Unless you never read a thing that I post on Facebook and Twitter, by now you know that my brother Mitch is back in Iowa after being deployed with the U.S. Navy. I went ten months without seeing my baby brother. And I was not alone. His friends and our family, as well as his girlfriend, endured the same length of time without seeing Mitch in person.
A lot can happen in ten months:
- My sister Sarah became pregnant with baby number four.
- Our dad retired from his sales and marketing job of 19 years.
- I crossed off a bucket list item when I appeared on the Today Show on Caucus Day.
- Nephew Gabriel and Niece Lucy completed another year of school.
- Gabriel, Lucy, and and Niece Amelia all grew a ton. I feel like they grow too much when I haven’t seen them in a couple of weeks. I can’t imagine how different they are after ten months!
- Numerous terror attacks took place across the globe.
- Iranians fired missiles at my brother’s carrier.
- My brother’s carrier was featured on CNN for setting a record number of bombs launched against ISIS.
- Mitch’s deployment was extended by one month.
- As if I wasn’t emotional enough in my normal state, I now get teary eyed around anything patriotic, having to do with the armed forces, etc.
Mitch shared some amazing photos and videos with us during this past week. The views were breath taking, and the sleeping quarters were insanely small. They provided a unique glimpse into my brother’s new life as a sailor.
We only have a few more days with brother Mitch before he goes back to base. This time he is taking a piece of home with him though – girlfriend Hannah. So, while this big sister is fighting back tears, I will be so excited for the new adventure ahead for the two of them together.
Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who has offered words of encouragement, given hugs, and simply let me babble (happy babble, interchanged with the-world-is-going-to-end babble) on and on and on and on. We know there will be another deployment, and I will always need my tribe to talk me off the ledge and then hand me a glass of wine.
Mel's Musings 