WOW! I can't believe the show has finally aired. With all the filming that took place, it's easy to forget what we actually filmed. But to see it on TV brings the emotion back instantaneously!

I was Facebooking with a dear friend, Beth, last night. She shared with me how emotional she got while she watched the episode. It gave me chills all over my body and I began to cry, because it's more real for her than for me. Her husband, Pete, just relieved mine in Afghanistan. She will watch this show and go through this deployment with us literally...This is why I participated in this show. Being a military wife and going through deployment after deployment can only be understood by a fellow military spouse. After speaking with her, as I watch this season, my heart will ache for Beth and all of the other spouses whose husbands or wives are currently deployed.

The first episode was interesting to say the least! I'll start off by saying that it's with a humble heart that I dare to represent an Army wife, and I hope that I do it justice. What an honor it is to be a part of this show! 44 Blue Productions did a great job of capturing Alaska and what makes it unique. Unfortunately, the filming didn't really begin until February. Thank goodness the sun had found it's way back to Alaska by then, but I felt it didn't really give viewers an accurate image of what a true winter is like in Alaska! It's funny to me that I talk about the dark Alaskan winters while I'm squinting from the sun in my eyes...LOL! And about the windshield wiper fluid--I know it sounds pretty wimpy that I'd never changed windshield wiper fluid, but I've never lived in a place where it ran out before my next oil change! I'll never forget breakup season. "Breakup" is when all the snow and ice begins to melt, and it's an absolute MESS! Muddy slush everywhere. We ran out of windshield wiper fluid one evening, and couldn't see to drive because of the mud! I still remember pulling over to the Shell gas station in Eagle River and having my oldest son, Kade, help my locate where the windshield wiper fluid went. I think I said something like, "Oh, wow! It's got a picture on it!"... Enough said about that.

Our dinner was Taco Soup, Casey's favorite, and a regular at our house. Unfortunately, it's not my children's favorite.. Oh well! At least they got a meal! It was neat that they were able to film one of our mini Skype sessions with Casey. It has been over six years since Casey's last deployment, so for Eli at 3 years old, he did not remember much. It was nice to have Casey explain many details of his life there in Afghanistan. Side note--BAD hair day for me! Oh well, that's reality, right? Back to the Skyping session. I appreciate so much the fact that Casey made it a point to talk to each child about their life, as if he had all the time in the world! I found that through this deployment, my children are stronger than I gave them credit for.

I had a GREAT time at Yolanda's. I felt a lot of love from her. Being a Brigade Commander in the Army is a big deal. And when the Brigade Commander, and his wife, Yolanda, tell you how much they love you and appreciate YOU and your husband's sacrifice, it means a lot.

It was SO neat to go to Sara's home and be a part of her house-warming surprise party! It's such a healthy thing, when we get together and support each other like that. One thing that didn't make it into the episode was my conversation with Salina. She grew up an Army brat, she went through high school in Germany, she's moved a lot. And I found it interesting that she married an Army man. It was so fun for me to pick her brain about her Army life growing up, and how she feels about it now. I told her that her life is now my children's, and I would love for them to meet her and get her perspective now that she's grown and married to the Army. How neat that I can ask another Army wife questions like that!!

We're about to have a cast party in less than an hour to watch the second episode together, so I have to go! A little nervous since none of us have seen the episode. Hope you all enjoy it! Thanks for watching. :-)

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