A Year Ago

One year ago today, it was a Friday afternoon.  I was scheduled to get married in one month and one day.  My work had just thrown me a lovely bridal shower, and lots of friends and family were preparing to come into town for my official bridal shower the next day.  I was flying high.  Then, I got the news. 

To say I was devastated would be a bit of an understatement.  I spent the rest of the afternoon bursting into tears and calming myself down, only to start crying again.  Saturday morning came, and though it was supposed to be a happy day (it was, after all, the day of my bridal shower) I felt like there was a black cloud of doom over my head.  Dramatic, yes.  I truly was happy to see everyone, but the news that Brian was heading to Afghanistan one month after we married was in the back of my mind, threatening to spill over into tears at any moment.  I look back at the photos from my wonderful shower and I can’t help but laugh to myself.  It was a wonderful shower, but I couldn’t full enjoy it.  The military has impeccable timing 😉

My bridesmaid Kristin and I at my shower.

On Sunday, I woke up and the black cloud was gone.  I felt like my old self.  Yes, Brian was going to Afghanistan.  However, it wasn’t a death sentence and we would come out of it even stronger.  Yes, it was going to be a long and difficult year apart, but we had/have so much to look forward to. 

Of course, it hasn’t been easy.  Sometimes Brian being gone hit me like a ton of bricks.  Although I love the videos of soldiers reuniting with their families after a deployment, they are hard to watch when you still have so long to go until your own reunion.  Wendy wrote a touching blog post that I looked to when I started to feel sad about Brian being overseas. 

Looking back, though, I wish I could tell myself to not be so sad and that everything is going to be okay.  We are on the tail end of the deployment (he will be home SO SOON :D) and in retrospect, the year went by so quickly.  SO quickly.  No, it was not an ideal way to spend a first year of marriage.  However, I know that it has made us stronger and more appreciative of one another.  We can make it through anything 🙂

When you news of a deployment, it can appear endless (a whole YEAR?).  I’m here to tell you that it isn’t.  Keep yourself busy.  Embark on exciting adventures.  Spend time with family and friends.  And look forward to the best reunion of your life 🙂

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Thanks for all of your comments on my running slump.  I am definitely okay, health-wise- I just can’t run or practice hot yoga.  I’ll figure it out soon enough 🙂