Our lives changed on May 18th. The war hit close to home. Two of our neighbors were killed in Afghanistan after a suicide vehicle hit their convoy. In a blink of an eye two families lives were changed forever. One of the soldiers killed was stationed with us in Fort Carson with us back in 1996. We were thrilled when we heard they were coming to Drum and enjoyed reconnecting with them. They invited the kids and I over for Christmas dinner and I remember Tom's prayer. He talked about that Terry would be home soon and thanked God for taking care of him during the deployment. I saw Tom shortly before he left for Afghanistan and my memory of him is this smile he had while listening to Terry and I banter back and forth.

Due to the tragedy I have been learning alot about the survival benefits, and am compelled to learn more. After 19 years of being a spouse I knew nothing about the benefits and I am sure not many other spouses do. None of us want to think of the what if, but I would strongly suggest you try to make a plan now.

I really miss blogging, I have to admit I spend way to much time on Facebook and combine that with work, unit stuff and occasionally doing laundry it doesn't leave much time to blog.

Terry started a new job in April, he is now the 3 BCT XO. He started about 3 weeks before the brigade Change of Command so he jumped in just as they were finishing OER's, Awards and all the other stuff Col Haight had to finish before he left. There are still not enough hours in the day to answer every email and clear his inbox. This job will keep us here at least another year if not two.


We enjoyed a trip to Niagara over Easter Weekend.

Dylan is playing Lacrosse this spring and we were all very thrilled when he scored a goal in his first game. I have absolutely no idea what is happening during the game, but I do know when the ball goes in the net it is a score.

We have had quite a bit of warm weather over the past few weeks, however this morning we awake to a dusting of snow on the ground, gotta love Northern New York. Jason and I planted tulip and daffodil bulbs last fall and we were rewarded with some very beautiful flowers.

The boys made a beautiful cake for me for my birthday.



Terry and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago. We enjoyed a lovely dinner out.

So there ya go, you are all caught up with the Clarks.

On January 5th after a very painful week (felt like a month) of delays we were reunited with Terry. The one of the best moments had to be the next morning when we went to wake Tyler up for school, and told him happy birthday, he was just waking up and said "Daddy, I am so happy you made it home for my birthday!" Jason asked Terry about a dozen times whether Terry had to go back..was he home for good.
Reintigration has been painless for the most part...we seem to have all found our way again with a family of 5.
January has been very busy for me with work, volunteer opportunities, and unit functions. The Financial Readiness manager encouraged us interns to sit thru the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) class here on post. That took 3 days one week and then we decided to do the certification (taking a test) to be able to volunteer at the Tax Assistance Center here on Fort Drum. Let me just say that the test was very painful, even open book working with someone...but we did pass and will probably donate some of our time (like we have any extra) to helping soldiers do their taxes.
Our St. Barbara's day ball is on Jan 29th and I have been helping with that...we are making some ceremic cannons (45 of them) and it has turned into quite a project. Many Saturday mornings have been spent at the Arts and Crafts center working on them.
Some kind Veteren donated a ton of money to throw 3 BCT a party. It was a great turn out and alot of fun.
February is block leave for 3 BCT and things will quiet down, and then in March gear up again with people coming and leaving....and then in April we'll have Change of Comands...
Terry is starting to work with Branch on our next assignment...we could very well be moving from Drum, bittersweet this Army life ,hate leaving all the wonderful friends we have made, but would love to be closer to family...

Today is the anniversary of the day my husband left for Afghanistan a year ago....and I learned this morning that he would be delayed at least few more days to get home. My goal of getting him home in 2009 is fading and so are my spirits. I know it isn't 15 months and he is on his way and really he was here for Christmas last year (not really but I won't argue that point with anyone whose husband was actually out of the country).

I'll have my pity party in the privacy of my own home, won't let my kids see me down only happy thoughts about how Dad will be home soon...just not soon enough for me.

