Happy Halloween Daddy!

We hope you had a fun Halloween! We can't wait to wake up tomorrow and it will finally be Halloween at our house.

We miss & love you!

Love, Mommy, Katie, Bubba & Maggie too

Dear Daddy

Dear Daddy,

What are you doing right now? Are you sleeping right now? I think it's night at your house because the sun is shining here.

We went to the Pumpkin Patch this week. There was a huge pile of cottonseeds and we got to slide down them! There were little plastic saucers that we slid on. It felt soft. I was going so fast I was like a zooming car. There were lots more kids beside me. We also went on a hayride. We went around and saw where the cows slept. It smelled very yucky there. We also petted the animals. My favorite was a little black baby goat.

Happy Halloween daddy! It's almost here. I am looking forward to dressing up and getting lots of candy. I am going to be Cinderella.

Have a nice week.
I love you!
katie

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Dear Daddy,

I love you. I think you're having a good time. What are you doing right now?

We goed to the pumpkin patch. It was fun. At sports class this week, I did baseball. I pitched. And it was fun. And we went to the Apple Orchard. I love you daddy!

Love, bubba

Two Weeks Down...

Dear Sweetheart,

I can't believe it has already been two weeks since your departure. The first week drug itself out slowly and painfully, but this week has gone surprisingly fast. I hope the remainder of this deployment keeps speeding up this way! ; )

This week has been a fun one. We were very busy with the regular Fall activities...The apple orchard for apple picking and apple pie tasting; The pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins for this year and to have a hay ride and other little fun activities; Topics like apples, nests, seasons, and hibernation in school this week. This week was packed full to the brim!

The kids are bursting at the seams for Halloween to get here. I am excited too and am really enjoying the chill in the air each morning. It has gotten so that we have closed the windows at night and re-open them a few hours after waking. I just wish we had some lovely fall foliage to go along with the slight change in weather! Maybe in a few years time.

On the schedule this week? I will be pulling out a few of our favorite fall recipes to enjoy together - chicken pot pie, chili, pumpkin cookies, applesauce, and hot chocolate of course. We will be attending a small halloween carnival at the community center and then trick-or-treating at our usual place. This week in school we will be continuing our study of fall things - nests, birds, hibernation, weather, and seasons. Soon we will be adding in Thanksgiving to the mix!

I am thankful today for the timing of your departure. As we know, after Halloween, the holiday season officially begins! The time will quickly pass by and before we know it, Christmas will have arrived in all it's glory! Though we will miss you like crazy during the holidays, it will definitely make these next 2 months pass by more quickly. Then after the new year, we will have only 4 more to go! How we long for that day when you return.

I am also thankful for you...a man of integrity, loyalty, and passion who is not afraid to carry out what he stands for and is not ashamed of standing for something substantial. In this crazy world that we live in, men like you are becoming less and less common. I am so grateful for the gift that God gave me in you. Thank you for being the man that you are. I am so, so proud of that man today and every day.

I love you,
Love, M~

Special Sister

The Santa Ana winds have arrived and are causing a ruckus around our yard. Tonight Bubba called me from upstairs, scared, because the wind was blowing the flags and they were making strange scratching noises on the roof. I explained what was happening, but he was still frightened.

From the bottom bunk, Katie made a suggestion:

Katie: Bubba, why don't you come down here and sleep with me?
Bubba: Um, ok Katie.

He gathers his Boo, blanket, and pillow and slowly descends the stairs to hunker down in the safety of Katie's arms.

After he gets situated, she smooths the covers and starts rubbing his hair.

Katie: Now, isn't that better my little boy?
Bubba: Yes. Can I sleep here the whole night?
Katie: You sure can. Don't you worry. Your sister will be right here the whole night long. After all, that noise is just the flags, right moma? (in a worried voice)

I assured her that it was nothing scary and they lay snuggled together content that they were safe in each other's arms.

