The school's administration has had such support throughout the deployment; I want to thank everyone who has helped me, before I graduate. They've exempted the students with military personnel deploying, a few times. These days included the family picnic, the activation ceremony, and now they are exempting my brother and I the day Alan comes home. I have so much to thank them for, and this is only the beginning. The faculty is awesome, and I've realized that no matter what you're going through they're there.
Though they may not know how it feels to go through something like this, they're willing to sit there and listen. Sometimes this is what these students need; someone to sit there and listen so they can let bottled up feeling out.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Exitement
I will be missing school in a few weeks so I can be at the airport when my brother comes home for his two weeks!! I am extremely excited, and so is he! We've been talking about his coming home for awhile now, and we've decided we're taking the bikes up in the hills with all of our friends. It shall be a great time riding in the hills with everyone!
The thing I'm not looking forward to, though, is saying goodbye for the second time in one year. At least next time he comes home it will be for good! :)
The thing I'm not looking forward to, though, is saying goodbye for the second time in one year. At least next time he comes home it will be for good! :)
Monday, March 26, 2012
22 Years
On this day 22 years ago, a person I love more than anything was born. He is my brother and my absolute best friend. No one will ever compare to him. He is one of the most amazing people I have ever known!! I sent him a care package a few weeks ago, and he got it today! He had something to open for his birthday, and of course half of it is gone already. Haha. This morning I sent him the "Happy Birthday Song" in a text, since I couldn't sing it to him; I revised it a bit for him though. He really liked it.
Birthdays and holidays are hard to go through, when your loved one is not near. They make you miss your loved one a little bit more. I shall be seeing him soon though, so we will just have to celebrate it then! :) He will be home for good a few weeks after my birthday, so I guess I'll have to go out and celebrate it with him, when he gets home!! (: I cannot wait. No one, besides my brother and I, will ever understand just how happy I will be once he gets home.
Birthdays and holidays are hard to go through, when your loved one is not near. They make you miss your loved one a little bit more. I shall be seeing him soon though, so we will just have to celebrate it then! :) He will be home for good a few weeks after my birthday, so I guess I'll have to go out and celebrate it with him, when he gets home!! (: I cannot wait. No one, besides my brother and I, will ever understand just how happy I will be once he gets home.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Coming Home
Some of the troops, in my brother's company, are actually coming home for good. They are doing this for health reasons, and for some other reasons. A good friend of my brother's just came home about a week ago. I think it's pretty awesome; he is like a brother to me. I have known him my whole life. If I need to go to anyone for any type of support, I know I can always go to him. (: It's very comforting at times!!
I only wish that my brother and my brother-in-law could be some of the troops coming home for good. They both come home, at different times, within the next few months. I can't exactly say when, though, because it is against the speculations. Though we will see them soon, it's still hard because we know that we have limited time with them and that they have to go back for about 6 more months. We will have to say our goodbyes/see you soons for a second time, and goodbyes/see you soons are not my specialty. I hate saying goodbye/see you in September more than anything, especially to my brother. You can only hope and pray that nothing goes wrong, once they go back for the remainder of the time.
I only wish that my brother and my brother-in-law could be some of the troops coming home for good. They both come home, at different times, within the next few months. I can't exactly say when, though, because it is against the speculations. Though we will see them soon, it's still hard because we know that we have limited time with them and that they have to go back for about 6 more months. We will have to say our goodbyes/see you soons for a second time, and goodbyes/see you soons are not my specialty. I hate saying goodbye/see you in September more than anything, especially to my brother. You can only hope and pray that nothing goes wrong, once they go back for the remainder of the time.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Care Packages
Soldiers cannot always get what they need, because they may not have a commissary near them. Care packages are filled with items that they need or with some of their favorite foods/candy/pictures..ect. In order to send them off, you have to fill out a customs form...which can be very complicating if you have never filled one out before. Everything takes a week or two to get over to them, but they may not be at their base when it arrives. They are rarely lost in the mailing system, which is completely astonishing. I mean, how can you send something half way across the world and actually get it to the person it is meant for?! The mailing system is pretty awesome, if I must say so myself.