Terry should be leaving FOB Airborne in a couple of weeks or so and then another week or two after that he should be landing at Wheeler Sacks Airfield here on Fort Drum....WOW our "YEAR" is almost over and dang am I happy about that.

As Capt Gardner wrote in the newsletter there is nothing more moving than watching families reunite after a deployment. The kids and I have had a very long year and can't wait to have our "moment" with Terry.

Looks like a big storm is headed out way and the weather man used the words significant amount of snowfall...not to mention wind, wind, wind. 50 to 60 miles per hour gust. Should be a fun weekend....

Someone I know from our days at Ft. Carson lost her mother this week when someone ran a red light and hit her car. As soon as I read about it on Facebook, my own heart skipped a beat and I felt the same pain/shock as the day I heard about Kirk...

There are no words that can make this person feel better, all you can say is that you care and you are praying for them, and that means the world.

Losing someone is devastating...but losing them suddenly, accidentally brings a whole new dimension to the devastation. There is no time to say good bye...there is no time to come to terms with it...there is no time to adjust to life without them. It is sudden and quite simply takes your breath away, and you have to remember to breath.

Even after almost 2 years I find myself thinking of Kirk, and then suddenly my breath changes and I remember he is gone...

Today I wrote on Facebook that I would start my last month count down tomorrow (Dec 1)...As I was thinking about that earlier tonight I almost started crying. I can't believe that we are so very close to being done. He has been gone for 11 months, all of 2009 (except 15 very short days). That is all we have seen each other in the past 11 months, 15 days....

And to get my husband home and the rest of 3 BCT someone is starting their 12 months apart, an unending cycle that doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. So even though I am thrilled to death that our deployment is almost done, I will be thinking and praying for those who are just starting.

Today I am thankful for so many things, my husband, for serving his country for the past 23 years. I would like to share a small quote a friend recently wrote to me "I feel grateful for having been there with Terry...and I do recognize the sacrifice he makes...but he does so gracefully and with a humility, setting an example for all of us lucky enough to know him."
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, I certainly can say that I can't imagine my life without him. We were certainly meant to be together.

I am thankful for my kids, even though some (most) of the time we don't see eye to eye, I know that at the end of the day that they know I love them with all my heart, and that they love me with at least part of theirs....

I am thankful for my family spread out across the country, how I wish I was with you during these holidays. Thank you for your love and support.

I am thankful for my "Army Family". Everywhere we go we add to the family, I have been very blessed to have so many extraordinary people come into my life. It is how we thrive in this crazy life we lead, we meet more family at every location we move to. Thank you friends.

I am thankful for the good health we have had on this deployment, with all those nasty germs out there we have managed to miss most of them.

I am thankful for all of this incredible weather we have been having.

I am thankful for my memories of Kirk, not a day goes by that I don't have a thought of him pop into my head, only to have my heart hurt when I think of the time we won't have with him.

And I am thankful for Mick, Liz, Derek and Ashlee, for surviving an unimaginable event and getting up every day and putting one foot in front of another.

Okay so between being really busy and not knowing what to write, I have been a very bad blogger. Will regret it someday when I want to look back and know how this year long deployment went.

Everyone is doing well, this week was Dylan's teacher conferances, there are no appointments you just go and wander around and sign up to see a teacher. I met with most of his teachers and all had great things to say about him. More than once I heard "he is a pleasure to have in class" WOW my kid!!! I am thrilled that his grades are closer to where his abilities are. I know with just a bit more effort he could have all A's, but he has to choose that is what he wants, and he isn't there yet.

The little kids started after school care this week, so I could get more hours in for work and wouldn't you know that this week was so busy with other things that I really didn't get any more hours into work.

Work is great, just a few bumps in the road, but I hope that in the next couple of weeks those bumps get smoother. I am still enjoying it. I think in just the short time I have been doing this I have already helped lots of people.

The deployment is winding down quickly, we already have one flight home and are expecting another one on Thanksgiving. In December they should be coming every few days. Terry was due to come home between Christmas and New Years, but I was told this week that often they don't do flights during that week, so who knows when he will get here.

