The LAST

On Sunday we celebrated Easter. Not only was it Easter, but it was the first day of April…one month closer to home! It’s starting to feel like it really is time to leave. I am here for a year and most people are only here for six to nine months. I am now at the point where everyone I came here with is gone and everyone that was here when I got here is also gone. I’m the LAST woman standing. I continue to make friends and there are still really great people here, but the people who have been here from the beginning are all now officially gone. All this just makes me want to go home even more. I feel like I’ve put in my time and it’s coming to an end.  My time to go has come and I’m feeling VERY ready. I do have about another ten weeks in Afghanistan, but I can feel my time coming.

For our Easter Mass we had an Easter Vigil Service. I have not been to Easter Vigil in many years. Our Priest made it a really special Mass. The Mass began at nine p.m. and we started with a fire outside the chapel lighting the Easter Candle and our own individual candles. The Mass was beautiful and the perfect way to celebrate Easter, especially since we couldn’t be with our families during this special time.

There is a group of Sailors here who go to Church together. For Easter we decided to take the Priest out for dinner. He is leaving in two weeks and we wanted to thank him for his service to us. I really enjoy Father Tomas, our Czech Republic Priest. I am making a bold statement, but I believe he is my favorite Priest EVER. His humor mixed with authentic Catholic guilt makes each Mass very enjoyable. There are many moments from Mass that are quotable, but two of my favorite are, “I will never be a Bishop, I will be a martyr first;” and “Lent is now over so you can eat whatever you want, but remember you do need to maintain your beach body for the summer.” Also, US chaplains are not allowed to carry weapons of any kind, but the Czech chaplains do. During dinner we asked him about his heat and he said since the Czech Republic Army is so small he does not travel with a security force so he needs to be able to defend himself. As a matter of fact the first thing he will need to do when he gets home from deployment is go to the range and re-qualify on his weapon.

 

Our Sunday morning fun run was of course Easter themed. My mom sent me an Easter themed care package meant for our run. She sent Peep Oreos, which we all enjoyed post run. She also sent bunny socks and a night shirt. She was looking for an Easter t-shirt, but in her rush to get the package in the mail, she could only find a bunny night shirt. This is Afghanistan, so I was quick to compromise and make the night shirt work for running. I tied it up 80’s style and it worked great! Thanks mom for the Easter themed running items, they were perfect for our Sunday run!

This was also the last run for a good friend of mine. Like I was saying before, I’m becoming the LAST woman standing. Brandon has been here almost as long as I have been. He was a trusted friend and was there to get me through the fall when I was struggling with my boss.  He reliably showed up to each group run. Our first 10k, back in January, was his longest run since college. He was also the one who came with me to visit my rug guy and helped advise on all the colors, styles and was critical in picking out the rug for my mom. He’s going back to an awesome family and a job that was hard earned.  I know he will do great things for the Army. Yes, I said Army, he’s one Army Officer I enjoyed spending time with!

My family celebrated Easter at home and enjoyed dinner with my sister and her family. The week prior Taylyn was sick and stayed home with my mom the entire week. Timyra was on spring break, and she said her sister ruined her spring break because she didn’t get any special time with Grandma. I guess my mom will have to take her out shopping another day.   The kids enjoyed their treats from the Easter Bunny. My mom forgot to put Taylyn’s present in her Easter basket so she only got a book, PJs, and suckers. Taylyn didn’t seem to mind, she was just happy to have the suckers.