Pride and Prejudice

I feel like I have been going through a ton of different emotions since Aaron left. There are the obvious ones: lonely, scared, sad, stressed, anxious, blah, etc... But today when I was picking up some of his things I felt something different.

Aaron has a 3-ringed binder that he playfully calls his 'love me book'. (He didn't just make it to make it, he takes it with him when he has to prove he has been to a training or school.) It is filled with copies of all his awards, training certifications and his Officer Evaluation Records (OERs). And by going over all these documents a huge sense of pride came over me. Aaron has only been in the Army 5 years but all of his OERs have great reviews! All of his awards have been hard earned. We are lucky enough to be here in AK because a former Col. (now stationed here) did a by name request to get Aaron in his battalion. Now, maybe I am prejudice because he is my hubby (and I think he he is fantastic!) but that is really something special. Aaron works very hard at every job. Even if it isn't a job he likes, he still gives 100%.

And while he isn't sure what his job will be this time around, I know he will go at it with strength, courage and his can do attitude. I am excited and worried all at the same time about what this deployment will have in store for him. But I know he will be great! I am so proud of him! I am proud to be his wife and proud to stand beside him along this crazy military journey. I am truly grateful to God for bringing us together.

Aaron with his brother, Ryan, in Afghanistan 2006.