Day 175

Tomorrow (Wednesday) will mark 25 weeks since Josh left.
That's a long time!
No matter how hard I fight against it, there is always a part of me that feels like life is just "on hold" until he gets home.
Something feels off, and incomplete, without all four of us together. 
But it's not just all good things that must come to an end, but the not-so-good things as well!

There is a chance that tonight was our last Taco Tuesday without him!!
:) Yippee Skippee!

I can't sleep.
I've got butterflies in my tummy.
I'm all nervous, like I'm going on a first date or something ;)

As if he isn't the same guy he was when he left.
The one who searches youtube for clips of people hurting themselves.
And eats fig newtons out of the carton.
And riles up the kids right before bedtime.

As if he wasn't the one who knocked me up a couple times.
And witnessed the least attractive moments in my life.
You know, like pushing his kids out. 

But now I'm cleaning the house, getting a haircut, and planning the Big Shaving Event of 2012.
My legs wont know what hit 'em.

It's just like nesting, only without the baby.

It's my favorite part of military life.
This will be our fourth honeymoon in our ten year marriage.

The first was the traditional one. You know, when Josh was just a baby.

The next was after the first deployment. 4 months apart.

Then the second deployment. Only 3 months for that one.

And now we are waiting for the longest one to end. And it's almost here!

(You are permitted to say anything in response, except to remark on how quickly it went.)

I actually am not easily offended. You can pretty much speak your mind without bothering me.
For instance, I was able to chuckle about this conversation with my well-meaning dental hygienist:

Her:
Oh, your husband is in Afghanistan? 
My brother was there. Yep, he was in Iraq, too. He said Afghanistan was much worse. Much more dangerous. 
You know, he just came back home different somehow. The things he saw there really changed him.
*sadly shaking her head back and forth*

Me: 
Um. Yeah. 
That's too bad. 
Did I mention that my husband is there right now? 
Gee, I hope he doesn't come back "different."
Thanks for giving me something to think about while your lead fingers gouge out chunks of my gums.

Except I didn't really say that.
Because the lead fingers were in the way.
And, like I said, things like that usually just roll off.

But if you say this time went quickly, I might hunt you down like an animal.

Hee hee.

No, really.