WHAT A DAY!

So on top of my stressful 10:00-10:00 work schedule today, I got some not so exciting news. It's final. It's happening whether I like it or not. Derrick will be deploying in November and it's killing me just thinking about it. I knew this was coming, from the beginning I was prepared for it, but not a month out of his training. Not this soon. My time with him has already been very limited since the beginning of May, and now they are taking him again for about 10 months. UGH! The worst part of it all, when I'm away at training, I have nobody to write me letters, nobody to make phone calls home to, nobody to even write to. It's the worst timing but I know in the end I will be thankful. If everything works out right, by the time I get out of AIT, he should be home within the next month. Now if only March will hurry up and get here...... :(

"Distance is not for the fearful, it is for the bold. It's for those who are willing to spend a lot of time alone in exchange for a little time with the one they love. It's for those knowing a good thing when they see it, even if they don't see it nearly enough..."

As much complaining and moping and crying I may do in the process, 

all I really have to say is one thing..

We are going to kick this deployment in it's ASS!

Every day is a blessing,

It's been a very exciting day, just to say the least! As horrible as waking up at 4:00 a.m. this morning was, I know 110% that it will be worth it in the long run. As of 1:00 today, I am now enlisted into the United States Army! Although I've felt very alone in the process, I know that my family stands behind me in their own individual ways and that's what means the most. I thank God every day for the life I have been given and for the people who have been placed into it. I have no idea where I would be standing today if it weren't for the people that I do have. I don't always show it the way I should, but a lot is about to start changing for the better!

Even more exciting news, Derrick and I have decided to get our first apartment together! We found one of the best deals on a beautiful complex and I'm more then excited to get the show on the road! Our move-in date is scheduled for this Saturday, on the 1st. The only problem? I'm in Georgia. I haven't even started packing and I'm already stressed to the max! First things first, I'm working on transferring to a restaurant up there just to make sure I have a guaranteed job. As soon as that gets worked out, I will be on my way to North Carolina! :)

As stressful and how nerve-wrecking things are going right now, I wouldn't change it for the world. This is what I've been waiting for and I'm going to make the best of it. I have no doubt that things will eventually fall into place, but each day is just a stepping stone. What ever the future may hold for Derrick and I, I am so very excited!

Another day, another good-bye

I woke up bright and early this morning to go get some breakfast with Derrick before he left for South Carolina. It was a easy, yet sad goodbye. Easy because I know I will see him again soon, but sad because I've gotten back into the habit of having him around. He got on the road at 9:30, and he was already in South Carolina by 11 am... Somebody was in a hurry?! I'm so excited though because I know a lot is about to change for the better, and I can't wait to start experiencing it! So many different emotions; happy-sad-scared-anxious-impatient, just to say the least!

On a side note, I finished all of my paperwork to enlist and I took my drug test today! At 4:45 tomorrow morning I will be on my way to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) to take my physical, sign my contract and do my first swear in. Is it weird that I'm not really scared at all? I didn't think so until everyone kept asking me how I was staying so calm. I'm actually really looking forward to it though, and according to my paperwork, I will leave on March 12 and head to BCT & AIT in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Ahhh!!

Well those are the two highlights of my day and it's only 12:30! More to come soon :)

Oh yeah, here's proof that I already have the most amazing man in the world! He's the best!

A new beginning!

Derrick finally graduated from AIT school in Fort Rucker, Alabama and he earned his wings! He's now an Aviation Operations Specialist in the United States Army! Words can't describe how proud I am of the man he has turned into!

As of 3 days ago, I am now Mrs. Hanaway! Yeah, that's right, Derrick and I finally got married! It didn't happen on April 21st as originally planned, or on 11/11/11 since we thought he may get deployed, but September 23, 2011 at 3:30 pm, we said "I Do."

A lot of changes are occuring in my life right now, but I thank God every night that they are heading in a great direction. One thing I never thought I would do in my life... I've decided that I want to join the Army. I go this Wednesday to MEPS to get my physical done and select a job. It's so nerve-wrecking but very exciting at the same time! The only thing I'm scared of is getting through basic and coming out alive. I know I can do it though :)

Derrick came home on leave last Friday, (September 16th), and will be leaving tomorrow morning to head to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This is what he has been waiting for and working for, and the time has finally come. After everything gets settled with my enlistment and job searching, then I plan to move with him within 3-4 weeks until I ship out for basic training.

