I don't want this night to end....

I remember hearing this song on the radio and breaking into tears.

The date of that day was February 28th, 2012.

Why do I remember that specific day 4 years ago?!



Well, you see... that was the last day I was able to see, touch, feel, smell, and laugh with my husband.

Bright and early on February 29th, 2012, my amazing husband left on his 11-month long journey to Afghanistan. It was an earth-shattering day for me- one that I'll never, EVER forget.

Our last family photo of 2012. (I was a wreck)

I like to talk big, but I'm a big baby without my husband. You see, I've got the book-smarts and he's got the street smarts. I genuinely lack common sense, but I'm smart enough to know it and I lean on him a lot. He's my best friend. He's been right beside me from the time I was 16 'til now. I don't know how to adult without him.

Showing the kids the helicopter he was going to leave on

I don't know how I was able to even take pictures. I was a huge blubbering idiot the whole time. Thankfully my parents were there to help with the kids during the ceremony. I really needed their support.

Wes was the one holding the flag (guide-on)

All the guys loaded up in their aircraft getting ready to leave.
Minutes before take-off.

See, not only was I being left to take care of our three kiddos (aged 6, 5, and 2), I was also 16 weeks pregnant with baby #4. We had just found out that we were expecting a BOY! two days before. I was due to give birth 6 months into his 11-month deployment. There was no R&R or paternity leave this deployment. It was a rough-go that I wouldn't wish on any one, EVER.

It's a BOY!

Thankfully my story ends with a happy ending. After 11-months in the sand, my husband came home safe and sound. No one in his unit got injured (other than minor) and everyone came home!

Photo by Lisa Kunkel Photography. 

I was tested more than I ever thought in those 11-months. It was difficult- to say the least. There were many odd-houred Skype calls. Panicked messages. Hurried phone calls. And tear- lots and lots of tears. 

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I survived though. We survived. Wes teases me because I remember the day he left and his homecoming date and actually "celebrate" them each year.

Photo by Lisa Kunkel Photography.
One week before he left.

You see, those dates resonate deep inside of me. Those dates changed me. They challenged me. They were both good and bad. But I survived them- I made it through :)