Just today I sent my brother a care package. It consumed jerky, skittles(regular and sour), sour patch kids, tiny gummie bears, peanut butter/chocolate chip cookies, homemade chex mix, a letter, and a "brother" birthday card. This makes the soldiers happier and feel loved. It proves to them that they are missed and cared about.
Just today I sent my brother a care package. It consumed jerky, skittles(regular and sour), sour patch kids, tiny gummie bears, peanut butter/chocolate chip cookies, homemade chex mix, a letter, and a "brother" birthday card. This makes the soldiers happier and feel loved. It proves to them that they are missed and cared about.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Texts From His Ipod
I love it when my brother's name shows up on my phone. It is a feeling of relief. There are times that you cannot contact the troops and they cannot contact you, it's hard. You never know if they are okay, or what kind of situation they are in over there..and you begin to worry. So when you get that phone call/text/email/letter your heart starts up again because you know that they are still alive, and somehow with their words you can tell if they are okay or if something is wrong.
This weekend my brother was able to contact me. I dropped everything I was doing and left the room filled with my friends so I could just sit and text him. No one else mattered at that point. He asked me how in the world I got my dad to let me drive my car to Denver, because normally he would not do that. I just told him I asked and he said that he can't really stop me since I am 18. Maybe I should have wrote that down and made him sign it..haha. He was very impressed with me because I didn't get lost. To be honest, I was proud of myself too...because I get lost very easily. Before he had to leave again he said, "Road trips are fun, enjoy every second of it. I love you."
Words cannot explain how much I miss him.
This weekend my brother was able to contact me. I dropped everything I was doing and left the room filled with my friends so I could just sit and text him. No one else mattered at that point. He asked me how in the world I got my dad to let me drive my car to Denver, because normally he would not do that. I just told him I asked and he said that he can't really stop me since I am 18. Maybe I should have wrote that down and made him sign it..haha. He was very impressed with me because I didn't get lost. To be honest, I was proud of myself too...because I get lost very easily. Before he had to leave again he said, "Road trips are fun, enjoy every second of it. I love you."
Words cannot explain how much I miss him.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
It's Tough
I haven't been ableto talk to Alan much this past month. I'm not sure where he is at in Afghanistan, which is pretty upsetting. I hate not knowing if he is in a safe place or not. All I have to do though, is pray that he will be okay!
Hopefully I get to talk to him soon!!! (:
Hopefully I get to talk to him soon!!! (:
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Relationships
Not only is my brother always here for me, but I am also always here for him. In the past few months he has helped me get over a relationship, and I've helped him get over one. Neither of the people we dated were obviously not the right ones for us. Break-ups always suck, and even though we are so far apart from each other right now...we still help each other through them. It's amazing how much talking about them with someone you trust can help, even if they can't give you that comforting hug you need at the end of the conversation. We just do a phone/text hug; it's not the same, but I can somehow feel him putting his arms around me and squeezing me to death like he would normally do.
A few days ago, he contacted me on facebook and asked me to do him a huge favor...which of course I was going to say yes. I would do anything for him. As a result from the favor, I have been in-between calling a flower shop in Oregon...and getting information back from him, and giving it back to them. It's a long drawn out process, when someone is overseas and when we are all in different time zones. We are an hour ahead of Oregon, and he is 11 and 1/2 hours ahead of us. So, normally they're closed when he is awake...or we just have a bad connection when we are all available. One of the hardest things to do, but we are getting through this together! :) You really have to love someone to take your time away from everything and just focus on doing one thing for them; one thing they appreciate more than anything!! I am glad that he chose me to do this for him, instead of someone else in our family. It really shows that he trusts me, and I am glad that he can!
