Goodbye 2011 Hello 2012

I am always grateful when God gives me another year here on earth with my family. But I also wonder the "why" behind the difficulties he places on us during that year. With 2011 finally being over I am extremely happy! It means I hit the half-way mark of this fourth deployment being over! It means that my boys get to see their dad for R&R in a few weeks. It means he will come home- that is so much more exciting then when he left back in July. We had many blessing roll in at the end of the year, but this year has really seemed to creep by at times & fly by at others. I know I should be use to this as it's nothing new. When you say your "See You Later's" to your soldier time seems to come way to quickly to that dreaded send off day. But as usual since he left it has dragged by at a snail's pace,
 We did receive so many blessings of having new friends come into our life as they often do with each deployment. I know God placed them in my life with the specific purpose of getting Jeremy his loveable service dog. I have no doubt in my mind that when I prayed about Jeremy starting school and all doors opening up if that was what was suppose to happen. Well God threw them wide open & Jeremy went to school for the first time . He is loving it and flourishing thanks to the great teachers God provided. With all these blessings I have to be careful and not let the negative out weigh the enormous gifts that God has given me this year. At times it's very hard not to go into my woe is me phase, but I try and that is all I can do.

I don't make New year's resolutions because they are often long forgotten by February. What I do hope for the new year is peace for my worried brain while Paul is away. Activities to fill the time and make it pass quickly. A lot more patience going into the last few months of the deployment so my boys don't catch the brunt of my frustrations & exhaustion.I know in asking God for these he will in his time and way make it possible. I just hope my eyes and heart are open to his answers when he places them in my life. That I am not so consumed with the worldly everyday tasks around me to miss them.
I hope everyone has a safe & Happy New Year's. May all our soldiers serving around the globe come home safely to their loved ones this year as well.Here are a few  pictures , post, & topics that consumed my life in 2011- see you all next year!

Paul's last day on our lake.

The loss of a Beloved friend & soldier 

The faces of a new Gold Star  family

I had to say goodbye to two of my best friends as they PCS to another Post & face the deployment with out them. Losing them both at the same time was so very painful. To loose Romana who had gone through 2 deployments with me was so very strange.

The completion of my 6th ,5k Obstacle run

The last picture of my whole family together.....

Watching the love of my life walk away, not knowing when we will see him again.

First Skype call from Afghansitan

The day we brought home Banyan for Jeremy

There are so many more highlights but these are just a few of the big ones that consumed our lives.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9 

** Borrowed from Skinnie Piggie another great Military Spouse going through a deployment.**

My Crazy Wednesday...

Up at 5:45AM because I was afraid I'd oversleep & get up to late to make the drive to Madigan  on time for Jeremy's three procedures. I did however leave with Jeremy in plenty of time to get a great parking spot which is rare. With the crazy wind and rain going on I was very grateful. Also when Jeremy decided he would not be wheeled out of recovery in a wheel chair, that mom had to carry him like usual- yep thank goodness for a close spot. Well as close as you can get after having barriers up in front of the hospital. Thank goodness Jeremy still only weighs 57 pounds. It is really his long skinny legs that make it hard to carry him. I can lift him fine, but he has to wrap his long legs around me & after being doped up on drugs for over 3 hours- it was quite the challenge for him.

All the doctors where great today thank goodness. As well as the recovery room nurse who was new- but reminded me of my mom. We where in & out of recovery in record time seeing as Jeremy woke up screaming bloody murder! Pretty sure all the newbies where like PLEASE let him leave ASAP!! The staff was on holiday hours & schedule so we missed some of our regular nurses. Our plastics doctor feels this is the last time we need to do a Laser treatment for another year. Jeremy was so excited to hear he won't have to come in every 3 to 4 months for the first time since he turned 1 year old.They are pretty sure his Port Wine stain is as light as it will ever be in their opinion. Now it is just maintenance to make sure nothing changes in the future. His eye pressure check in his right eye with the Glaucoma is good as well. Now we just need to wait on the MRI to be read & keep our fingers crossed nothing new shows up.

Banyan didn't go to the hospital this time due to not being fully healthy himself with an ear infection as well as not being registered on post yet. He did meet us tail wagging at the door. He wasn't sure whether to stay with Jeremy after checking him over & licking his IV site.Since I am doing the majority of the training he is also very attached to mom right now. So we tethered him to Jeremy & I could tell he understood. he laid right down next to Jeremy . They eventually fell asleep for the afternoon. Jeremy is up and moving now like nothing ever happened. I am thankful that it was an uneventful and no repeats of air bubbles in his neck  this time.

