Bahrain Updates (Fall Edition)

I just realized that there are updates on Josh and I haven’t shared them. There’s a lot he can’t tell me and there’s a lot I can’t post here. But I’ll give you a general update. 

After months of working on their boat while it was in dry dock, they are finally operational! That means Josh is finally able to do the job he went all the way over there to do. But it also means that he will be gone for quite a while. So we are no longer able to Skype with his as often as before. He can still access his Coast Guard email though, so we’re not completely cut off.

Even though I wasn't expecting to see his face for several weeks, they pulled in a few days ago and we were able to Skype for a little bit. On a funny side note, I thought I was going to witness something spectacular during that call…

While we were talking, he was outside on the docks and many of his crew was “behind me” playing beach volleyball. The game kind of sounded like a party and then the music started. Pretty soon I was hearing “Call Me Maybe.” I had this vision of the entire volleyball game breaking into one of those lip-syncing dances that invaded the internet all summer long. Not having been in this country all summer, Josh thought I was losing my mind. He even turned the computer back around to prove to me that no one broke into song and dance just because that song came on. I can’t lie, it was a little disappointing. I thought I was about to see something highly entertaining happen. Oh well.

Josh hasn't gotten his leave officially approved yet, but he request dates for his R&R. If all goes well, Josh will have a very cold Christmas this year. At least there will be a little 2-yr old keeping him on his toes.

A Quick Bahrain Recap

I know it’s been forever since I wrote anything – this summer has been complete madness. Even though we’ve all been very busy, Dylan and I have been talking to Josh as often as possible. Lately, he has been putting in ridiculous work hours to help get his boat in working order. Between our busy summer, Josh’s work schedule, and the 8 hour time difference, it has been challenging. But we manage to Skype 2-3 times a week.

But don’t think that Josh is only working and not having any fun. 

He (not surprisingly) has joined up playing on a Softball team. I’m not sure how those guys tolerate sweating all day in their uniforms and then voluntarily going back out there in the evenings to sweat some more. I guess the playoffs started this week, so I'm sure they're having fun.

He has also purchased a bike for getting around over there. It's a must faster commute to the base from his apartment. He’s also gone on some day trips with some friends.

He's even getting some travel time. He headed to Kuwait on a 4-day trip last month.

On a fun side note, Josh has been enjoying the local cuisine. 

About a week before he was deployed, we went to see The Avengers. If you stayed until the very end and saw the clip after the credits, you saw the Shwarma scene. A Shawarma is a fast-food staple in the Middle East. I told him that he had to take a photo of his first one once he got over there.

While he was in his hotel room during his first week there he took the photo for me. Yay!

We Survived Week One of PDT!

It’s official. Josh is away at school and we won’t see him until sometime in May. Right now he is at Pre-Deployment Training (which lasts about two months). After that he has two more schools (one in VA and one in CA). Even though he is going to have a brief stop here in GA between those schools, we decided that Dylan and I would move in a couple weeks anyway. It will be really nice for us to be around family while he’s gone. And that way, we will be completely settled into our new house by the time he gets to Illinois in May. We will be able to relax and enjoy our time together instead of trying to unpack and organize.

"I'm gonna stop him from packing!"

Josh left about a week ago and we already miss him like crazy. The day before Josh started packing his suitcase that he’s going to live out of for the next four months, Dylan came into our bedroom with his book and plopped down on top of the suitcase. I’m pretty sure he was thinking, “If I just sit here, Daddy won’t be able to pack and leave for Pre-Deployment School!” Unfortunately, his plan didn’t work and Josh still had to leave.

Dylan's Progress Report: I’m not sure why it worked out this way, but this week has been a huge week for Dylan. Just like everyone told me it would happen - he has decided that it’s time to start talking. When Josh left, Dylan had about 8 or 9 words. Now, we are adding a few every day. The big thing in the last couple days is animal sounds. Josh had been doing animal sounds with Dylan for a while, but Dylan just wasn't repeating. The other day I was telling him animal names out of his book and when I said Monkey he did the sound. Right now, our pile of sounds includes monkey, dog, cow, and lion. His words are Mom, Daddy, yes, dog, duck, cat, sock, car, teddy, and chewy (I feel like there’s more, but I’m drawing a blank right now). Today we were working on saying the letters D and S (his initials). He also shakes and nods his head and uses sign language for Eat and More. I’m a proud Mama!

