There is a part of me that wanted the deployment to start so that we could get it over with, but then the other part was breaking knowing what was ahead.
When we moved to GA I knew J was leaving but there were so many changes and I let a tiny bit of hope slip in that something would work out where he would be able to stay. Obviously that didn't happen but we feel like this separation was at as good a time as this type of things can ever happen and we had prepped the kids (Clayton) for it, we were ready.
J left March 2 from the airport in Atlanta. It was so different from last time. There was no rally point, no weapons draw, no bus and no group of families feeling the same way I was. Instead it felt like he was going on trip, he left with a few bags and no weapon, he was the only one and I had my family and J's family there to support me.
If you have ever gone through a deployment or something like this you know the few hours before is the worst! I didn't want to feel to much to soon. I wanted to act as normal as possible and show J and the kids I totally had it together.
While I didn't plan on the word "change" to be behind us in these pictures I think it was very fitting.
Today we are right at 300 days left and while that still is a really hard number to swallow I try to focus on the fact that everyday we get through is one day closer to this being over.
