Skip to main content

Our Emotional Roller Coaster Ride

Prayers from our church family
I've long thought of deployments as a roller coaster ride and, as we begin the cycle of our fourth deployment, that thought is only being confirmed each day.  We're currently at that terrifying first stage ... the ride is ready and we're locked in.  There's no going back, no getting off the ride at the last moment and now we're slowly tick-tick-ticking straight up to the start.  The fear and anticipation of what is to come is enough to take your breath away, but it's really the time to settle in and prepare.

Today was the perfect example of the raw emotions that preceed any deployment.  We have moments of keeping it all together and sometimes even manage to laugh and forget the black cloud that is lurking just above our heads.  Then, we feel a lightning strike of uber-emotional outbursts that come from nowhere and take us all by surprise.  I see the heightened emotions in our boys and feel my own edgy emotions set to burst at any time. 

We spent this morning together relaxing at home.  Nate foraged our breakfast from Shipley's Donuts (much to our sons' delight) and we enjoyed a quiet morning.  Our church planned a "Serve Sunday" today, skipping our normal morning worship and meeting in the afternoon instead to care for the 'forgotten' ... specifically our area widows and widowers at a local nursing home.  It was a real treat for us to visit with so many wonderful people today.  They were clearly thrilled to see us and our kids got to spend some time with a population they don't see very often.  One gentlemen even serenaded us with songs he had written himself.  A great afternoon, for sure.

After our visit, we met in the parking lot for some final comments and a group prayer.  Danny led a prayer for Nate's safe deployment and for the care of our Family while he is gone.  Just as I felt my own tears forming, I noticed Joshua's emotions get the best of him, too.  It was all downhill from there.  Elizabeth, our niece, sobbed in my arms and told me, "I don't want Uncle Nate to go!  It's too long.  It's too much!"  Family after family in our close-knit church hugged us and pledged their continued prayers throughout the year.

Afterwards, I was emotionally exhausted but happy to have so many wonderful people along for this ride with us!

Labels:

Comments

  1. cdayzeeMay 16, 2011 at 10:35 AM

    ::hugs:: I've been going thru some of the same types of things....

    ReplyDelete
  2. My Army LifeMay 16, 2011 at 10:52 PM

    Thank you! We're all in this together! =)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Candace @ ArmyWivesLivesMay 20, 2011 at 6:58 PM

    Tears in my eyes. The anticipation can just be so tough at times. I'm glad you have so many loving people around you.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Fabulous Remarks

Popular posts from this blog

TORCH and ADVON

Photo: ADVON returning from a year-long deployment. Okay, I have to admit that after 15+ years as an Army wife, I don’t know what ‘TORCH’ and ‘ADVON’ stand for. Something about advanced party … but there’s no ‘p’ for ‘party’ … so I just don’t know. I do, however, know what it means. It means your Soldier comes home FIRST!! We’ve never had the honor of either of those designations. My husband somehow manages to get himself into the ‘stay-behind-and-make-sure-all is-well-out-here’ job and comes home late or last. Not that I’m complaining, though, as I am happy these TORCH and ADVON folks get here and get the place ready for everyone else to come home. In a way, it’s reassuring to me. The wheels are turning, the process has begun … our unit actually is coming home and coming home soon! Homecoming becomes reality, not just a long-sought-after dream. It’s good to see our unit patch and our unit Soldiers back at home, on U.S. soil and on our Army installation. It’s heartening to w...
2 comments
Read more

The Change of Command Ceremony

Last Friday, my Family and I participated in the 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division change of command on Fort Hood, Texas.  Hubby became the battalion commander of the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment and joined a wonderful group of "Red Dragon" Soldiers and Families.  It's a dream come true for us ... one of those things you hope in the back of your mind you'll get to do one day, but know realistically that the chances are slim you'll get to do it. When I first saw his name on 'the list' that the Army publishes, I was elated for him.  No one knows more than I do his passion for the Army and for the Soldiers in it.  He is a wonderful leader and cares so much.  We both knew that this would be the adventure of a lifetime.  We explained this new job to our two boys (ages ten and six) as best we could and they kept saying, "We'll have 500 new friends on Friday!" as their summary of the discussion.  =) The ceremony was amazing,...
7 comments
Read more

A Letter to My Cousin and Friend

As I was cleaning out our home office today, I came across an old college notebook from a writing course I had taken at Baylor. Our assignment was to write a letter to someone filled with memories of time spent together. I had chosen to write to my cousin Lori and, although it was a rough draft, I just had to post it. I finished out the last part and laughed out loud at some of the superfun memories with Lori, my cousin and friend. Dear Lori, As I reflect on the time we have spent together, I remember so many wonderful memories with you. Laughter always comes first to mind because we have shared so much of it. We start out giggling over some trivial nothing and soon are rolling in teary-eyed, side-splitting, I-can’t-catch-my-breath laughter. Days later, we will laugh again when one thought triggers another and we think of the same funny thing. After all, we are ‘more funny repeated.’ Our memories together are vast and varied for they have been collecting since, well, basically fr...
Post a Comment
Read more