We’ve been trying to keep busy here now that Josh is away. I feel like I’m being productive, but I’m not seeing the results that I want, so I’m a little frustrated. I guess I’ve got to just keep with it. I’ve been trying to organize our house for the move, throw things out, and get car loads of stuff to Goodwill. Once the house starts looking move-ready I think I’ll feel better.

Making Valentine's Day cards

Our lifesavers have been the Runnels Family. Katie is always letting me gab with her when I need a distraction, Elleah’s loving all the playdates, and TJ doesn’t complain with all of the Anika & Dylan time. They even had us over a few days ago so the kids could make Valentine’s Day cards. The greatest survival tool a military wife has are good friends. And I have amazing ones. On that note, I’m also grateful to Colleen and Jonathan for calling me all the time. They make my heart happy, and I need that. I am blessed in the friend department.

Josh moved locations today. His first week was a class and now he’s getting into the “fun” stuff that he’s been looking forward to. The good news is that he has better internet now, so I’m hoping we can Skype soon and Dylan can see his Daddy.

We survived our first week apart (of many). I told Colleen that I was a little sad that Josh was missing these new things Dylan was saying, but I was going to have to get used to it. She said, “Just frequently remind him he is not only ‘missing it’ to better your family, but all American families!” See why my friends are amazing?

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we adjust to our new lifestyle. Thank goodness I have such an incredible husband who is totally worth it.

Josh's Orders

Orders are in, so it’s time to put the word out. This announcement is a bit delayed because, as Josh put it, “it’s still so far away!“ But it’s about time to put the word out, I think. We already told our close family and friends, so anyone reading this probably already knows, but here is more detail anyway. Although Josh didn’t get his official orders until last month, we have been operating under the knowledge of his future location for a while now.

The acronym for Josh’s future is PATFORSWA (Patrol Forces Southwest Asia). He is going to be assigned to USCGC Wrangell in Bahrain for 12 months starting next summer.

A couple years after Josh and I got married, one of my close friends said to me, “Anika, I always knew you were going to be a military wife.” I paused for a moment and then smiled and nodded saying, “I get that.” I’m not sure why he always thought that, but I understood it. I didn’t know how I was going to get here, but it doesn’t surprise me at all.

It is so hard to explain to people why I am excited for my husband. How do you tell people that you are happy that your husband volunteered and has been selected to serve overseas for an entire year? Maybe “happy” isn’t the right word. Maybe it’s just that I get it. I support him in his decision, and I am so proud to be married to a man that wants to serve his country.

How can I not be supportive, when he is serving such an amazing country? It may not be a perfect country. Our economy has been through the ringer, and sometimes I want to put most of our bickering politicians though the ringer…but I am so proud to be an American. I am so proud that my son will grow up as an American. I am the woman who gets teary-eyed during the National Anthem, who feels a sense of pride when I see my 1-yr old waving an American Flag, who is a huge sucker for all of those sappy shows on TV about American Pride. I love my country. And I love my husband for serving our country.

Josh played all of his cards right to get my support for this overseas tour. He told me about this opportunity about four years ago. And then about a year later, we told our families. So there has been plenty of time to prepare our hearts and minds to this possibility. Not that I am ever going to be completely, 100%, ready for him to leave for a year, but I think I am as mentally and emotionally prepared as I am ever going to be.

Between now and when he reports to his ship next summer, Josh has 3 schools of varying lengths (He already completed one 2 week school in October), and 2 months of Pre-Deployment Training he will need to attend. So, even though he isn’t leaving the country for several months, he is still going to be gone…a lot!

Over the next several months, this website will most likely evolve to a “Survival while Separated” blog and will be a connection to my distant husband. Not only will it keep everyone up-to-date with all of the latest news from me and from Josh overseas, but it will also be an easy way for Josh to have an every day update on his family back home. I apologize in advance if I start to post more mundane updates and simple photos…but I want Josh to feel included and be updated on everything even from across the world.

So that’s the news! Congratulate Josh…and wish me luck!