Now we are all in pj's relaxing & listening to the wind storm outside. The rain is pouring down and I am exhausted. Ready to sleep well tonight & wake up rested....one can dream can't they. I haven't slept well since the deployment started but maybe tonight's the night!

Drinking some chocolate milk & watching cartoons

**EDIT**  Dr. Bolt called & Jeremy's MRI is ALL GOOD!! No new anything!! YIPPIE, now if we can just make it through all these up coming hormonal changes......uggg

Finally We Have A Date (s)

It happened about a day before Christmas, my soldier was holding the ever coveted R&R Leave Papers. They where FINALLY all signed & approved!! Now I have to sit back and patiently wait to see IF the Army will get my soldier to his family on said date (s)  My guy & me always say " the paper says this day so plan for this time frame."- because it's always hurry up and wait when it comes to getting them home for R&R. But man oh man can the Army get them back to their FOB's in about 24 hours when R&R is over. I won't be posting the dates here but I'll let you know when I finally get that amazing hug & kiss in the airport. I just had to share the good news that I finally have something to look forward too that is closer then Homecoming. YAY- ME!!

 Now I am off to get Jeremy to bed. He has his annual MRI & then Laser surgery tomorrow. No food in the morning on those days before the procedures sure make for one grumpy kid. Wish us luck as this will be the first time Banyan has been around Jeremy when he is hurting & not feeling well. I'll check back in when I can to let you know how it all goes. Banyan did go to see his first movie with us today. We saw "We Bought a Zoo"- super cute movie worth going to see if you have time. Banyan did great & got a lot of cookies afterwards. Have a great night everyone- I'll be checking in later this week.

Banyan watching the movie- he loved it!

Merry Christmas from Around the World

As this tired momma slurps down some much needed coffee while little boys squeal with delight our family wanted to take the time to say Merry Christmas. Even though the Huston clan is spread out over several thousand miles we are enjoying our Christmas morning as best we can today. May your Christmas be Merry & Bright as well.

 

**EDIT**  My husband was able to call this afternoon when we returned from church. That was the best Christmas present the boys & I could ever receive. He was able to talk to all four boys & to me for about 30 minutes!! 

It's Christmas Eve Already....in Afghanistan

My sweet soldier just popped up on my Facebook chat to let me know it was Christmas Eve already in his part of the world. Breaks my heart he is so far away with nothing special planned for the evening but more work. Remember to say a prayer for all those who are still serving around the globe so we might enjoy our Christmas safely in our homes. Also prayers for the families who stay at home & wait.

My Favorite Christmas Songs

When I was very young we had a tradition of going Christmas Caroling around my grandmother's town in Mayfield, KY. All the grandkids would huddle together and sometimes sing clearly for all to hear and other times just goof off earning reprimand from all the adults. The adults loved to go singing after dinner at my grandmother's whether it was raining, snowing or just freezing cold. The cousins started giving eachother those little handwarmers to keep in our pockets every Christmas Eve so our hands didn't go numb! My dad has the most beautiful voice and has for years led singing at church. He was in charge of picking the songs & leading the way on our caroling adventures. Thanks to that I have some favorite songs that when I hear them each year I get flooded with great memories of all of us cousins tromping along behind the grownups singing loud for all to hear! 
Yes folks Buddy the Elf is right! "The best way to spread Christmas cheer IS singing loud for all to hear!". Here are a few of those favorite Christmas songs. How I wish my own boys had this special memory as well. There was nothing like knowing your presence at someone's home who can't get out very well put a smile on their face & made their Christmas special.

These are the good ole classics I know, but when I think of Christmas this is what I think of hearing playing from my radio. I have a few that I love now that where not in the caroling rotation. How I miss those days long ago when everything seemed so easy & simple. If someone had told me my future and how every other Christmas I would spend alone with my boys hundreds of miles away from my family I never would have believed them. But here the boys & I sit for one more Christmas alone with out my husband or any immediate family. I will put on our Christmas music on Christmas Eve as we open our gifts from extended family & I'll remember the great memories of the Christmas's of the past. I will pray that my husband enjoys his gifts we picked out with care & mailed. I will pray for all my family to remember that each day they have is precious & what a gift it is to get to spend with your loved ones. That it's a gift that I can't explain , but if your a military family how precious every day is needs no explanation. I hope everyone has a great Christmas weekend - stay safe & remember some families have empty chairs around their tables this year.

Merry Christmas from Afghanistan- we had our Skype Christmas time last night since the internet tends to get overwhelmed on Christmas Eve & day.

My last favorite that makes me cry anytime I hear it during the year.