I am sure there are times in your life when you looked back and said "God was taking care of us"...whether it be on a test in school, keeping your kids safe, keeping your deployed spouse safe...on and on. I too have those moments...some of which I would like to share.

When we were living in Germany, my dad suffered a heart attack...he would need to have by pass surgery within days. This would be his second bypass surgery...at the time no one told me that the survival rate after a second surgery is much lower than after a first one...after much debate we decided not to return to the states...he survived and recovered quickly...God was watching out for us.

An accident claimed the life of my nephew weeks after moving to Fort Drum...Terry was not yet deployed...thank goodness, God was watching out for us.

I believe with whole heartly that God put us in this house in this neighborhood. Of course not all as been roses, but I can honestly say that I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I am blessed by incredible, giving neighbors and I wouldn't change a thing.

Often times it is hard to see God's blessings till after time has passed, but they are there.

As 2nd Brigade says their goodbyes, 3 BCT starts their redeployment briefs....life at Drum...someone is always leaving and someone is always coming home.

Even though it is not my husband leaving, it is sad to watch your friends go thru it. I know it isn't easy for anyone and my heart and prayers go out to all of you saying goodbye.

We are still hoping Terry will be home around the 1st of the year...give or take a week or two. The boys and I are trying to figure how we will celebrate Christmas and still do something more when Terry gets home.

We have gotten a ton of rain over the past 2 or 3 weeks cancelling many soccer games for the little boys...I guess we should be thankful it isn't snow (YET). We might see some of the white stuff next week...I hope we only see a handful of flakes.

The boys are enjoying school, and other than one day of Jason deciding he didn't want to go, there has been no drama.

Obama Awards Medal of Honor to Fallen Soldier - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News - FOXNews.com

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The boys had a great day at school today, no complaints. Let's hope tomorrow goes just as well.

Tyler 3rd Grade, Jason Kindergarten

Dylan 8th grade

My niece Ashlee is 21 today...where has the time gone, I am certainly not 21 years older.

(if I can find a good picture I will post it later.)

So my sister said I should just write that we are good, and just don't have anything to write about. I am good and nothing interesting going on...okay I'm done.

School starts day after labor day....Dylan starts football practice tomorrow, Tyler and Jason start soccer practice tomorrow and guess who got coeirced into coaching Jason's team...yes me. It really wasn't fair what they did, Jason was on a wait list, and they called and said if you will coach we will put him on a team...what is a mom to do.

We are down the the last 4 months of the deployment. We will start having redeployment briefs in October, hello only a month away. I am very glad we are so close to getting this year over. It hasn't been that bad...just a few crazy neighbors and no major problems.

I think snakes follow us, as DB found a very small garden snake in the yard a couple of days ago. He was barking longer than usual and when I went out to yell at him I noticed he was all nervous, I walked over to where he was and he was low crawling trying to sniff at it and his back legs were shaking, he was scared to death. I looked and didn't see anything so assumed he was just crazy or a bee had gotten him, so I stepped in the grass by him and a little snake scooted off into my neighbors yard, Dylan and a friend were nice enough to go scare it off under the fence.

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Happy Birthday Kirk...

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When Terry is deployed he always runs into people we were stationed with at some point over the last 22 years for him (only 18 for me). While making the trip home for R&R he ran into a Col. Day from out 3-29FA days in Colorado. While making the trip back to Afghanistan he ran into Jason Riley who just arrived in afghanistan with the 82nd. Jason and his wonderful wife Lisa were at NPS with us in California and ILE in Kansas.
Terry also bumped into Robert Hamilton (aka BOB) in Afghanistan, another guy we were stationed with in Colorado.
There is a guy in the unit replacing Terry's that Terry went thru ROTC with, what are the chances of that. He will get Terry's office when he leaves.

I think it is great that he always meets up with someone we used to know. I wished that happened more to me. It does happen though as a friend and her husband from Colorado have moved in around the corner from us.