A Few Pictures of Togetherness

Our first picture together. In the car right after I picked him up at PDX. Couldn't be happier! Isn't he handsome??

And our next self-portrait and last one of him in uniform. We got to "play civilian" for 18 glorious days...

One of Andrew's first days back, just moseying around in the Pearl District, grabbing coffee at Sip & Kranz, and sitting on a fountain rock to just "be."

This is at a *little* get-together we had at my parents' to celebrate Andrew's R&R. Thanks to everyone who came to show their love and support. We cherish it!

Handing our camera off to a passer-by so we could get a quick shot of us in front of our new favorite get-away spot!

(More pictures of family and fun coming soon...)

The Last Goodbye

In the wee small hours of this morning, Andrew and I drove to the airport and said our goodbyes for what we are hopeful will be the last time for such a parting. With a last wave, I started my drive home alone and he hopped on a Dallas-bound plane.

At this moment, he is somewhere between Atlanta and Shannon. He'll now be able to say he's been to Ireland! Even if he won't get to see much... Someday we'll go back.

His R&R time was so wonderful. We really packed in the fun and the family and the memories and the photos! (I'll post some soon.) I am so in love with my husband - more today than ever before. He has been my rock and my encourager. His parting words so full of hope and anticipation.

"Only a few more months and we'll be together forever, Cass."

It may be 5 1/2 months before we lay eyes on each other again, but we are confident that this portion of the deployment will fly by. Those who know say that the last part always moves more quickly than the first, and we're choosing to believe that.

Our current mindset is just that he had to go back to work and I have lots to do while he's gone...and then it'll be done and we can face the rest of our lives side-by-side.

And we've already said our last goodbyes.