As my friend Becky and I ran the 1/2 Marathon last weekend I focused on running one mile at a time.  Looking at the run as 13.1 miles was daunting for me, especially considering how I didn't train the way I should have.  But one mile is doable.  I can "easily" run one mile.  So I slowly but surely completed my race one lumbering mile at a time until I was only a mile from the finish.  Then the race became "finish this mile and you are done".  And we did.  Because of our baby steps and ability to not get overwhelmed by the big picture, we finished what most people consider a very long run.

When John left for deployment I approached it as a different kind of marathon.  I divided the 7 months into similar baby steps.  The first 45 days or so was "survival mode".  I forgave myself for eating frozen dinners, putting my kids down to bed early, not working out regularly.  My goal was to hit that 45 day mark with two healthy and happy kids and my sanity in tact.  Months two and three were defined by my mom being here.  I had man to man defense again.  I could cook nicer dinners, go on solo runs, and even have dinner with friends after bedtime without paying a babysitter.  I knew that those two months would be the easiest of the deployment. 

Today marks another milestone.  My pumpkin spice milestone.

Fall is my favorite season.  Living in the mid-Atlantic my whole life I have always gotten excited for what fall brings.  The sweltering heat and humidity starts to cool, school supplies line the aisles, leaves start changing, apple cider hits the grocery aisles, and pumpkin spice hits the coffee shops.  I love the corn mazes and hay rides and Halloween parties.  I love wearing hoodies and jumping in piles of leaves.  I love Saturdays full of college football and friends.

When Johnny was packing on the night before his deployment I told him that when I could buy a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks that I could start to get excited about him coming home.  Well folks, today Pumpkin Spice is here!