Other then our marriage and his leave time at home, I've been doing nothing but working. I can say though that I am the happiest girl in the world. I can finally call him my husband and it is the best feeling in the world! I know it's not going to always be laughs and giggles, but what we have is worth it and I know we can get through anything. I'm ready to see what the future has in store for us.

 

It's been a good week and a half with him home, 

but now it's back to working my butt off!

I'll try to update again soon! xoxo

1 month to go!

My days are extremely busy and when I'm not in school or working, I'm sleeping or catching up on school work. A month from today, Derrick will finally be back home in Georgia for leave. I haven't mentioned that I am going to see him labor day weekend, but aside from that, I'm so excited for him to finally finish all of this training and to just be back at home! It's stressful on him, it's stressful on me and it's stressful on our relationship. We have both grew as a couple over the last few months and our relationship is stronger then ever, which makes me a very happy girl! So far, everything is going great. I only pray things continue to go the way planned.

1 month down, 1 month to go!

Catching up!

Since the last time I updated, I was still dealing with Derrick being away at BCT in Fort Leonard wood, Missouri. It's been a little over 2 months and so much has taken place that I decided an update is very much needed!

July 19th, we left around 4:30 in the morning for what turned out to be the longest car ride of my life! The whole not getting any sleep, 12 hours of uncomfortable sitting and seeing nothing but corn fields didn't really bother me. I knew that at the end of that boring ride, I would see the love of my life for the first time in 2 & 1/2 months! That same day we arrived around 5 in the afternoon. We got checked into our hotel and decided to ride around and check out the base. We wanted to get ahead and find out where Derrick's graduation was going to take place!

I have to admit, I was very shocked at how nice everything was when we arrived. I was still in my anxious-impatient-nerve wrecking stage, but at the same time I was so excited for the next day to arrive!

That Wednesday, July 20th, I woke up at 6:30 am and started getting ready for one of the most exciting days of my life. I can't express in words how much I missed seeing Derrick, and at that time, I knew in only 3 short hours I would be able to wrap my arms around him again. The time came around, and the minute he hugged me, I cried like a baby. Of course one of the first things I wanted to do was take a picture to show all of my friends and family back home.

Derrick was able to leave post and we got to spend the whole day together. He was so excited to be able to leave and eat real food, and of course he chose Taco Hell! It did upset his stomach, which we all warned him in advance, but that didn't stop him. We decided to go back to the hotel and we spent part of the day at the pool swimming and just hanging out. It was an amazing day, but it went by so quickly!

July 21, he became a United States Soldier! The day we have all been waiting for finally came around, and I can't even explain how proud I am of the man he has become. I watched him walk across that stage, respresent where he was from, and it put the BIGGEST smile on my face!

[In the picture is Kallahan, the one person he became closest with while at basic. It just so happens they were standing right beside each other during the ceremony!]

Another day that went by extremely fast turned into a very emotional one. Once again, I had to say goodbye to my best friend. Derrick is currently in Fort Rucker, Alabama for his AIT school which is a total of 8 weeks. He is scheduled to finish in mid-September, following his graduation and his 10-day leave to come home! As of last night, he received his orders and his duty station will be at Fort Bragg, North Carolina! I'm very excited for everything coming up in the future! Only time will tell how things turn out, but so far it's looking good.

I'll update again soon!

"& there you go, making me fall in love again"

Today marks 1 month since Derrick left for basic training and on top of that excitement, I received two very long letters in the mail! This whole process has been tough, but reading his letters on top of the weekly phone calls really makes me fall in love all over again. We have 6 weeks to go, and then I will be on a plane to Missouri! I'm so very thankful with how quickly time is passing by. It's the start of a new life for the both of us, and I couldn't be more ready! Oh yeah! Sundays are his days to make phone calls home. This Sunday was SUPER special because I got to see him!!

Ah, I love him so much!

As hard as being a military spouse may be in the future, I honestly believe that I am one of the luckiest girls alive. I love this man with everything I have!