For much of the world, the “war” is winding down. Military budgets are being slashed to make way for more immediately apparent domestic demands. More and more medals are being awarded to heroes for actions taken in a conflict that is quickly fading from public awareness.

Except in my home and the homes of thousands of military families.

In my home, we are living the emotional roller coaster that is the stages of pre-deployment. Not familiar with these stages? In many ways, they mimic the stages of grief.

Here is the process:

I am, what I guess you would call, a “seasoned spouse.” We have been an Army family for quite a while. It seems like only yesterday that I was sending my husband off for his first deployment. I was young, scared, and pregnant with our first child.  I’m a little older now, but I am still learning new things every day about this military life.

I’ve been dreaming about my husband’s return since the minute he left for his tour a year ago. By the time my posts goes live, we’ll have already moved my belongings from New York to Virginia and spent a few days together. It’s crazy to think that it’s all coming so quickly!