And there's nothing wrong with showing a little kindness to your brother if you get some safety in return for yourself, right? ; )

Love, M~

Bubba-isms #1

During lunch or dinner lately I have been quizzing the kids on the things we have been learning in school. Tonight...

Me: What are the 2 main parts of the Bible?

Bubba: The old part and the new part.

Love, M~

The minions are revolting

This was the look I got tonight when Bubba served Maggie her delicious and nutritious dinner.

Do you think that she possibly has gotten over her brief enamor with the dry dog food?

I hope I don't find a pile of poop on my pillow tonight.

Love, M~

Stinky Signs of Progress...

Tonight the kids and I were lying on the couch watching Cinderella after dinner.

The quiet was shockingly interrupted by a loud passage of gas from Bubba.

Me: "BUBBA!!!!!!!!!!!" (trying to get away and find clean air)

Bubba: "Don't worry mommy - that was just my defense mechanism."

Moral of the story: Just when you didn't think he was listening during science time, guess what...he was!

Love, M~

Dear Daddy

Dear Daddy,

We've been eating all your kisses that you left us. I like to eat mine in the morning when I wake up and think of you. I believe that you're having a great time. I hope you get to do something so fun that you hardly can't believe it. Do you do exercise? Or do you just do work? I hope you do exercise cause you want to be healthy. I know you will have a great time. I had to get shots. I had 5 shots and I didn't even cry. I love you daddy.

Love, bubba (I typed my own name)

***************

Dear Daddy,

I'm glad you made it there safely. We're having a fun time. Are you having a fun time? Sarah and Lauren and their mommy, Bubba, me and mommy went to the apple orchard yesterday. I didn't feel good because I had 2 shots. But I didn't cry at all, just like Bubba. We went and rode bikes tonight at the school parking lot. Mommy let us ride far away past the poles. But we were careful. I don't feel very well today. Because the shots made me sick. I'm having very much fun with mommy, Bubba and Maggie of course. I wouldn't forget her. I love her so much. Maggie's my best dog friend. Today Maggie made me feel better when I was sick. She licked me. She gave me some kisses. How are you doing? I love you!

Love, katie w.

One week down...

Dear Sweetheart,

It has been one week today since your departure. I wish I could say that it has been easy to bounce back and that our lives have gotten right back to normal. But that would be a lie. Instead, I will be honest in saying that we all survived this week pretty well. That in itself, I believe, is an accomplishment.

Driving away and leaving you there was just about more than I could bear. I know without a doubt that God was with me because there is no way I am strong enough to leave you like that. It just hurts too much.

My first night alone in our bed was extremely hard, as it always is. I slept with your pillow hugged against me so that I could smell you as I fell asleep. I thought about you flying in your plane to that far away land and knew that your heart must be aching terribly for us too.

School and the kid's activities have helped the week pass pretty quickly. The nights are the hardest, though, after the kids have gone to bed and I am all alone. The hole left in my heart when you leave is indescribable. It is honestly like a piece of me is missing. Well meaning friends say to "keep busy" so that I won't miss you so much.

I have found that advice to be far from the truth for me. I find that my healing happens when I let myself sit in my pain for a little bit, rather than ignore it or try to redirect it somewhere else. As with all my trials, it brings me running to the feet of Him who knows me best. Not only that, it helps me truly appreciate how much you mean to me and what an important part of our family that you are. The wisdom learned in those two lessons alone far surpass the cost of the pain that I feel. It is well worth the price.

I know the weeks will pass and that our pain will not be as sharp. The first weeks are always the worst part of all. It's not that I miss you any less, I guess it's just that we get more used to our "new, temporary normal". As it always seems to do, life does go on.

So we will rejoice that you made it to your destination safely and that you are doing well there. We will rejoice in having communication with you there and look forward to every moment we can spend together - whether in voice or thought.

More than anything, we will praise God for you and ask God's constant provisions for you and all of our military members who are far from home.

