At the very beginning of 2005 Bill's unit left for training (in California and North Carolina) and then to Iraq. We'd had lots of unit "meetings" and Key Volunteers was all set up. So all the families were at the reserve center that first weekend in January to send them off.
I can't really describe for you what it was like. You've already had really tough conversations that you just don't think you'll have to have in your 20's - things like - "Where would you want to be buried?" It's already done. Now they are just on their way out. We were sitting in the "gym" chowing down on our last dinner and then they are ushering us out. At least, that is all I remember.
The weirdest thing ever was being awakened by a phone call the next morning from a collection agency looking for William Cox. And at 6 a.m. you are wondering what kind of double life your husband has been leading until it finally comes out that they've got the wrong William Cox. Honestly. (Don't worry they harassed me for like 5 more months. It if for this reason I do not recommend pay as you go phones.)
Back at home I worked part time in the Chemistry department, played in my adult beginners symphony orchestra, reorganized my apartment several times, took trips to see family (in Idaho) and friends (in Salt Lake). At the end of the school year I went through honors convocation (remember I'd graduated in December 2004). For whatever reason I decided not to do the big walk. I'll make up for it later.
Jenna and I on temple square
At honors convocation
At honors convocation
At the party at my grandparents the weekend of graduation (with Bill's siblings Lena and Ryan)
In the summer - since I had no more work - I went and spent a month at my mom's in Arizona. It was hot, they were in the middle of moving into their first house. It was great to be there and help/see that. When I came home we had a lot of family around for my Grandparents 50th wedding anniversary.Bill did pretty well - from what I remember. We should probably ask him about it. His unit was amazingly lucky - what with all the traveling they did. We would talk via messenger as often as possible. I really can't tell his end of the story about his deployment. I learn something new every time he talks to someone about it. 
We all drove back to the Tri-Cities and dropped in on the rest of the family. I think we went out for Bill's dads birthday.
I started looking for a job. I actually was hired by LA Weight Loss. You know - I was looking forward to working with them. But I guess I lost my nerve, or didn't feel quite right about the whole thing. So I went back to work in the Chemistry department (which I still love by the way) until Bill came home. It gave me the major flexibility I felt I needed at the time.
They arrived back home in October. This is another experience that I find hard to describe. I drove to Yakima with my mother-in-law and my brother-in-law, Ryan. Ryan and I went back to the car to get the camera and I remember feeling like I had jello legs on the way back so I grabbed Ryan's hand. And we started running. Ryan was our photographer that day.
We all drove back to the Tri-Cities and dropped in on the rest of the family. I think we went out for Bill's dads birthday.In November we headed back to Yakima for the unit's "official" welcome home celebration in Yakima. It was very fun - and our veterans got treated to a free dinner at local restaurants.
Also that month -right before Thanksgiving - we had our laser eye surgery. We had gone in 2 weeks before to get our eye's examined and see if we were eligible and the next this I knew we were scheduling surgery for 2 weeks away! There is no denying I was freaked out. But things went well and we have great eyesight now. It was amazing!
I don't remember much else about the rest of the year. We had a great time with our family.
I started training to work for Weight Watchers in December to get ready for the big push in January 2006...
