My mom will tell you that I’m impatient and impulsive and that there’s always something I just can’t wait for. And you know what? She’s right. It’s true, and this Army life has definitely made me lean on that mentality a little bit more as a crutch, simply because these times are hard, and we’re in the thick of it right now. We’re trucking along, and the days are ticking by, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t setting little milestones in my head of things I can’t wait for, or things we’re going to do sooner than later.
Each of those little milestones and landmarks is a way we forge ahead to keep the deployment going smoothly. They give me something to talk to my boys about and get excited for, and it gives them something to count down to because, sometimes, a deployment countdown is just a little too long for them to process and truly understand. So, this Friday, here are five things we just can’t wait for.
1 // Our Memorial Day Tradition
Last year, Ryan and I started a tradition with the boys back at Fort Drum. In addition to the traditional barbecue and lazy spring day vibe, we packed up the boys and a few dozen flowers, and we went to our local Black River cemetery to honor the fallen. The boys were a little too young to understand, and they may still be too young to truly understand this year, but I’m excited to keep the tradition alive.
2 // Trips to the Beach
The boys got their first experience of the Pacific Ocean in December when Ryan and I took them to Westport Light State Park. It was obviously too cold for them to dip their toes in the water, but they got to see the vastness of the ocean that consistently inspires and delights this swammer heart. I mentioned on our PNW bucket list that I can’t wait to visit Ruby Beach. I’m secretly hoping that’s in the cards for us sooner than later.
3 // A Visit to New Jersey
Ryan and I made the collective decision that I would pack up the kiddos in late September and head to New Jersey for a Rosh Hashanah celebration with my brother-in-law’s family. Though we’re not Jewish, it’s the perfect time to see my sisters and their husbands, as well as our family and friends. It’ll be an ordeal flying solo with three, but it’s exciting to think about seeing everyone!
4 // Porter’s Third Birthday
This one is coming up soon! Porter will be three on June 9th, and I can’t wait to celebrate this little guy and shower him with so much love. He’s such a goon, and he has a stubborn will a million miles wide, but I can’t imagine life without him in it. Last year, we celebrated his birthday somewhere in South Dakota. This year, we’ll be home and celebrating him here while Daddy celebrates him from afar.
5 // Homecoming
Honestly, this is the biggest thing we can’t wait for. It takes so much struggle and sacrifice to get to this point, but this is the big one. Ryan will be home in the very late fall, and we can’t wait to have him back with us. We’re nearing deployment hump day (for those unfamiliar – that’s the halfway mark), and I can’t wait to really feel like we’re ticking those days away towards our homecoming.
So, yes, there are a lot of things I can’t wait for…and there are also a lot of things I’m excited to do along the way. I like to think of it as the best of both worlds. While I’m still opting for simplicity more than anything else, I’m also getting a little more bold as the days tick by. Spring has only just begun to show its beautiful face, and I can only imagine how fun this summer is going to be. Cheers to a long weekend!