Not a breath goes by without you in it.
All of my heart,
Love, M~

Weathering the storm together

Katie was abnormally snippy this morning. At first, I overlooked it but then I let it get to me and started snipping back.

After a few minutes of this I excused myself to the bathroom where I sat and prayed, pleading for a hefty dose of self-control and insight into Katie's heart.

When I went back out, her whole attitude changed and her heart became tender. It's funny how our spirits react toward another spirit when they are mean versus full of love. I have no doubt that she could feel the change in my spirit and that's what made hers more tender.

After a few minutes of holding, singing, crying and praying together she decided to share.

"I feel like I am in a thunderstorm and I can't get out. The only thing that can get me out is daddy."

Heartbreak.

So I did the only thing I could do. I gave her all the love I could - snuggles and tickles and kisses galore - and then promptly made us big steaming cups of hot chocolate.

Marshmallows among friends can't replace daddy, but they can sure mend a broken heart.

Love, M~

What will Bubba be?

After seeing this scene this morning,



I wonder, are there any old style boy's choirs left?



Pondering that thought.

Love, M~

Profound thoughts

My butt is big, but so is my heart.

Love, M~

Gratitude

So thankful for friends who know what we are going through.

That is priceless beyond measure.

Love, M~

I wish I were more limber

My back itches and I have noone to scratch it.

At least I have a bristly brush.

Love, M~

What made me sad today

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Love, M~

Countdown...

1 day down

Approximately 209 to go

Hmmm...Maybe this isn't such a good idea yet

Love, M~

How to make yourself feel better

Watch movies back to back to take your mind off of the reality at hand - preferably the little mermaid, cars (make sure you have your lightning mcqueen pillow), and mrs. tiggy winkle (in that order).

Eat pre-packaged chunks of cookie dough with your fingers instead of a spoon.

Eat pre-packaged warm, gooey cookies straight out of the oven and laugh when you purposefully get melted chocolate all over your face like the kids do.

Chase it down with a big glass of cold milk in one gulp while the kids ooh and aah over your amazing skillz.

Remember how much fun those last 3 moments were when you have an awful tummyache 2 hours later.

Make a pallet on the floor with your kids and have tickle wars.

Pretend like rubbing your feet is a super huge deal then get them excited about it when you "allow" them to do it. Say something like, "I don't know if you're ready for how much fun that is".

Stay in your pajamas all the live long day.

Don't brush your hair, though it might be a good idea to quickly hit your teeth with some toothpaste (learn from my mistakes).

Let the kiddos camp out in the bedroom floor and the dog camp out in the bed. Resist the urge to complain when the dog has you trapped in fetal position at 2am.

Pray for daddy often and talk about our very favorite things we love about him...ALOT.

Missing you!
Love, M~

So I don't ever forget...

You know that I call the kid's "tushies" their tootie fruity.

So Bubba and I were making recipes with our big bag of jelly bellies. He was pointing on the back of the bag to certain jelly beans and asking me their names. Lemon drop, buttered popcorn, bubble gum.

Then he pointed to a patriotic colored one named...

You guessed it. Tootie fruity.

"Does that taste like a tootie fruity?"

So we dug through the bag to see if, in fact, it tastes like Bubba's tootie fruity.

Bubba said it doesn't taste like his tootie fruity.

I hope he's just guessing and doesn't know from experience.

Ew. I'll take his word for it.

Love, M~

A conversation

Bubba: Mommy, why do you still have daddy's wedded ring on when you're going to bed?

Before I could answer...

Katie: Because when daddy is far away she keeps it on to think of him so he in her heart all the time while she is missing him.

Bubba: Why doesn't she wear it to bed when daddy is home?

Katie: Because he is here then and she doesn't have to think about him.

Love, M~

Dear Daddy

Dear Daddy,

I hope you have a good time there. I was sad when we dropped you off. You can see my leaf man when you get back. And I hope you have a good time with me in your heart. I had cookies for breakfast and oatmeal for breakfast. And I even had my chocolate kiss from you today. Smiley face. : ) Now can I write Bubba? I love you daddy.

