We were very fortunate to make it home for Christmas just before Dallas left for deployment and had a fabulous time visiting with family and friends. It was hard to believe we had been gone for a whole year already! Wow how time flys. We tried to make the most of our 10 days in AZ but it just wasn't long enough and we miss everyone so much already. We are hoping we can both make it out again soon.
Dallas will be back home in less than two weeks!!!! Bubba and I are super excited and have been doing our best to prepare for his return (well okay let's be honest... Bubba's a bit of a mamas boy and may not be too happy about giving dad
his spot on the bed back but I'm sure he'll adjust just fine once he gets here). The deployments here in Hawaii come more frequently than what Dallas is used to so it's been a bit tough. As it stands now, he will be gone at least 4-6 months out of every year. Unfortunately he'll only be home for about 4months this time around and then back out again for about 7. That's not a normal schedule of course but his ship has to cover for another ship that sustained some serious damage when it ran aground just off of the coast here in Hawaii. Not the best scenario when you just want to lay back and enjoy the island life but it's what we signed up for so for now we just roll with the punches.I've been trying hard to keep busy during deployment. We've been lucky enough to make some good friends in the short time we've been here so I've had a support system and feel truly blessed. Unfortunately in true military fashion they're all leaving the island soon onto new adventures of their own. We will be so sad to see them go but are excited to continue meeting new, interesting people that hopefully we can soon call friends. I've been working full time since September and have joined our command FRG (family readiness group). The FRG is comprised of volunteer spouses who
arrange funtions for families to come together and support each other while our spouses are out working hard to keep our great country safe. We also arrange fundraisers for the ship and organize homecoming. It's a lot of work at times but very rewarding to know I am contributing to something that his helping the ship and other military families during this difficult time.Now, anyone who knows my husband knows he doesn't really care for change. Especially, when it comes in the form of a woman's hair whether it be his mother's, grandmother's, sister's or wife's. Well one night last week I got a wild hair and being the submissive wife that I am, I put that theory to the test. Of course given this was my very first time dying my hair ever, the worst happened. The rich chocolate brown color I was opting for somehow came out jet black. Not my most flattering color might I add but I had another ingenious idea up my sleeve (ingenious is open to interpretation here of course). I decided to try to strip out the horrible black color and redye. The result??? Leopard spots in three different colors ranging from black to bozo the clown orange. By the time I got to the salon on day three I was told by the stylists that people like me were the reason they stay in business. (didn't I feel special) The stylist thankfully got me to looking like a human again and I even kinda like the new color. Now comes the real test. The look on my husbands face when he comes off the ship and gets a gander of it himself. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that if he's learned anything from me in these last four years, it's the ability to lie like a pro when it really counts.
So, on a more serious note. Paradise is great! We miss each other and all of our family very much but are taking it one day at a time. We hope everyone is well and can't wait to see some of you here in Hawaii soon.
P.S. did I mention we have a guest room? Now all we need is some guests to occupy it....
