happy anniversary to me!

Here we are, 4 years ago, on our wedding day.  Our's was a some what quick ceremony at the Payette courthouse in Idaho. 

We first decided to get married when Joe's unit had been guaranteed to be deployed that summer.  Not that we hadn't talked about it before, it's just that the deployment really made us realized that we really wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.  And since we knew that it was the right thing to do, we didn't feel like we should wait any longer.  So, in April he was told that he'd be deployed. We got married on May 28th.  And on June 30th he was mobilized from La Grande, Oregon (his unit's head quarters) to Ft. Bliss, Texas. 

On the first page the date is on the tab of a file that pulls out from behind the picture. In the file are several newspaper articles and pictures about the ceremony. There is also a copy of the speech that the Governor gave that day.

Under the photo mat on the second page there’s a pocket where I put a copy of the notes that Joe wrote to me in my journal the day before he left. They read:


(July 1st 2004-day)
Honey, I know this is going to be hard for us but its just a test to see if we can make it, and we will. Keep your chin up and make me proud while I’m away. I’ll be right there with you the whole way. I love you so much babe and that’s why instead of supporting “Operation Iraqi Freedom” my mission is to come home to you and nothing else. And I will. I’ll never let you down honey, never. You’re so amazing to me and you amaze me more each day. Like I said babe, make me proud and I’ll do the same for you. I’ love you and I’ll miss you like nothing else

I love you so, so much!! Joe

(July 2nd, 2004-early morning)
My babe, we only have a few more hours left together before we will have to check into hell…and we thought this day would never come. But it did. We’ll be apart but yet we’ll be able to grow closer to each other because of the gifted love we have together. We both know we were thrown into this cruel world to be together and that’s why NOTHING can stop us from doing so . Please, be strong honey, keep your chine up and save those tears for our already anticipated reunion. I know you’ll be strong cause you’re a Sanders now and that’s what we’re know for…being hardcore. Just always remember everything I do, I do for you and that’s why I know that I’ll come home to you. Make the best of the time I’m away. When you’re down just think of us in Vegas.

Goodbye my love, I’ll see you soon.
With all my heart, your hubby


The journaling on the second page reads as follows:
This day was the beginning of it all. On June 30th, 2004 it became official, my husbands unit was mobilized. Thousands of people gathered here, La Grande, Oregon to bid a final farewell to these husbands, brothers, fathers, sons, uncles and friends.


On this day the fear of my husband being taken from me became a reality. Following the mobilization ceremony my husband and I walked through the stadium and watched hundreds of other families trying to cope with the same reality that we were facing. Before I came to La Grande I was scared of having to live a life without my husband. I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t sure that I would be able to do it. I t was on this day when I was witness to hundreds of other women and families wondering how they would continue living, that I found hope.

Many of these men not only had a wife that they had to leave behind, but children as well. I became so thankful that Joe and I didn’t have babies that would have to live for 18 months with out a father.

Though, this was a very sad day, it gave me courage and strength to see that we weren’t the only ones.

Following the ceremony, Joe and I were able to spend a few more days together. We got a small hotel room and tried to pretend that we would still be together next week.

On July 2nd Joe’s unit was sent to Ft. Bliss, Texas to begin their training.

Wow, that brings back some memories...

Comments

[pomaika'i scrapaloha]

Happy Anniversary! What a wonderful story and good for you that you already captured it on your pages!
Take care and have fun!
Aloha!