So, like I have said before...your brother is someone who will ALWAYS be here for you; physically, mentally, and emotionally. :)
A few days ago, he contacted me on facebook and asked me to do him a huge favor...which of course I was going to say yes. I would do anything for him. As a result from the favor, I have been in-between calling a flower shop in Oregon...and getting information back from him, and giving it back to them. It's a long drawn out process, when someone is overseas and when we are all in different time zones. We are an hour ahead of Oregon, and he is 11 and 1/2 hours ahead of us. So, normally they're closed when he is awake...or we just have a bad connection when we are all available. One of the hardest things to do, but we are getting through this together! :) You really have to love someone to take your time away from everything and just focus on doing one thing for them; one thing they appreciate more than anything!! I am glad that he chose me to do this for him, instead of someone else in our family. It really shows that he trusts me, and I am glad that he can!
So, like I have said before...your brother is someone who will ALWAYS be here for you; physically, mentally, and emotionally. :)
Monday, January 30, 2012
He Is Always Here, Even If He's Not.
Even though my brother may not be here in person, he is here in my heart. I have needed my brother a lot lately. He is always willing to talk and let me get things off my mind, and I am willing to do the same for him. If something is bothering me, he can instantly tell and asks me what is the matter. I really like the connection we have with each other. This last week I was having a tough time, and he told me to learn a song on piano for him, so I could get my mind off of everything else. He knows just how to get my things off my mind.
You can always have an everlasting relationship with your brother. He is someone that will always be there for you, when everyone else walks away. He is someone that will love you unconditionally, and forgive you for your mistakes. He will be there to catch you when you fall, and most importantly he will always have your back. :) It's comforting to know that he will be here to support me while he is about 7,355.9 miles away.
You can always have an everlasting relationship with your brother. He is someone that will always be there for you, when everyone else walks away. He is someone that will love you unconditionally, and forgive you for your mistakes. He will be there to catch you when you fall, and most importantly he will always have your back. :) It's comforting to know that he will be here to support me while he is about 7,355.9 miles away.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Leading Up To Deployment
My brother took a year off of school before he deployed. I liked that choice, because we got to spend more time together. Last summer he took me shopping, and we went on drives a lot. It was great quality time together. We talked, a lot! This was the best summer of my life, so far!
My grandpa came up last summer, and he got to see my brother as well! This was a very important time for both of them. When Alan was on his way to see our grandpa, the first night, he kind of ran into some problems. He blew up the engine in his 2000 Cobra Mustang. I guess you could say he was pretty angry! I ended up going to pick him up, but I didn't mind it at all! :) It was just more bonding time!
The summer began to go by fast, and it dawned on me that he was leaving soon. I had my 18th birthday before he left, and we spent the whole night hanging out. It was just my brother, his friend, and me. That was probably the best birthday that I have ever had. Two weeks after my birthday, he deployed. It was one of the hardest things to go through. I took two days off from school that week, to spend time with him and our family. The school exempted us from those two days, which was really sweet of them! That meant a lot to me.
He deployed on Friday September 23, 2011. I went to the Young Center, in Spearfish, and said a "see you later" to him. They got on the busses and sat for about a half hour. They all say, "with the army, it's just hurry up...and wait". I can see where they get that from. It was very hard for them. They looked out the window, and just saw family members in tears...all of us holding on to each other. The busses finally departed on their parade route, and even though we weren't supposed to follow the busses we did!
The three charter busses departed from the Young Center, went through Spearfish and Sturgis, and out to the airport. The family members that broke the rules, and followed the bus got to see them one last time before they left. This was the hardest part. We were on opposite sides of the fence, but we could put our hands through the holes and hold theirs. I put my arms through the fence and gave him a huge hug and said our final see you later, for that day. They began to line up to the plane, and eventually all of them were on. We waved to them, and they waved back. The absolute hardest thing to watch was the plane taking off, because you knew that they weren't coming back then; you knew they were off for the year-long deployment. I miss my brother, but I will be seeing him again soon! I can't wait.
My grandpa came up last summer, and he got to see my brother as well! This was a very important time for both of them. When Alan was on his way to see our grandpa, the first night, he kind of ran into some problems. He blew up the engine in his 2000 Cobra Mustang. I guess you could say he was pretty angry! I ended up going to pick him up, but I didn't mind it at all! :) It was just more bonding time!
