The first one was only 4 months, but they were easily the darkest 4 months of my life. I would not go back to those days for anything. The second was 11+ months and was the period of time in which I grew the most as a person. 2012 was simultaneously the worst year and the best year for that reason. This third deployment won't be as long as the second, but longer than the first. It's not even a "deployment". He's in a "safe" country and, until a few weeks ago, I was actually going to be able to visit. Which would've been really neat and fun and just...different. Which made it not seem like so much of a deployment at all. Then the army changed its mind and, unless some kind of miraculous R&R is granted, there will be no traveling for me. I had seriously already started planning the trip and arranging for the dog-care. Talk about annoying.
So, that's where we are. Just an FYI I guess. Expect lots of single serve desserts and T.V. talk from me over the next several months.
I made this graphic last year and now seems an appropriate time to post it. We have a lot going on right now: my job, his job, this house project. I have to have faith that it will all work out appropriately because, I mean, if I could make it through 2012 in Alaska by myself, I can make it through this, right? I really wish I had known then the things I know now, but the lesson is the same:
Psalm 46:10
And yes, that is a glacier in that picture.
