Well yesterday I got the first letter from my husband. And I also got the letter that the airport employee was supposed to mail. Apparently he's not a jerk, just incompetent. Thankfully today I got the letter that the radio station should have read on my birthday, had it gotten there on time. In addition I was able to talk to my husband last night. He wasn't supposed to be calling but he did anyway. He got promoted to squad leader! Him getting promoted is great for both of us because they decided that squad leaders didn't have to have fire watch. That means more sleep for him and more time for him to talk to me. God keeps reminding me how blessed I really am. It sounds like his company is over there in the "sandbox." I can't even think about the fact that he could be over there right now instead of doing training here in the states. Compared to a year apart, with virtually no communication, letters taking three weeks to go one way I'll take the month that we'll be apart before I get to see him again (albeit for only a few days), the at least weekly phone calls, and the three to four days it takes a letter to travel. It may sound strange but I am truly blessed.

So my birthday was this past Sunday and, obviously, my husband had to miss it. He tried to get a radio station to read a letter to me on the air but things didn't work out. But only because the airport employee he gave the letter to (the airport in question doesn't have mailboxes in it anymore because of 9/11 so he had to get someone to mail it for him) screwed him over and never mailed it. However, my husband, being the hopelessly romantic and sweet guy that he is, still gave me a birthday present. I was meeting my mother-in-law the day before my birthday for a quack appt. and then she wanted my help picking out flowers for a women's event that she was involved with. We went to a local organic grocery store that sells loose roses for $11 a dozen - my husband always gets me flowers from there. Anyway, she had me and my sister-in-law pick out 5 dozen roses. We got back to the office where my father-in-law works and she told me that the roses were actually for me. My husband had arranged the whole thing and wanted me to have them for my birthday. Now nothing could compare to having my husband with me, but can you blame me for loving this guy?

My husband was able to call me last night on his cell phone. At first they were told that when they had "square-away" time they could use cell-phones, CD players, chargers, etc. We were both really happy about that because pretty much unless they're out in the field they get square-away time every night. Even though his training does involve a lot of time out in the field it would mean at least probably two or three calls a week, at least. But then another commanding officer told them they couldn't use their cell phones and stuff. We were both pretty upset but we figured then at least we'd probably get one phone call a week. Last night I found out that my husband realized that the second guy has said they couldn't use their cell phones in the barracks so as long as they're outside on their square-away time it's okay. That is such great news for us.

I'm beginning to learn that when you're involved with the Marine Corps hope can kill you. Whenever I'm hoping that my husband will be able to call and he isn't I am simply devestated. However, if I expect that he won't get a chance to call me and he does, well that can make my day. I'm also learning to find peace in this situation. God planned things out in our lives so that Wil could spend this time in the States training. Because of God's grace he is in a place where he can call me occasionally, mail takes only a few days, and I will get to visit him. Sometimes it's hard to see the blessings that God gives us when a situation is this difficult, but I thank Him that Wil is here in the US instead of in Kuwait. I still don't understand why my husband had to be taken away from me and maybe I never will, but right now I'm very grateful for the way the Lord has blessed us. There are many military families, including most of those from his unit, who aren't nearly as fortunate.