The summer began to go by fast, and it dawned on me that he was leaving soon. I had my 18th birthday before he left, and we spent the whole night hanging out. It was just my brother, his friend, and me. That was probably the best birthday that I have ever had. Two weeks after my birthday, he deployed. It was one of the hardest things to go through. I took two days off from school that week, to spend time with him and our family. The school exempted us from those two days, which was really sweet of them! That meant a lot to me.
He deployed on Friday September 23, 2011. I went to the Young Center, in Spearfish, and said a "see you later" to him. They got on the busses and sat for about a half hour. They all say, "with the army, it's just hurry up...and wait". I can see where they get that from. It was very hard for them. They looked out the window, and just saw family members in tears...all of us holding on to each other. The busses finally departed on their parade route, and even though we weren't supposed to follow the busses we did!
The three charter busses departed from the Young Center, went through Spearfish and Sturgis, and out to the airport. The family members that broke the rules, and followed the bus got to see them one last time before they left. This was the hardest part. We were on opposite sides of the fence, but we could put our hands through the holes and hold theirs. I put my arms through the fence and gave him a huge hug and said our final see you later, for that day. They began to line up to the plane, and eventually all of them were on. We waved to them, and they waved back. The absolute hardest thing to watch was the plane taking off, because you knew that they weren't coming back then; you knew they were off for the year-long deployment. I miss my brother, but I will be seeing him again soon! I can't wait.
Monday, January 16, 2012
My Brother and I
I guess I should probably explain the relationship between my brother and I. He was born three years before me, but we have been very close ever since I was brought in to the world. My favorite baby picture even includes him. It is a picture of him holding me while I was asleep. I may upload a picture of it so you can see! I would have to say it is pretty adorable. :) He and I have been through a lot together! I have looked up to him, ever since I was a little girl. So, here goes my story.
He has helped me get through many things; the biggest being our parents divorce. We went to the same elementary school, and went to the counselor every day together. It helped us both a lot, knowing we could talk to her together. I think it made it a little less scary for us. I don't think he liked it somedays, because if I got upset I would throw my stress ball and hit him with it. He always got me back though. It was really hard on me when he left the school.
Outside of school we would ride bikes together, play football, and he taught me how to skateboard. I never got the hang of skating, but it was fun while it lasted. One day, all of us neighbor kids were racing our bikes around the block...and with me being the only girl, they were letting me win. I ended up looking behind me to see how far ahead I was, and ran into a parked pick-up. It was not very fun, but my brother was very helpful and got me home so I could get my foot wrapped up. I learned a lesson that day; always wear shoes when riding a bike. Another time, he was playing football at a friends and I was just sitting there watching. He ended up stepping in a hole and breaking his foot. Being his little sister, I was freaking out. I did help him get home though! :)
The year after we moved to Belle Fourche, we got robbed. I never wanted to go into the basement alone after that. I was scared to death that someone would be down there and take me away. He always went down there with me, no matter what he was doing, and it meant a lot. He ended up helping me conquer my fear of basements, and now I don't think they are as scary!
He has been here for me, more than anyone in my life has. I am greatful to have such an amazing older brother to help me through life. I couldn't ask for a better brother to share my memories with, and even if I could...I wouldn't. I mean, my little brother is pretty great...but he will never stand a chance with my older brother. :)
Thinking about all of these memories helps me with his deployment. If I am upset, I can just think of them and it eventually boosts my mood. We talk about a lot of them, too, which I think helps him get through tough times over there as well! We have such a great connection, and no one could ever tear us apart. I can't wait until he comes home, so we can make more ever-lasting memories together. I am honored to be his little sister!! :)
He has helped me get through many things; the biggest being our parents divorce. We went to the same elementary school, and went to the counselor every day together. It helped us both a lot, knowing we could talk to her together. I think it made it a little less scary for us. I don't think he liked it somedays, because if I got upset I would throw my stress ball and hit him with it. He always got me back though. It was really hard on me when he left the school.
