Welcome Home ...

To Soldier's unit arriving home from Afghanistan after a long, hard year! They fought well and kept their heads high through every situation they were dealt with.

With all the excitement and happiness I have for all of Soldier's fellow brothers to finally be home .. I can't help but to also have a heavy heart.

One guy is not coming home. That one guy is not just anyone, it was Soldier's really good friend and brother. He not only deployed with him this time around but also his first deployment to Iraq. He looked after him when Soldier was faced with a near-death experience and has continued to always be by his side through his deployment.

How is it fair that we celebrate, show our pride and love as our brave soldier's come home .. And yet, his widow does not get that chance.

Soldier went to dinner with his widow and she is having a really rough time. She has yet to go through any of his stuff that was sent back from Afghanistan. She mentioned she wanted both of us to go over and to help her sort through everything and also said she wanted Soldier to take some of his things because she doesn't know what to do with them or can't look at them anymore without breaking down.

Can you say heartbreak? Jeez. Poor girl, what did she do to deserve this? Nothing.

It could have been anyone. I wish it wasn't him and yet I would never wish it upon anyone else.

No matter the heaviness I feel in my heart .. I still am overwhelmed with excitement and just pure happiness and relief that we have survived yet another deployment and that although we did lose a great person and soldier over there .. Soldier's friends and brothers are all coming home safe and sound to their families.

Soldier gained one hell of a guardian angel .. And without him up there, I might not have my Soldier here today.

Thank you, Eric.
For all you've done.
Keep looking after Soldier. Keep sending signs. I know Soldier loves that .. Plus I loved that little turtle in our backyard, bring him around again. :)

Miss you.
You are never forgotten.

Until next time ...

Link up ...

 

I miss California .. Plain and simple.

We head back for a visit at the end of this month. Soldier hasn't been home in almost two years now and it's been almost eight months for me.

Needless to say .. It is well overdue.

We are both giddy and anxious like it is Christmas time.

No matter where the Army sends us and where we call home .. California will always have our hearts.

Plus .. This song always reminds me of the OC. Soldier's girlfriend is Summer and my boyfriend is the ever so sexy and bad boy Volchok. :)

 

Until next time ...

Heavy Heart ...

So some may call me crazy .. Well maybe more than some, but I have a tab on my home page for the Casualties website for the Afghanistan and Iraq war. I honestly do not have a good enough reason to explain why I have it or let alone check it every day. Maybe it is because ever since our personal casualty that we experienced in our deployment, I feel the need or want to read, know, and memorialize those names that are updated almost every day. Those names that have given the ultimate sacrifice so I can continue to live my life and type this very blog.

Today, though, I have a heavier heart than usual after checking my weird daily habit .. There were five ISAF servicemembers that were taken from us due to a suicide bomber.

Soldier was almost taken from us by a suicide bomber. He actually should have been taken, but someone or a couple of people were looking out for him that day. Him along with his fellow brothers should not be here today, I would be living a completely different life than the one I am living.

It makes me realize how lucky I am. I never want to take for granted the life I am living .. With my Soldier and having him home safe and sound. It is not fair for those families to have to go through such heartbreak and grief. I wish so badly I could take away the pain and hurt. Those five servicemembers will forever be in my heart, forever in my thoughts, and they will never be forgotten. Along with the thousands of other servicemembers that have so bravely risked their lives for us .. And those thousands of servicemembers that continue each and every single day without any pause to risk their lives and make sure that me and everyone else still have their freedom.

This is for you. All of you. My heart is filled of pride, love, and eternal support.

Until next time ...