There were times I was scared for my men. I don’t know if you are religious people but I would get a phone call in the middle of the night about what they were doing and I knew how dangerous it was and I would pray for them.

I do remember a week that will be burned in my emotions forever. It was a heavy week which really affected me. I would go out at night and climb on top of the indirect fires bunker and look at the stars. They were so vivid. Really the only completely stunning thing about that country. Still noisy, but stunning.

I finally came home. I wish that everything was just amazing like it is on the welcome home blog. The initial hello is wonderful. But my wife, my children and I had learned to live without each other. My son wouldn’t hug me when I came home. He was little when I left. I came home a little bit more angry, less patient and jumpy. I am a different person because of the deployment. I can’t stand to be in crowds, I tried once to go to a mall. My wife is a different person too. We learned to live with each other as a family all over again.

There are several things that I want out of life that this tiny house represents. I want a quiet piece of land. I just really want quiet. I want a peaceful home and work environment. I need to feel like I have freedom and that I can walk away from work and not be tied down with things.

One great thing that I learned on deployment is that among all the moves all my stuff fit in two bags and a box. And most of that was just gear. I don’t need anything. Just my loving wife, my sweet children and some peace and quiet. Thanks for introducing this to me. If nothing else the hope it offers is amazing. Thank you so much. This is a cure for my soul.