A Year Home Update

Sometimes it is hard to believe that almost a year has passed since our hero returned home.  He has been home now for just about the same amount of time he was deployed.  Not sure which one seems longer.

Our year alone was a hard, painful year.  Sometimes it seems like a distant memory and other days it is still as painful as it was when we were in the middle of it all.  Although it was not our first rodeo, it was one that about kicked our backsides.

Deployments are not easy.  They are often not pretty.  If I have one major complaint about deployments, it is that the general public wants to glorify them, wrap them up in a shiny package, and make it all look pretty.

I still look at all those Facebook videos of soldiers coming home and cringe.  Yes, they are beautiful, but they also do not tell the whole story.  The reality is that many come home unnoticed to empty airports.  My husband was one of those heroes.  We were new in town and the one couple we knew graciously drove us to the airport for his late night return, staying in the car so as not to overwhelm him.

He de-boarded the plane minus the uniform, as many do, to not be noticed.  While we waited with a welcome sign that made his homecoming obvious, we got several looks, but not once did anyone in that airport acknowledge our hero or his service.

 

It made it all seem surreal.  We simply grabbed his bags and headed home.  To a new-to-him house that was empty.  (Our moving truck came a week later)

Despite everything else, we have much to be thankful for-

• He returned home. Many do not.  A fact we do not take lightly.

• Days after his return, there were several attacks and fatalities in the area he had just been in.

• Our transition, while challenging at times, has been fairly smooth.

• We have been assured there are no more deployments lurking.  

God is faithful.  He provided in our year alone and He has provided in this past year together.  As the holidays draw closer, let me encourage you to find a military family whose spouse is deployed to bless in some small way.  Just a simple acknowledgment of their sacrifice means more than you can ever know.

Bless and be blessed!

Crocking Fun Friday and a blessing!

OK, here's a quick recipe for the slow cooker for you, we make this often!  It's makes a lot, so it is also good for when company is coming over.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches
1 (3 1/2-4 lb.) pork shoulder roast
1 can condensed French Onion Soup
1 c. ketchup
1/4 c. cider vinegar
3 tbsp. brown sugar

Put roast in slow cooker.  Mix remaining ingredients and pour over roast.  Cover and cook 4-5 hours on high, 6-8 on low.  Shred pork and cook an additional 10-20 minutes. 
Serve on buns.

Notice no picture?

Bad news- remember that  my crock pot died last week?  Yep, really could not get it to work.

The good news- My husband AND the Crock Pot people are amazing!

 I was going to just throw that sucker away and get a new one.  My amazing husband had a different idea and called Crock Pot's handy dandy phone number to see if they could help him fix it.  Stick with me, the story gets good.

He and the customer support gal played around for a while, turning the cooker on its' side, pressing buttons, etc with no luck.  Then, are you ready...

she said we will send you a new one!  Oh, and your model is not made anymore so we will have to send you a NEWER one.  Once the box gets there, please return the old one in the box so we can see what was wrong.

WOW!  Now how's that for customer support?  YEA CROCK POT!

Not to mention an AWESOME hubby who saved us money and was the hero of the day.  Well, he's always the hero, but he did get bonus points!  ;)