Redeployment and Other Updates

Andrew has been home from Afghanistan almost one week now. This is, obviously, the most exciting thing happening in our lives right now, followed distantly by the opening of a Whole Foods today in Savannah, and even more distantly by the fact that yesterday we bought a new leaf blower. Since I haven't taken any pictures of the leaf blower (yet), and I post enough food-related photos on Instagram, I thought I would share some of the Redeployment Ceremony photos -- and thank you to Sarah Johnson for discreetly taking a few pictures. It's always nice to have paparazzi friends when you need them.

If you've not experienced a Redeployment Ceremony, essentially, you stand and wait with a large group of people who are also waiting for their soldiers. Everyone receives a tiny American flag, and a band plays, and you try not to get really emotional when you see moms holding babies with signs that say things like, "I've waited 265 days to meet my dad!" Eventually buses pull up near the field, and everywhere shouts and cheers while the soldiers are shuffled out of the vehicles and into a formation. Then they march out into the middle of the field, the National Anthem is sung, someone prays and says a few words acknowledging the commitment and sacrifice of the last 9 months, and then some announcer-like guy yells, "Now go find your soldier!" Then the happy chaos ensues.



















We are thankful for the love, support, and prayers that so many have offered us in these past 9-months. This was, at times, a very difficult experience. But we were sustained by our friends and family and the great grace of God (and for Andrew, things like card games, and for me, things like Friday Night Lights). And for that we are extremely thankful.

I should also clarify that our time in the military is officially coming to a close. As of February, Andrew will be out. We are hoping to move back to the Northwest to be closer to family, and, of course, to reside in the great state of Oregon. We are trusting and praying for the season ahead, and trying to live fully in the one we are in now. Currently, that consists of a lot of time off for both of us, a family wedding in Ohio in September, and lots of other joyous travel and time together. Thank you all, again. We are blessed.

Keeping up with the Joneses

This past weekend, I was in New York. New York is always a hustling and busy place and sometimes I dislike being there. Too many people -- too many cool people, to be exact. But being around cool people also means you have a high chance of seeing someone famous. Last time I was in New York, I saw Condoleezza Rice. She was pretty. This time, I saw Peter Dinklage. You might not know the name, but you know the man. He's currently in Game of Thrones, but he's perhaps best known for playing the great dwarf-like editor of Miles Finch in the holiday classic, ELF (He's an angry elf). My sister-in-law Elizabeth thought I was staring at him because he was a dwarf. In actuality, I was staring at him because he's famous, and you don't see people like Peter Dinklage in Savannah. Paula Deen, yes. But famous dwarfs, no.

The more notable and exciting thing that happened in New York this past weekend was that my eldest sister-in-law, Rachel, got married. Weddings are always fun: a chance to see family, to momentarily bask in someone else's romance, to eat free food and drink sangria, and dance to Beyonce in public. This wedding had been a milestone for me during Andrew's deployment. When I thought about the long months ahead, I often thought about Rachel's wedding, and how once I got there, once I was able to spend a few family-packed days celebrating, the few months left until Andrew returned wouldn't seem so long. It was also a milestone because as everyone gets older, it becomes increasingly difficult to all get together. On the Brown side of the family, my in-laws are still in Spain, Andrew is in Afghanistan, one sister just returned from Israel, one lives in New York, and the other is in Ohio. So I think we all treasured this wedding as a blip on the Brown family timeline -- an event that existed outside of Christmas -- that allowed us to all be in the same place at the same time. Needless to say, I loved it. Weddings are always busy, but at the end of all the work, you basically get to enjoy one giant party. And in this instance, we partied, New-York style.

Here are some pictures from the day.

Location: The Barn in Tivoli (about 2 hours upstate)




The decor:






The day:
 








The ceremony:






Mr. and Mrs. Jones




Congratulations to Rachel and Adam. Rachel didn't have far to jump on the boring and common last name train, but at least she didn't exchange Brown for something awkward or offensive, like Gorda or Kardashian. From a Brown to a Jones, at least you're in safe territory.

The good news is, we get to do it all again in Ohio in September when Amanda is going to adopt the last name of Mazzola (there better be meatballs at this wedding!). And the best news, perhaps, is that a certain other Brown will be back in time for that one. And hopefully all the weddings to come.

Cheers!