Finishing the Race

Quite a few years ago Stewart and I ran a 5k. It was kinda pathetic because I hadn't trained at all and if you know me you know I'm not a natural runner. Anyway, we were near the end of the race and the finish line was in sight and Stewart told me that we needed to sprint. I couldn't sprint! I could barely keep shuffling. Stewart told me that there is always energy to run because it's anaerobic or something else that I didn't understand. I just remember that it seemed impossible to run faster than I was running. I think I managed to run a little faster the last 100 yards or so.

Fast forward to now and I feel like I'm nearing the end of a race and I have to sprint to the end. I still feel like it's impossible and I can't do it anymore!

I know that people go through things that are hard and they realize that they are stronger than they thought. After going through this deployment I have realized that I'm not as strong as I thought. I'm so glad that it's almost over and I will have my husband back where he belongs.

I think that with support even the weak can be as strong as they NEED to be. I'm thankful for the support that I have had while he's been gone from family and friends.

But most of all I'm thankful for him:

The Party Post

The party for Stewart was absolutely wonderful! We had so many friends and family come to support us it was beyond what I expected. The weather cooperated with us as right at 9:00 when the party was scheduled to conclude the wind picked up and the sprinkling started.

It was a bittersweet party because while I was so happy that everyone came it meant that I would have to say goodbye to Stewart the next day. *boo hoo*

We are so lucky to have such amazing support from our loved ones!

A Party!

Everyone is invited to come to this party! We are going to have ice cream and desserts. I didn't want to put my address out here on the World Wide Web so e-mail me if you need the address Beccabrough[at]gmail[dot]com.

A Getaway

I am writing this in Richfield, sitting in bed at my cousin Mandy's house. I'm getting my back rubbed by Eli because he doesn't want to go to bed so I told him if he rubs my back then he doesn't have to.

I realized on Saturday that Stewart's been gone for 2 weeks. I about died when I realized this because it seems like it's been a WHOLE lot longer than that. I just checked the calendar again...still 2 weeks.

So we are on a getaway to Richfield where I was nice enough to invite myself to stay in my cousins guest bedroom and she was nice enough to accept my invitation. ;) I will have to think of a years worth of distractions to get myself through this deployment...or maybe it gets easier.

The strange thing is that we have been apart for longer than this before for months at a time but it's never felt this way before. This time moving slowly thing must be mental. I didn't expect the deployment to feel like this.

Together Again

We are now Kentucky Transient Residents. The housing that we live on is the transient quarters so it's kinda like a nicer hotel room. Hey, it's got maid service!

So the plane ride went very smoothly and yes Eli got a window seat. He's been talking about getting a window seat for about a month! It seems like a month anyway maybe just 2 weeks. I blame Stewart for Eli even knowing to ask for a window seat. I have to blame someone because it's driven me crazy with anxiety worrying about getting him the dang window seat. We flew Southwest which doesn't have assigned seating. It all worked out though and I traveled with a happy little boy.

Funny side note: A few weeks ago I read this blog. On it is a funny story about a little boy asking his mom for a pet monkey. Whenever I read funny things kids say I always think "I wish Eli said that!" and that's what I thought when I read this blog. Anyway so on the plane Eli asked if he could have a pet monkey. I thought that this was it! He was going to say something funny. Here's how it went down:
Eli: Mom can I get a pet monkey?
Me: No
Eli: Why? (that's not funny)
Me: Because it would probably rip my head off.
Eli: Why would it rip your head off? (Perform monkey!)
Me: Monkeys are strong and aggressive. It wouldn't be a good idea to have one for a pet.
I know! Bor-ring!

Anyway Eli had a great time on the plane. He got to lookout the window, eat fruit roll-ups, play with his sticker book, (thanks Grandma Brough) and his laceup book, (thanks Grandma Sorensen) and watch a movie on my laptop.

When we landed Eli started chanting "I flew on a plane. I flew on a plane."

So for the best part! We got to see Stewart!

Do you think that Eli was happy?! Stewart wanted to get Eli something and I suggested a balloon. Of course Stewart couldn't get just ONE balloon! You might not know this about Stewart but he LOVES to give presents. I got some yummy perfume. At dinner I said, "I'm so glad that we get to see daddy!" Eli said, "yeah and I'm so glad daddy gave me balloons."

Here we are all together and this is what Eli looked like from the backseat. Oh so cute. He was very content.

We are happy to all be together and are looking forward to having a little adventure here in Kentucky.

He's in the Army Now

Eli got a package in the mail today. If you can't guess who sent it to him then I think that you must have stumbled onto this blog and have no idea about us. Eli was really excited to get a package from his daddy and didn't even care that there wasn't a toy in the envelope. Even my mom, who isn't at all excited about the army, thought he looked so cute in this get up. In fact when Stewart wanted to get this for Eli a long time ago I thought, "oh, my mom isn't going to like that."