A Look Back at 2009

2009 has been an interesting year.

We started the year looking at 4 months until Jon left for his year long deployment to Iraq. We really had to think about what was ahead of us for the year. January also began the never ending pre-deployment drill weeks, weekends and eventually a month and a half. I guess you can say that this time was preparing us for the separation. January was a busy month for us.

February was an even busier month. Pastors' Conference was this month - I worked A LOT during this time. Jon was gone during the week of PC for drill (of course) so Jack spent a lot of time with my mom and sister. We moved one month closer to deployment day. We also started planning our vacation for right before Jon left.

March was even crazier than the first two months of the year. Jon had drill from March 15th until April 20th. It was a crazy busy month with work and trying to juggle everything with Jack. Jack started daycare at the first part of March.

April - one month until "D" day. Since Jon was gone during almost all of April it meant that he was not here for the Passion Play. I worked double the hours that I worked during Pastors' Conference. Sometimes I didn't leave until 2 am and was back the next day at 7 am. Once Jon got home we were getting ready for a much needed vacation. We took Jack to Sea World and Disney World for 5 days. It was the best time for the 3 of us. Jack really enjoyed everything.

Then there was the month of May, to start the month off I celebrated my 26th birthday and then Jon and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. After that we had to begin packing all of Jon's stuff so that it could be ready to go to Tallahassee with Jon when he went. It was getting harder and harder for us to be apart. The month went by too quickly - Jon had to be in Tallahassee on the 23rd. The state held a very nice ceremony for his unit at the State Capital with the Governor. The 23rd also began the countdown for when he comes home.

June - the first full month of the deployment but it was also when I got to go to Chicago to see Jon. I was so excited to go. Number 1 - I have always wanted to go to Chicago. Number 2 - I am a HUGE Cubs fan and found out that we would be able to take a tour of Wrigley Field. I wanted to go to a game - they were playing the White Sox at the new field of the White Sox but the series was sold out so I got the next best thing. Number 3 - I was going to get to spend the whole weekend with Jon!!!! Sadly it was the last weekend before he left to go overseas. We had a great time and I was sad to come home.

July - my little munchkin turned 2. I can't believe how fast he is growing up. Jon left to go overseas. He flew from Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin to Shannon, Ireland. From Shannon, Ireland to Kuwait. He spent a few weeks in Kuwait and then left for Iraq.

August - was a quiet month. Jon was in full swing in Iraq. We were able to talk to him on Skype and see how he looked. Jack thought that it was awesome to talk and see his dad on the computer.

September and October were quiet months as well. Jack and I finally settled into a groove of working together as a team. In October, I took Jack trick-or-treating for the first time. He LOVED it - he was Thomas the train.

November began the busy holiday season. It was a very happy time but it was also a very sad time because Jon was not here. Thanksgiving was fantastic and it was good to spend that time with my family.

December has been great. Christmas was fun - Jack was fun this year. He really liked opening his presents. Jon was able to call on Skype and watch Jack open his presents.

2010 is going to be a great year. Happy New Year!!!!