So close......

As the reunion with Joey is literally right around the corner, I am filled with so many different emotions! One of those feelings is disbelief that this not so fun chapter in our lives is just about over!
Thank you God!

But the main emotion I am filled with is pure excitement! I can't wait to have my husband, lover, and my BEST FRIEND back! When I think of seeing him that first time, my heart starts to thump like crazy and my stomach gets all jittery causing the butterflies to go nuts!

There are so many things that I get so excited about when thinking he will be home shortly. Things that I have missed so very much. Even those little things that sometimes get on my nerves, I can't wait to get back!

I have missed:

~his presence to fill the house and make it feel like home
~sitting next to him in the car
~cooking real meals
~eating dinner with him
~enjoying a glass of wine at dinner
~him putting me to bed at night
~sharing a bed with him
~watching him play with Duke
~going out to dinner with him
~his laugh
~his silliness all the time
~watching Sportscenter all the time
~taking walks at night
~going with him on his runs
~shopping for him
~reading in bed with him
~his hugs
~the way he always makes me feel special and loved

AND

~EVERYTHING!!!!!!


But I would be lying if I did not say I was also nervous about him coming home as well! It has been a little over 3.5 months since I have last seen him and a lot has happened since that time. I know I have changed and I am pretty sure he has too, how could he of not. Which is not unusual because everyone changes with time. But most married couples change together, but we have changed separately on completely different continents with limited communication.

So yeah I am nervous! I have a lot to lose! But I also feel like this is normal to have feelings like this.

I also believe in our love and so whenever I begin to feel real nervous I am reassured not only by him, but by his love for me! So whatever happens and no matter how much we may have changed I am confident we will be okay! Because giving up on a love like ours just would be down right silly!

So on Sunday morning when most of the country is sleeping soundly in their beds, I will hopefully be reuniting with the man I love more than anything in this world!
His arms better be ready to catch me as I jump into them!!

Happy 1st Birthday Duke

On June 1st, 2008, Duke's mom Lacey gave birth to 10 little puppies and one of them was our very own Dukey!

Duke is the one all by himself, I had just laid him down. All the dogs with collars are taken, including Duke with his army collar on!

On June 1st, Duke was not even a thought in our minds. Sure we talked about getting a dog, a lab, but not until we were more settled.

At this time in our lives I was ending up another school year and we were preparing for Joey to leave again to go to Washington for about 40 days.

Joey left towards the end of June and a day after he left I sat at my parents house looking at the Sheboygan Press. My whole intention of looking at the press was to look at the classifieds for jobs. I knew I needed something to do to keep me busy while Joey was gone or I would go crazy. I already was having a hard time and it had only been a day that he was gone. Well before I got to the job postings I decided to just check out the animal section of the classifieds. And what do I see....yellow lab puppies for sale! I of course got sidetracked and the job hunting never happened. Instead I got all the information about the puppies for when Joey called. While I was waiting for Joey to call I went into complete research mode in finding out what it would take to bring a dog to Korea, which at the time was where we thought we were going to go after San Antonio.

By the time Joey called I was prepared with all the information and knew I could pretty much handle any questions he would have. He of course was all for this and told me go look at them.

We both knew though that if I went I was going to leave with picking our Duke out. And sure enough that weekend my parents, Katy, and I went to go check out the pups. And after an hour of hanging out with the male pups that were available I picked out Duke. We put his collar on and I put a deposit down. We were now owners of a yellow lab puppy!

I was not able to take him home that day because he was only 5 weeks old and still needed his Mom, so I had 3 weeks to prepare for our little guy!

(The day I picked Duke out!)

I remember the day I picked him up, July 14th. Joey was not home yet and would not be for a couple of weeks. So my mom, Katy, and I went to go get our little guy. I was a bundle of nerves. The moment was bitter sweet because as excited as I was to get Duke, I was also a little sad that Joey was not home to share in this moment with me. But looking back now I realize that being an army wife I might have more moments just like that. Because when everything is all said and done the Army owns Joey and if the country needs him he goes!

Anyways, on the way home Duke fell asleep in my arms. And I was like okay this is going to be easy. Not so much! That night I was up every hour, getting pretty much no sleep at all and Duke was feisty. I of course was so tired and emotional and cried to my mom that I picked out an aggressive dog. Well I was reassured he was just being a puppy. But later that week I went to Petsmart and got Duke signed up for puppy class. Best thing I ever did. Those classes are totally for the owners and they are awesome because I learned so much. And Duke is a great dog now because of those classes! Otherwise I am pretty certain we might have had a Marley on our hands!