Outside of school we would ride bikes together, play football, and he taught me how to skateboard. I never got the hang of skating, but it was fun while it lasted. One day, all of us neighbor kids were racing our bikes around the block...and with me being the only girl, they were letting me win. I ended up looking behind me to see how far ahead I was, and ran into a parked pick-up. It was not very fun, but my brother was very helpful and got me home so I could get my foot wrapped up. I learned a lesson that day; always wear shoes when riding a bike. Another time, he was playing football at a friends and I was just sitting there watching. He ended up stepping in a hole and breaking his foot. Being his little sister, I was freaking out. I did help him get home though! :)
The year after we moved to Belle Fourche, we got robbed. I never wanted to go into the basement alone after that. I was scared to death that someone would be down there and take me away. He always went down there with me, no matter what he was doing, and it meant a lot. He ended up helping me conquer my fear of basements, and now I don't think they are as scary!
He has been here for me, more than anyone in my life has. I am greatful to have such an amazing older brother to help me through life. I couldn't ask for a better brother to share my memories with, and even if I could...I wouldn't. I mean, my little brother is pretty great...but he will never stand a chance with my older brother. :)
Thinking about all of these memories helps me with his deployment. If I am upset, I can just think of them and it eventually boosts my mood. We talk about a lot of them, too, which I think helps him get through tough times over there as well! We have such a great connection, and no one could ever tear us apart. I can't wait until he comes home, so we can make more ever-lasting memories together. I am honored to be his little sister!! :)
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
How We Talk
My big brother deployed last September. It was very hard seeing him leave knowing he wouldn't always be in the safest place. It is still hard on me, but we are making it through this together! Many people from around the area have loved ones serving overseas with my brother. It helps knowing someone else with a loved one that's away, because you can actually understand what they are going through. It is very hard talking to someone without a loved one gone, because they just don't understand.
My brother and I are able to communicate in a few different ways! We have written letters back and forth, and they mean a lot to both of us! Today we used facebook chat, while I was at the doctor. It sucks that he can't call all the time but when he does it's special; it means so much to me! I got the first phone call from him last semester during my abc class, and my teacher let me leave the room to talk to him. The only thing she told me to do was tell him "hello", for her. The holidays began to creep upon us. Christmas Day was hard, because he wasn't there. It didn't feel much like Christmas to my family, with him and my brother-in-law being deployed. The best part of the day, though, was being able to see him on Skype! It's quite amazing how far away someone can be, and because of the technology today you can still interact with them!
Talking to my brother is very hard though, and I think it's just because he is so far away. I know he can't tell us a lot of things, and maybe that is for the best; I don't worry as much this way. I am just glad that we do get to talk from time to time. It boosts my mood when I'm feeling down. I love my brother so much, and I can't wait for him to come home!
My brother and I are able to communicate in a few different ways! We have written letters back and forth, and they mean a lot to both of us! Today we used facebook chat, while I was at the doctor. It sucks that he can't call all the time but when he does it's special; it means so much to me! I got the first phone call from him last semester during my abc class, and my teacher let me leave the room to talk to him. The only thing she told me to do was tell him "hello", for her. The holidays began to creep upon us. Christmas Day was hard, because he wasn't there. It didn't feel much like Christmas to my family, with him and my brother-in-law being deployed. The best part of the day, though, was being able to see him on Skype! It's quite amazing how far away someone can be, and because of the technology today you can still interact with them!
Talking to my brother is very hard though, and I think it's just because he is so far away. I know he can't tell us a lot of things, and maybe that is for the best; I don't worry as much this way. I am just glad that we do get to talk from time to time. It boosts my mood when I'm feeling down. I love my brother so much, and I can't wait for him to come home!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
A Brother Deployed
This is my first blog, so I am not sure how it will turn out. The topic I have chosen to write about for the next few weeks is deployment. I think I am qualified to write about this since I have family members who are deployed, and I know what deployment feels like. This may be a touchy subject for me but it helps to talk about it sometimes, rather than holding all of the feelings inside of me.
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