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The Countdown

 We are only a week and a half into this deployment so saying "the countdown" might seem a bit premature.

How do you help a 9 and 4 year old "see" how much longer until Daddy comes back?

Slash marks?  No.  Too prison like.

Paper chains? 270 of them.   Oh, the time it would take to make those. And then just to tear down all that work.  So that's out.

  I saw this adorable  "Days Until" sign. 

 

I purchased it from My Treehouse Treasures.  They have all kinds of adorable signs.

Then my friend Tiffany shared with me what she is doing with her kids. 


Kisses From Daddy

Our Kisses From Daddy jar.

Every night before they brush their teeth, the kids get to eat a kiss from daddy.  Not only are they counting down on the board, but they can also see how long until Daddy gets home as the kisses get lower.

Good night, Daddy!
 

 

What do you do help your kids countdown until a special event?

Rock The Vote (Is It Still Cool To Say That)

  It's the small things in life that can make you happy. 

  We do our voting absentee style.

  That means I do not get an "I voted" sticker.

  I'm a little unhappy that I don't get to sport that today. 


Every other post on Facebook today has been about voting and I think that is awesome!  I can't imagine living in a country where I didn't have that freedom. 

It made me think about the first time Steven was deployed to Iraq and how he was helping the Iraq government set up and conduct their voting system.  His story about their elections was published in the Field Artillery Journal.  You can go here to read about it.   Steven's article

I remember seeing the pictures of Iraqi men and women holding up their inked purple thumb or finger to show they had voted.  They were so excited!

So wear that "I voted" sticker proudly today!  Be glad you live in a land that you can vote for who ever you want.  Even in Illinois, where you can vote for the 'Nard Dog.  (Yes, this is a real ballot from Kendall County, IL)

If Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder....

The Millers November 2012

... then fonder has begun.  Words penned by my husband on his way to Afghanistan.

I really debated on blogging or even taking pictures of our farewell this morning because they can be kind of a private thing.   The more I thought about it, I thought the world needs to be reminded that there is still a war.  There are still Soldiers deploying.  There are still families waving good-bye until the buses are out of sight.

This is our third go around with deployments.  It's been different each time.  The first time, Steven signed in and was told he had 15 days and he was leaving for Iraq.  We had a 5 month old baby at the time.  Communications were very limited.  A few emails.  Rarely a phone call, but never a good connection when we did receive one.

The second deployment Steven commanded and it was a complete whirl wind.  We had more notice than 15 days and our baby was now 3.  Communications were better.  More frequent emails and the phone system seemed to have less of a delay. 

Our third deployment has been interesting.  We stood on a field not far from the where we stood 6 years ago.  This time our baby is 9 and we've added a Dude, 4.  Emails will probably be multiple times a day.  There may even be Skype!  But there is still that strange emotion between sadness and missing, but this is now old hat because it's away of life. 

I watched newly weds say tearful good-byes, other kids hold on to their mom or dad for one last hug (we had about 4 one last hugs), parents from far away coming to see their sons or daughters off.  So many of these Soldiers are now on the third, forth or even fifth combat tour.

The war has now been put in the back of people's mind because it's gone on so long.  It was barely mentioned in the presidential debates.  The homecomings aren't quite what they used to be.   My husband is a writer and during this deployment he is going to do his best to remind America of the men and women who are deployed.    And as a blogger, I'm going to share my story, as well as my fellow Army families. 

 

It's not the easiest life, but I wouldn't have chosen any other

.

We love you!!

Lucky Me

Welcome to the Army Mrs. Miller.

… with those words spoken and sword across my bum, I was welcomed into this crazy military world.

13 years (13 ½ for those who know the whole story) have gone by so quickly and here we are getting ready to go back to the place where it all started for us.

In 13 years we have:

Moved six times

Had two children (me, not him)

Two Iraq deployments and an upcoming deployment (him, not me)

One trip firefighting in Idaho (him, again)

NTC (all him)

Bought 6 Ford vehicles (I think.  The number gets fuzzy around 2007) 


I would say countless adventures, but honestly, our everday life is an adventure.

The list could go on and on of what we’ve done over the last 13 years.

I could not imagine doing any of this with anyone but my very best friend.   Through the good and the not so great, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Once again, the Army has foiled our plans to spend an anniversary on a beach somewhere, but some day we will get there. 

I’m lucky I’m in love with my best friend.  "Our" song.

Thirteen years ago with my best friend.

Thirteen years later and I still like him a whole lot!

Where's The Good in Goodbye? Part III

Most anyone reading this blog knows that the following is true about the Millers:

God

Family

Country

We have always put God as the first priority in our lives and with that church is also something that is very important to us.

We have been so fortunate to have the greatest churches to attend every time we move.  And like with every move comes the saying good bye to a church and church family we have grown to love.

We literally drove over the river and through the woods an hour both ways to go to this fantastic church.  You may think that’s crazy, but we don’t regret a single mile that we drove to get there.  We have had the best leadership in Pastor Steve and Lorrie Smith and Pastor Josh and Heather Wood.  Not to mention the friends who became family to us.  We love you all and will miss you so much. 

We are looking forward to hearing about the great things that are happening at Westchester and are already looking forward to our next visit.

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of the family.

Vern gets a Wesley work out every Sunday.

Wesley and Vern

Madelynn and her favorite baby, Tessa

Joe also gets a Wesley workout

Me and the lovely Matthias ladies.

A few good men...

and their better halves.

Wesley and his pal Carmine

Pastor Smith and his favorite red head.

The One Where He Turns 39

I’m not sure how he’s thirty-nine because I’m only twenty-five and he’s just six years older than me.  The math just doesn’t add up.  Never the less, his birth certificate says he was born in 1973.

Steven has done quite a lot in his thirty-nine years.  He would never brag on himself so allow me to do so.

He has received two Masters Degrees

He has commanded two batteries

Served twice in Iraq

Married a fabulous woman

Fought fires in Idaho

Continues to be an amazing dad to his kids

Has had articles published

Taught future Officers how to read and write at the United States Military Academy at West Point

Met many dignitaries

Jumped out of airplanes and off bridges (both willingly)

Ran a full marathon, half marathon, and 5k  (also, all willingly)

He’s also done our taxes for many years. Once, during the birth of our oldest child.

He's a man of many unspoken talents.

 He’s done much more, but those are just some of the highlights.  I’m pretty lucky that I’ve spent thirteen plus of these thirty-nine years with him.  This year we will not get to celebrate with him on his birthday, but are looking forward to doing so when he’s home.

So,

MAJ Nelson,

I hope you have a wonderful 39^th birthday.  I’m looking forward to celebrating thirty-nine more with you.  I promise to make you some Dr. Pepper bread when you're home.  
I didn't just want to sing happy birthday to you so take a listen to the lyrics of the song “A Song For You.”  I think some of the lyrics describe you/us and your thirty nine years.

I love you,

Jeannie

The birthday boy (far right)

One of my favorite pictures of  The Dude and his Daddy

After Steven's first full marathon