(Joey and Duke meet for the first time in the Green Bay Airport parking lot!)

As I am writing this and thinking back to that time, it seems like we have had Duke forever. Hard to picture life before Duke.

I feel in love with Duke the day I picked him out, but never thought I would love him as much as I do. He is truly a blessing to us!

He especially has a special place in my heart because he is always with me! He is my constant companion. I can honestly say that he is a huge part of how I have made it through this deployment. Without him I don't think I could have stayed here in Texas. But because I had him to come home to every night I was able to do it.
And looking back he has gotten me through so much. Including when I first got him, he got me through that time Joey was gone, he got me through our time in San Antonio when Joey was gone a lot, and now through this deployment. Some people may say that we are crazy to love an animal as much as we do but I can bet that those people never had a dog like Duke and never have been through some of the stuff we have. And before we had Duke I probably would of said the same thing. But Duke is a constant companion and loves us no matter what. He brings us so much joy and happiness! Words can't even begin to describe what he means to us and all the happiness he brings us!

So thank you Duke! We love you so much!

Here are some of my favorite pictures of our Duke!

Instant best friends!

Practicing "LEAVE IT"

Duke got a pool to splash around in this summer and he happened to get it around his birthday!!


I honestly believe if humans were just a little more like dogs, who love unconditionally, the world would be a much better place!!

1st group is HOME!!!!

The first group of soldiers from Joey's unit have arrived!!!

On Saturday evening I went to help get all the last minute signs and flags set up for the Welcome Home Ceremony that was held early Sunday morning. Two of the wives that were helping, their husbands were coming home on this flight and they got a phone call from their husbands telling them that they were in Maine and were finally stateside! It was so exciting to hear that and I was just so excited for them. I can't wait for that moment to happen that I see Joey's name pop up on my phone! Something as little as that just gives me butterflies in my stomach!

I was able to go home for a bit in between the setting up and the ceremony. But arrived back at 10:30 pm Saturday night. The soldiers were due to arrive in Killeen at 11:48 and they were right on time! At about that time the D.J. stopped the music and annonced that our loved ones have LANDED!! Everyone started screaming.
It is giving me chills as I am writing this because it was just so EXCITING. It is really hard to find words to explain the feelings and emotions I was feeling. And it wasn't even Joey coming home!

Once they have landed they do all their improcessing and turn in their weapons at the airfield before they come to us. This ended up taking about one and half hours. Than when the D.J. annouced that they had left the airfield and were on their way the anticpation of their arrival just excillated.
And about twenty minutes later we hear "15th STB family and friends here come your loved ones!!"

And than you see all the buses pulling up!

AHHHHHH~I just instantly started crying. It was just such a flow of emotions that words just really can't describe! And it wasn't even Joey on those buses!

Once they were all formed up we were told to yell, "MOVE THE BUSSES" and when they moved there they all were!

They marched forward with the Honor Guard leading them and all I can say is WOW! Words can't even describe the feelings that were going through me.


There were two very short speeches, one given by Col. Phelps who ended his speech with saying, "The only thing standing between your loved one and you is ME and I say GO GET THEM!"
And everyone was off!

Another very emotional moment. I got to just sit back and watch people reunite with their loved ones. It was such a special moment, there are really no words to describe this entire night/morning, except for BEAUTIFUL!

Here are some pics of people reuniting!

Can't wait to reunite with my soldier!!!!!!

It's official!!

Well as of yesterday I received a call from Joey's unit to tell me that Lieutenant Ross is expected to be home the week of June 14th! So I guess I can say it is official (well as official as anything can be when you are dealing with the army) since I have finally heard it from the unit.

Honestly, I can't wait so I can't even begin to imagine how some of the wives are feeling whose husbands have been gone for a lot longer then Joey has! So because I am so excited I have to keep myself even more busy because otherwise all I do is think about it and I get even more excited. But I have to keep reminding myself that I still have a month to go yet.

All I know though is that I hope that the rest of the time goes even faster then it already is. And I know I should not be wishing my life away like this, but without my husband here to share thing with, life is just not the same! Once he comes back then life can move slowly again!

It is not a muzzle!!

This is not a muzzle, it is called a gentle leader. It is to help prevent the dog from pulling. If you see a dog wearing this, don't be afraid because it has nothing to do with the dog being viscous. This will not prevent a dog from biting a person!

This is by far one of the best inventions ever. Because Duke is so strong it is almost impossible for me to walk him without this. And because Duke is so STUBBORN, he still can pull me, but I just have more control.

