Posted: Dec. 29, 2009

What a difficult, but yet amazing year it has been for our family.

My husband, David Stephens was told mid-2008, that he would be deploying to Iraq with his Wisconsin Army National Guard unit.

As newlyweds, the time that led up to the deployment in February 2009 for me was filled with many emotions - sadness, loneliness, and uncertainty of the future, and so much more.

Though, as a military wife, I was proud of my husband for doing what he so much loved to do: fight for the freedom of our country.

The time came for him to deploy on Feb. 21. As I dropped him off that morning, I left feeling sad, but knew that I needed to be strong for the year ahead for both myself and for him to make the deployment easier for both of us.

Quickly after he deployed, we found out that we would be expecting our first child in mid-October. On Oct. 22, Margaret Joanne Stephens was born.

David was home on leave and present for the birth, being able to spend five short days with her before returning to Iraq.

David will return home to Wisconsin in mid- to late January!

- Katie Stephens

West Allis