Todd left for his 3rd deployment overseas this weekend. We are all proud of Todd and his commitment to our country & to the 203rd RED HORSE Squadron.
We spent the beginning of our day buying the last minute items Todd needed, water-proof paper is fascinating by the way. We went out to lunch at Olive Garden, totally eating too much, but knowing we would both skip dinner and then packing. The day was a mixture of time going "way to fast" and time moving super slow. It all felt a bit surreal, there is no handbook on how to act on a day like that!
We went to the beach on base to say our good-byes and pray together. I wish I had a beach in my back yard, that is the place I feel closest to God. There is something very magical about praying there! I dont know how I would get through any deployment without God at my side. I know He is in control and that knowledge alone brings me peace.
The preparation time on base was a whirl wind of camoflauge activity! Airmen loading bags onto trucks, securing their weapons, spending time with family & information breifings. When 7:15 came, the airmen filed out of the building they were meeting in and were cheered on by a large and loving crowd of family and friends on all sides, as they walked the path to the buses. There was the sweetest little 4 year old girl next to me holding a sign she had decorated that said COME HOME SOON! It was very sweet, but I had to ignore her or else I would have cried the entire time!
Todd loaded the bus, called roll call and gave the thumbs up. With precise military timing they pulled out at 7:30 sharp and then they were gone...
