the other half (relocated)

(originally posted back in December...but moved to the correct blog now)
Putting things into words today is challenging, but I want to update the world on just what a person can accomplish in six-ish months. Mark deployed in May and I was determined that I would not just sit around missing him the entire time he was gone. Would I have rather had him home with me every night? Of course. But, I "took on" deployment as a challenge. Just what could I get done in my spare time, now that all my time at home would be 'me' time and I had nobody to entertain or consider in my time constraints..... rather than bore you with a long explanation, I'll lay this out just like it passed by, quickly (and possibly jumbled and not quite in chronological order).....

Target practice

Went fishing

Ran. Crossfitted.

Walked the dog...a lot.

Acquired green thumbs

Road tripped to Nebraska

Golfed. Hiked the incline. Road tripped to Michigan.

Michigan

Golfed. Canoed. Ran. Skated on a banked track. Lost ten pounds. Went camping. Passed my insurance license exam. Traveled on business to California. Ran to the ocean. Crossfitted. Hung out with my nephew. Wrestled a pit bull.

Ran

Went to the pumpkin patch.

Went to the zoo

Ran a half marathon

Sent more care packages

Hiked

Drank wine with good friends. Hiked. Studied. Got my hunting license. Crossfitted. Hunted for quail.

Gingerbreaded and jazzed. Home-improved.

I just enjoyed two wonderful weeks with the husband and we really didn't do much of anything. I ate like a fat kid and laid on the couch a lot. It was nice. Once you've been educated about crummy food, the guilt you feel and the results you experience form indulging just don't make the cheats as much fun anymore. So, I'm all geared up for a paleo-riffic ride into 2012!

Today began the other half deployment, it was a little easier than May was. I watched Mark board the plane and was strong enough to not cry this time. It's better now knowing where he'll be and knowing how to handle life on this side of the planet. So, we're back in the swing of deployed life. I've been loving a certain Taylor Swift song that seems totally appropriate to quote here...(yeah, I'm about to quote Taylor Swift...)

"The stakes are high. The water's rough. But this love is ours."