Honey, have a nice trip!

remember the name of new places I had discovered while
he was out of the country, but he had no idea how to get
there.
I do have to admit, I am looking forward to my first
husband's birthday TOGETHER. My husband has been out
of the country during his last seven birthdays - and this
was not by choice. Whenever someone asks me when his
birthday is, I have to think really hard. It is coming up
soon, and my mother recently reminded me not to forget
it!

In 2004 I moved to the US and married the love of my life.
Here I was, a new immigrant in a foreign country, starting
all over again: new job, new friends, and most of all,
adjusting to a new culture. A few months later my husband
bought a house and a push lawn mover, and left for his first
tour of duty to the Middle-East. Now I was really on my
own, with no family living close-by. But I refused to pity
myself, and instead, decided to embark on an adventure of a
lifetime.

In 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 my husband would spend 3 to 6 months at a time in the
Middle-East, and then return home for a while... and then leave again. In 2005 we discovered
shortly before his next deployment that we were expecting a baby girl. Luckily he made it home 10
days before the delivery. Although the many deployments were not easy at times, they made our
relationship stronger. Our key to success? Trust, respect and most of all communication. Each time
my husband came back home, I felt as if he had never left. During his absence, I would write him
hundreds of emails, sharing my happiness, fears and worries. The only time I noticed he had been
gone was when we got in the car, and he had to ask for driving directions. He would