It is impossible to have a proper countdown when you are dealing with the military. Less than 30 days is about as specific as it gets. Brad was supposed to get R&R in Qatar before coming home but he will need to stay a few days longer in Iraq and train the incoming personal. No R&R for Brad, but we are going to be spending a week in Catalina!
I must say, I CAN'T WAIT to have my husband back. I have missed talking to him, calling him when I have a bad day, complaining about random mundane things, reading books in bed together, taking walks with the dog, BBQing, going to church then Greek food, so many things. It feels like he has been gone for a very long time, so many things have happened since he has left. Bradley got a job and is in a musical, Justus has been taking art classes in the evenings producing lots of great things, I have been gearing up to start Nursing school and teaching at a Montessori school...
Thursday Justus and I are going to a concert up in Bellingham. I was able to score tickets to a fan appreciation show for Death Cab for Cutie in their hometown. Justus is such a fun kid, he was quite excited about this show.
Brad mailed home a flag and letters for Ethan's 4th grade classroom. His class had all written letters to soldiers after I did a presentation about Brad and his work in Iraq. Brad replied to the kids in letters (ALL OF THEM) and then passed the letters on for other soldiers to keep. Most soldiers don't write back so he really wanted to make sure some of the kids received letters back and answered specific questions. They were quite excited about the letters and the flag. The flag came with a certificate about the mission it went on and the pilot who flew it. The pilot offered to come and talk to the class in May with Brad once he returns home. Some of the boys told me they wanted to ask him about what guns he uses... boys will be boys :-)
Brad was given an award and a gold challenge coin from Soldiers Angels, a non-profit group we have both been involved with for quite some time. If any of you have been in or around the military you know about the challenge coins. In uniform the soldiers are to always have a challenge coin on them. These coins are generally given to them for being a member of something with a specific emblem on it, or given as a token of appreciation. The history dates back to WWI when a flying squadron were all given coins as a token of their involvement and appreciation by their commander. This coin was carried by a pilot who was shot down and captured. He fled having lost all his identification and made it the French patrol. The only thing he has to attempt to identify himself was his challenge coin. One of the Frenchmen recognized the insignia and he was returned to safe hands. (Wow, that was quite a detour) SOOO, Brad was given an award and a challenge coin from the Soldiers Angels Organization. To receive that award you have to be nominated. Brad was nominated for his constant return on letter writing and his involvement with the DVD project. I have personally written probably almost 200 letters to different soldiers and NEVER received a letter back, Brad has so far written everyone back! He has been receiving letters from different people in the organization weekly the entire time he has been there.
So I am busy at the house getting it ready for the welcome home party. We will be doing an addition onto the house shortly after Brad gets home so there are areas I am not doing much to. Warm weather is on the way and I am excited for the kids to be out of school spending time with me gardening and at the beach!
