Today started out to be a great day! A little earlier than I like, those of you that know me well know that I like my sleep and mornings are not my favorite time of day, but well worth the 4am wake up call. My husband has made it safely overseas. The computer he was on didn't have a webcam or microphone, but any correspondance is wonderful to me, and at any time day or night. At least we could message and see for ourselves that we're both doing good. He got to see me on my webcam, apparently I'm beautiful at 4am hehe, so I'm thankful for that. Not the beautiful part, but the part where he could see me. I know it brightens his day to be able to see me.
We talked a little about how hard it was to say goodbye this time. Yes my friends we still use the words goodbye. Many people say "It's not goodbye, it's see you later", but to me goodbye doesn't have anything to do with finality. It just means we're going to hang up, or walk away in this case, and see each other again soon. In the end, a final goodbye will never exist for us, because we're going to spend our eternity together no matter what happens here on this earth. Anyhow, it was nice to know that he loves us just as much as we love him. Not that I ever doubted that for a second. We both mentioned how hard it was to keep walking. I explained to him how I had to just walk away after kissing him one last time before he got on the bus. Previous deployments I would stay and watch the bus pull away, but if I hadn't forced my feet to move when I did, I may have just jumped right on that bus with him and gotten myself in a heap of trouble. Not to mention lost a little of my dignity. It took everything in me not to look back. I grabbed onto my girls, one on each side, and just kept walking. He too had to force his feet to step up onto that bus. When it's all said and done, I give God the glory for giving us the strength to just do what had to be done, despite our emotions.
After about 45 minutes we had to say goodbye and I lay in our bed, Shay and Tibbles next to me, and fell back asleep assured that God is watching over him.
Not enough sleep later, the alarm went off and it was time to get ready for church. This morning I was okay with getting less sleep. I woke up happy and ready to start our day. I got to talk to my husband and I had two kid's church classes to teach. I love my kids and I'm always excited to see them on Sunday mornings. I was doubly blessed this morning with teaching a second class to help out a friend who couldn't be there. Both classes went well. We had practice for our Easter program, I was worn out after practicing it with two classes. I'm not as limber as I use to be. Running I can do, but jumping up and down and dancing all around is another story entirely. It doesn't help that this girl does NOT dance. Just ask my husband who wishes I would at least slow dance with him. I will do that, but only in the privacy of our own home. I don't know why, but I just don't dance. If you saw my uncoordination (not sure if that's a word) you'd know why. It should be interesting the day of the program when I have to stand up in front of the kids and dance with the whole church watching. Did I mention I don't get up in front of people either. Unless of course you want to see me pass out. God be with me on Easter Sunday!
I was proud of myself this morning when people asked about Trint. I didn't shed a single tear. I just smiled and answered questions. I suppose I was just psyched that I got to chat with him this morning. If you've ever spent an extended time away from you're spouse you know how refreshing it is just to know they are thinking of you. If that extended stay is in a dangerous place, it's extra refreshing to know that they are okay. It's doubly refreshing to know that you just made their day a little brighter because they got to hear from you.
After church we came home to make pizza at Tristan's request. I decided to jump on facebook for a little while since the kids were playing. I got some horrible news that just turned my insides in knots. A friend from KS who is engaged to a soldier in Afghanistan had been shot. As I read her postings, I felt my heart hit the floor. I met my friend when Trint was in the reserves in Osage. Her then husband served with my husband. She headed up the frg, and she was a great leader I might add. We became friends instantly. I've never met her fiance, but that doesn't matter. I know she is hurting like never before. A pain that no one should have to feel. All she can do now is sit by the phone and wait for the next update on how he's doing. It just puts into perspective what our military families are really facing. Up until now I haven't personally known any family who has had to go through this. Although I've never met him, I know her and her girls and I just can't put into perspective why this would happen to such good people. She loves God and she's just an all around great woman. However, God has his plans for our lives even when we can't understand those plans. It's hard as humans to trust that there's a purpose for tragic times, but as we go through the storm God will reveal his plans to us if we just let him. We have to cry out to Him, as I know my dear friend is doing right now in the midst of her storm. I know that in the end she is going to come out of this with her head held high and an understanding of what she has been through. Please keep lifting them up in prayer. Pray for her fiance to fully recover, God can do miracles after all, and pray for them all to have a peace inside their hearts that transcends all understanding.
Please also keep my husband, our friends, his unit, and all our military families lifted up in prayer until they ALL come home! God Bless Them All! God Bless You for your prayers! The best gift you can give anyone is prayer!