Duke absolutely hates the gentle leader and usually hides in a corner when he sees me bring it out. While on our walks or runs he attempts several times to get it off, but is not successful. I feel bad about putting it on sometimes, but even though he hates having it on, his tail wags like crazy the entire time we are walking or running.

I am hoping that the older Duke gets, he will put 2 and 2 together and figure out that if he stops pulling he will not have to wear it. But that will probably take awhile especially because he is so stubborn.
Until that happens though he will continue to have to wear this because I don't want to end up with another broken arm from walking a dog! And Duke needs to be exercised to keep him out of trouble!

Grace in Small Things

#1. A busy week at work! Love that because the week just flies by and that brings me one week closer to Joey coming home! We are now under the 50 day mark-Yippee!

#2. Talking to Joey at his brigade via video conference. It was so great to see him, but very diffcult to say good-bye!

#3. We are now in May and I can finally say that Joey will be home next month!! Can't wait!!!!!!!!

#4. Cutting the grass with Duke. He is my little helper and it tires him out because he is running all around! Here is a picture of his paws all grass stained!


#5. Getting up 3 times to run before work! I had a super busy week and was exhausted by the the time Friday came, but very proud of myself for pushing myself to get up!

#6. Thursday night T.V. I love that night and then the next day is Friday!

#7. Going to the Chiropractor. My neck does not feel as tense anymore.

You never know what path life may take you on.....

When I was a little girl, I used to imagine what life for me would be like when I grew up. And I think like most little girls, I used to dream about what it would be like to fall in love and marry that one person that you just absolutely cannot live without! Then the older I got I wondered if that dream would really come true and if there really was that one guy out there for me.

Well at age 25 little did I know that my soul mate would be a guy I happened to be pretty good friends with for awhile. Joey and I met on a church retreat back when I was 17 years old. Little did I know that when I met him, he would be the man of my dreams and the man I marry. I remember having a crush on him then and several other times during our friendship, but never acted on it. I was way to shy. But New Years Eve 2007 was the magical night that we became Joey and Melissa. It just happened, looking back I see now that things were building before that night, but just never wanted to admit it.

Now after being married to him for almost a year and half, looking back at that night still gives me butterflies. I wish I could bottle up that moment forever so that it never fades. That night to me was one of the most perfect nights I have ever had.

What brings this up is that today I got to see Joey for the first time since he has left for Iraq. They offer this video telephone conference to families to help them stay in touch when one is deployed. Well I took full advantage of it this morning. I woke up at 4:30 a.m. just a bundle of nerves just like I was when Joey and I first started dating.

Obviously, things are much different now, we are married but our marriage is not the typical marriage you imagine having when you are a little girl. In the entire three and half years we have been together, we have also been apart quite bit. We of course hate it, but the one positive that being apart brings is that we really end up appreciating each other and what we have. At times in our relationship I know I have taken things for granted. And it wasn't until we were apart for the first time for a good amount of time did I realize this. Now the saying, "you don't know what you have until it's gone," really hits home.

Well this morning, as I waited until it was time for me to leave to go to our meeting, I was just a bundle full of nerves. I was excited, nervous, insecure, and had a stomach full of butterflies at the thought of getting to see him. And when I first saw him he took my breath away and I just started to cry. I knew I missed him without having to see him, but seeing him just made me realize just how much I miss him. It was so great to see him and once my nerves calmed, we had a great 30 minutes. And just like that new years night I wanted to bottle up this moment too.

As I have finally started to adapt to Joey being gone, I have found a routine and so far it is working to help pass my days until he comes back home to me. But, as great as it was to see him, it was also very hard. Seeing him just made me miss him even more if that is possible. And as my morning went on, I could feel myself deflating. It was almost like I was back to ground zero again, trying to figure out how to go on without him here with me. And honestly, today I did not do a very good job of staying strong, today I hid. Until tonight I just got sick of myself and decided that I was not being fair to Duke. So as hard as it was, I got myself out of my P.J's put on some workout cloths and took Duke to this school by our house to play fetch in the huge field. It felt great because he was just so excited, which made me realize why I have to be strong because not only does Joey need me, but so does Duke. Everyday is a struggle and this is by far one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I will keep on fighting. Because everyday that passes is one day closer to Joey returning home.

So back to being a little girl and dreaming of the man I would marry someday and the life we would live. I can honestly say I never imagined I would be living the life I am, but Joey is just the man I hoped and dreamed I would marry someday. Now this next month and half needs just just hurry on by so I can get the man of my dreams back home where he belongs!