Separated by Orders

Absence Does Make the Heart Grow Fonder

2009-04-12T19:40:00.000-07:00

So five months have gone by surprisingly fast. Mike and I have never spent this much time away from eachother without seeing eachother at least once.

When I first learned that he was going to Okinawa, Japan I was terrified that we would drift apart. $1500 minimum flights and a thirteen hour time difference is better than a combat zone, but it is still quite a challenge for a marriage!

Thank God for Skype and Myspace! Webcams and short but much anticipated phone calls keep our marriage very much alive. Don't get me wrong...it is hard and it really stinks...but we are doing fine. In fact, we are better than fine...we are great.

I know it is cliche and cheesy, but it really has made us stronger (so far). In our case it is definitely true that absence indeed makes the heart grow fonder.

A Proud Wife

2009-04-05T19:23:00.000-07:00

I am going to spend this blog bragging about my husband, Cpl. Michael Osborne. The webpage for the Marine Corps base in Okinawa has a feature story on him this week!

After three years on Quantico's Special Reaction Team, he recieved orders to Okinawa, Japan. Since arriving in Okinawa, he has taken on the role of team leader.

Be sure to check out the story! I am always a proud wife, but seeing a story like this makes me even prouder!

A Bittersweet Goodbye

2009-03-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

After over a year in my fabulous house on base, the time has come to move out. With my husband in Japan for a year and graduation quickly approaching, soon there will be no need for me to remain in Northern Virginia.

Since the day that my now husband swore into the Marine Corps, I have eagerly awaited his EAS date (end of active service... the day would get out). With only nine months to go, I must admit that I am feeling just a pinch of sadness.

When maintenance came to do the final inspection at my house I could not help but shed a few tears. These tears were for so many things...it was kind of like the end of an era in a way. While I certainly do not wish for my husband to make a career of the military it has definitely had its good points. (My house being one of the best)

I suspect that when I say my final goodbye to not only Northern Virginia but also Quantico Marine Corps Base, I will shed even more tears. This was the first place that my husband and I lived as a married couple and made so many wonderful memories.

On the other hand, I know so many wonderful new things lie ahead. I am so excited to see what is in store for us post-Marine Corps. Either way, saying goodbye to Quantico will be bittersweet. Who knew I would ever be a little bit sad to say goodbye to the military? The way I felt during the move out process definitely came as a shock!

One Third Mark

2009-03-08T20:01:00.000-07:00

This week marks month four since Mike has left for Japan. Why is it that people say the beginning is the hardest part? I strongly disagree with this statement. The longer they are gone, the harder it gets.

This seems to also be the part in a deployment/TDY when the bickering and arguing for no good reason occurs. I know that this is because both parties are frustrated with the situation. It must be hard for a man to not be able to "fix it" when his wife is having a rough day.

I cannot imagine never leaving work. Many of those Marines lives where they work, with the people they works with and can never really leave the base for too long at a time. There isn't much opportunity to get away.

I know that in another two months we will hit the "half way mark" and it is all down hill from there. As I have blogged before, time is going fast and for that i am very thankful. I do miss my husband though. At least we are a third of the way done.

Troops out by Next Year

2009-03-01T15:51:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama has officially announced that the majority of U.S. troops will be out of Iraq by August 2010. Not only do Americans have mixed feeling on this matter, but Iraqi citizens have had a variety of reactions as well.

The president intends to remove roughly 100,000 troops over the next 18 months, leaving 35,o00 to 50,000 behind to advise Iraqi forces and protect American interests.

While there are some Americans who wish to leave sooner, the withdrawl has to be done in a way that will not increase danger for Iraqi citizens or Americans.

I am relieved to hear that we will be ending combat in Iraq, especially since I see what happens to people who must engage in war. It is an awful thing that I can not express. My only hope is that it is done safely and correctly. I hope that people are not unrealistic about what pulling out may entail. Unfortunately, while we are trying to end this war, we have not begun to see what lies ahead in Afghanastan.

17,000 Troops to Afghanistan

2009-02-22T20:31:00.000-08:00

During the presidential campaigns both candidates expressed that they would increase the number of troops in Afghanistan. Barack Obama has officially announced that he will deploy 8,000 Marines, a 4,000 strong army brigade and 5,000 army "enablers".

Being the wife of a Marine, combat deployments are always in the back of your mind. Between the conflicts in Iraq and now the growing situation in Afghanistan one seems ulmost unavoidable.

While Obama plans to begin the withdrawl of the estimated 146,000 troops in Iraq, many of them will not be going home, but to Afghanistan. It is what it is I suppose.

While my husband "gets out" in December, he still remains inactive until 2012. As long as someone is inactive they can still be recalled.

While many of the people sent to Iraq have been recalled, I am unsure on the policies that will be effective for Afghanistan.

It will be interesting to see what happens in the upcoming months. I understand things are going to get worse before they get better. My only hope is that at some point they do get better.

The Power of the Care Package

2009-02-10T19:58:00.000-08:00

So, Valentine's Day is this Saturday. I figure I can go one of two ways with this. I can mope around whining about how this is the third Valentine's Day I will spending far far away from my husband since his enlistment, or I can turn it into a reason to send him a box full of goodies. I choose option number two.

I went to the store and spent an embarassing amount of money on heart shaped cookie cutters, a large bag of all green M&M's and a hilarious Hoops and Yo-Yo card.

After two hours of baking, frosting and decorating oversized heart-shaped treats, I was ready to head to the post office.

Last year's date included a nice dinner at a fun restaraunt. This year, we will try to catch each other on the web cam and maybe get in a phone call.

I wish I could see him open that chessy Valentine's Day box-o-fun! For a deployed Marine, there is nothing like getting a care package from home. And to be honest, there is an odd feeling of comfort for his wife as she prepares it.

Nine to Go

2009-02-08T08:59:00.000-08:00

Feb. 5, also the three month mark of my husband being gone. No, he is not in Iraq or Afghanastan, but Japan is still oceans away. Three months down, nine to go. We are a quarter of the way done.

Suddenly my cool and collected mentality was long gone. Nine months? Are you serious?

Sometimes I really believe that I am the worst military wife on the face of the planet. I am not quite sure how some women survive 18 month combat depoyments. While I know he is safe in Japan, it does not make the distance any easier.

I have been strong for three months, I am entitled to a mini-meltdown, right? Afterall, my best friend is deployed for a year.

I know I am not alone. So many families are separated by orders. I thought of all the strong wives. Then I thought of their kids. I made a few phone calls and shed some tears and then I regrouped. It's part of the territory. Marines deploy.

This is our last deployment. It's not that bad. Only nine months to go.