppy.
There's an FRG meeting Saturday morning, but I'm not sure I will have the strength or courage to go so soon after he's left. I'm still not sure. I'll be heading back to Norman soon--hopefully getting back into a routine of work and school will help calm my nerves and ease any fears I have. I don't know--

--I do know that I'm not ready to say goodbye, or rather see you soon.

Time is running out and I can't slow it down.--

I just don't want to forget

It is suddenly becoming more of a realization that I only have a few more weeks left with Aaron. We planned one of our final weekends here with each other, tonight. We're gonna go see the Batman movie at the IMAX and then go to eat at a nice steakhouse as our final hoorah.

It didn't really hit me until today when Aaron made the comment that he just likes spending the days with me as much as possible. He had the day off today so we so lovingly spent the day together trying to fix the flat tire on the miata. What a pain in the ass! But we got it done and were able to come home and spend the evening together. I cooked dinner (lasagna and my oh so yummy smoked green beans) for Aaron and his sister Sarah and her husband Heath. After that we curled up on the couch and watched the movie High Crimes together. It was nice just to sit on the couch curled up together.

I've been to one FRG meeting with 2-12--I really liked it! The girls were amazing and so helpful and I've already made several new friends. We're meeting again this Thursday and again at the end of this month and it's just exciting. They're all so willing and so helpful...it's just really encouraging.

My biggest fear is that I'll forget. I don't want to forget what it's like to hold hands or kiss or hug or curl up on the couch together or how bad my head hurts after he elbows me in the middle of the night :) I just don't want to forget....any of it.

We finally have news!

Aaron finally reported to the brigade today. It was a rocky start for him, though. We have been planning all along for him to go to 4th BCT and today he was told he wasn't going to be going to 4th BCT, but instead to 1st BCT, which as of now isn't getting deployed until Jan '09. Aaron waited to talk to the G1 in charge and explained our situation. He has been getting emails from the rear detachment officer for 4th BCT and we both have been planning for this deployment. We got married early, sold his car, got my own place for me in Norman, he didn't move anything down here, and we would be in a big financial bind if he did not deploy with 4th BCT. But thankfully the G1 he talked to understood our situation and is going to put him with 4th BCT.

We are still waiting to hear what BN he'll be assigned to. Hopefully he knows that tomorrow, but for sure by Friday. He knows where he's going, though can't tell me specifics. But he assures me he's not going to Baghdad and will be safe. I don't care where he is, as long as he's safe: that's been my prayer all along. He has one last bit of training left to go through starting in a couple of weeks and will for sure be here through mid July (yay!) So I am officially dropping my summer school class and we will be here until then. After his training is over he will be ready to deploy but even then he might not leave until August, depending on when the next flight is. It's all good news. I have gone from thinking I was only going to have 2 weeks with my husband to over a month and a half. I still am praying for his safety, naturally, but also that he makes friends in his BN. That doesn't sound like a thing his wife would say, but I do. He's going behind the curve so to speak and doesn't know anyone there. I know there will be people who he will become friends with; we all know those southern boys stick together =)

I'm glad that his deployment is happening now. I'm excited for him in some ways, sad in others, but ready too...at least I think I am. I'm ready to meet other wives, make new friends, and to learn all that I can. Once he knows his BN, I'll be able to get in touch with the FRG representative. I'll be distracted by trying to graduate and get my real estate license...or go into pharmaceutical sales...to overly worry...I'll still worry. But at least with these distractions I have to focus on school too. I'll also have my amazing friends in Norman who have been so supportive of us both that have already promised to keep me busy. I'll have the other wives to talk to and hopefully FRG events to come down for.

I was a little stressed and confused yesterday as we tried to set up our tricare insurance. I know it's because I'm young and don't know a whole lot...or really anything about medical insurance besides what I'm exposed to at work and what I've been told...but I just didn't understand what the lady that was helping us yesterday was saying. Maybe she didn't understand my questions, I have no idea. I just hoped we picked the right plan. I just have this weird complex about picking doctors out of a phone book, which is essentially what I had to do yesterday. Every doctor I have ever been to, I have known someone else (family or friend) that have been their first and didn't have any problems. So selecting a doctor off a page based basically off their name was a little challenging for me, and maybe that's dumb...but I'm just not used to it. Oh well, only 1 more day of hotel for us and we get to go see our sweet dog, Chuck. (Actually I saw him today when I had to go back to get a letter from Cedar Park, but still he's my baby and I miss him!)

I'm super excited that my wedding scrapbook will be here hopefully by Friday and my Hero on My Arm purse (SO CUTE!) will be here in two weeks!! I'm ready to represent my husband and support my troops hehe! =)

The Joy's of In-Processing

Aaron and I woke up this morning and made our way to Killeen. We got there a little after 9 and were directed to the visitors center to get our pass and start in-processing from there. They sent us to the main in-processing building where Aaron had to fill out a little bit of paper work. From there they sent us to another building to check in with someone else and then he sent us to III Corps for Aaron to sign in (I had to wait in the car since it was 100% ID check and I hadn't gotten my card yet). Since that all only took an hour (surprisingly) we went back to the main building and got me my ID card and DEERS. Aaron's going to put me on his insurance next week. After that we went to housing, then to the on post hotel to get the statement of non-availability for us to be reimbursed for our hotel. By then it was a little after 11 and we went back to the visitors center to register our car...that was fun.

We waited in line, got called to the desk, started working on the paper work and were told we couldn't finish. We're in the process of transferring the title of my car from my parents name to our name, and the registration as well. Since it's not in our name yet, we couldn't get the tag for it. But the guy told us we could go next door and take care of it. So we tried that. But since we don't live in Bell county and all of the title stuff is being done through Tarrant county, it has to be done there.

Oh well, we are getting it all worked out. All in all, it wasn't a bad day. We were done before noon, they told Aaron he was off till 0530 Monday..so no going back tomorrow 'cause their off. And everyone was really nice and patient with us when we had questions. The lady that was helping us with my ID card was pretty funny. She had to go through and get all my information put in the system and then asked for my eye and hair color, height, and weight. I laughed at the latter and asked if we could be on the gracious side. She laughed back and said "Oh of course, we women are always gracious when it comes to that." I chuckled.

On another note, I miss my family--especially my sister since she's in MN--but it's reassuring how supportive they are of us both. They have all offered to help us in whatever way they can and I'm grateful for that.