Reflections

Well, a new year has started. New Year's day is typically one of reflection on the previous year. 2011 has been a very challenging year for the Ward family. We started this year in Alaska together and were so thankful to finally be back together. I finally found a job in mid-January. I work in an orthopedic surgery clinic. While I love ortho pts this setting is much different than I was used to in the hospital. I have learned a lot from the clinic, but really miss the hospital. I must say though I work with some amazing people! Anyways, with the impending deployment Reed was facing he went down to California for training during the month of February. Let me tell you he was lucky to not be here! We had a crazy snow storm the last part of February that he was lucky enough to miss out on. Then came March and block leave. We had initially planned on coming back to Texas for block leave and seeing our families but that didn't really work out. Instead we ended up hanging out at home and making a trip to Anchorage. We had an amazing time together. Then unfortunately April came. I have decided that April is my least favorite month, not only did Reed leave for Afghanistan but a good friend of ours was killed in Iraq. Although Omar and I did not get along at all when we first met, I wanted to get along with him because he meant so much to my sister. I guess what finally helped us get along was when Reed joined the Army. Omar was so helpful and patient with me when I grew frustrated with the quirks of the Army and when I had questions. There have been so many times in the last year that I would have given anything to be able to talk to him. Anyways, once Reed left I started getting back into my life routine without my husband. Things were trucking along until June 13, that day has been seared into my mind and I can't forget it as hard as I try. I was working in the general surgery office and had left my phone on my desk while I checked in our morning patients. When I went back to my desk between patients and checked my phone I had something like 7 missed calls from Afghanistan and a message from my husband. He had been in an accident, but was ok. I felt like my world had fallen apart. Was he really ok or was he just saying that to keep me from stressing out? However, I had to continue checking in patients and have faith that if something was terribly wrong I would be told. I was finally able to talk to him and he did assure me that he was fine. He said that he was going to the hospital at the airfield but was fine. Turns out he was ok, the rear detachment captain called me that night to inform me of his injuries and was very kind in answering my questions. After that I because an anxious mess. I stopped sleeping through the night and would wake up at least once to see if I had heard from him because my night is his day. Finally mid-tour leave arrived! The two weeks I'd been dreaming of since April. We met in Lubbock for leave and had an amazing two weeks. We really loved hanging out with family and meeting Preston. Then off to Afghanistan he went and back to Alaska I went. Christmas was hard for me. I've never been so alone on my favorite holiday. We have about 4 months left of being half a world apart and I cannot wait until he comes home. There have been some benefits of his deployment though. We have had some amazing conversations about the different cultures of the world and have decided that one day we would love to travel to an underprivileged country somewhere and help the people there. Reed has developed a love for the people that live around him, other soldiers he has met from other countries. He is one of the only American soldiers that doesn't think he is above everyone else. His eyes have been opened to how the rest of the world lives and through his pictures he has opened my eyes and for that we are both thankful. The other benefit to come out of the deployment is that I have finally gotten the chance to make a lifestyle change that I have always wanted and to learn new hobbies. I have developed a love for knitting and the gym. Also during leave we started running and although I ended up with a stress fracture in my foot we are looking forward to doing some of the 5K's and maybe even a 10K this summer. I guess that pretty much sums up 2011 for the Ward's.