Love, bubba

**********

Dear Daddy,

I'm having a fun morning. Are you having fun? Are you going on your airplane right now? How many friends are there? I felt sad when we left you. I ate cookies when we got home. And dinosaur oatmeal. There's dinosaurs in little eggs and as soon as you put the warm water they hatch out of their eggs. The cookies were chocolate chip - we ate the dough and then we cooked some and ate them. They were warm and gooey and good. I miss you and love you daddy. Oh! And take pictures of the cow on the airplane.

Love, katie

Sad Day

Dear Sweetheart,

This morning I woke up and savored the feeling of your sleeping body beside me. This is the last morning for many mornings that I will wake up to that luxury. I softly traced your arms and face, hoping not to wake you. Then I just snuggled in closer and enjoyed your presence.

Days like this one are hard. But the honest truth is that I wouldn't change a thing about our life. Our times apart force me to become more independent and know myself better. They force me to become more dependent on God. Your absence makes every moment with you that much sweeter and forces me to really live in our moments together and savor each one. They make our love more passionate, more new, more real.

I go to those special moments in my mind too frequently to count. I use them to bring you closer to me and heal my heartache.

I used one of our special moments this morning to help me drive away and leave you. I was thinking of our second date when you took me for my first flight. I will never forget that night. Flying over Nashville in that cessna still ranks in the top 10 moments of my life. The cool winter air, the gentle way you helped me into the plane, the professionalism you displayed while preparing for our flight. I was - and still am - so totally and completely impressed with you.

You are without a doubt the best thing that has every happened to me. I have no regrets, no doubts, no hesitations with you. You made my heart skip a beat then, and you make my heart skip a million beats today. The best part of all is that I was sure of this fact then and I am even more certain of it today...you are the man that God intended for me to marry.

And you are well worth waiting for.

Missing you and patiently waiting,
Love, M~

The countdown begins...

Dear Sweetheart,

The official countdown has begun.

With less than 24 hours until your departure, I am feeling the familiar pangs that I well remember from the past departures...fear, anxiety, extreme sadness. I so want to stop the hands of time and keep you here with us. It is almost unbearable to take that last step - that final plunge - and actually let you go.

But God is faithful. As I try to calm myself and ask for his help, he quickly puts a favorite poem in my mind quoted from Elisabeth Elliot (my favorite author).

So I will meditate on these wise words and plead for him to make my task more easy, more manageable, more peaceful, more obedient to Him by helping me to make the choices he would be proud of and that would honor you most. To hand him my cares, one by one, over and over - even the ones that I hastily snatch back again and again - and trust that he will manage them as he sees fit. To trust that he has my best interest - our family's best interest - in mind more than I could ever imagine and knows exactly what we need and when we need it.

And I will do the next thing.

With both heartache and hope,
All my love, M~

Do the Next Thing

At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
There came in the twilight a message to me.
Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven
That, as it seems to me, a teaching from Heaven.
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
Like a low inspiration, "Do the next thing..."

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,
Trust that with Jesus, Do the next thing...

Do it immediately, do it with prayer,
Do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
Who placed it before thee with earnest command,
Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
leave all resultings, Do the next thing...

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering be thy demeanor,
In His dear presence, the result of His calm,
The light of His countenance, be thy psalm.
Do the next thing...

Dear Sweetheart

Dear sweetheart,

I am sitting by you right now on the couch listening to you snore. :) While this usually causes me to gently give you a "lovepat" (elbow to the ribs), tonight I am just sitting and listening to you and enjoying our last few days together before you leave.

You can't see it on the outside, but my heart is hurting. This is the hardest part to me - the letting go part. It is always hard to let go of something when we love it so much. But I will let you go and not only that, I will joyfully send you on your journey. Not because I don't want or need you here with us. Not because I won't miss you terribly and hurt every single second that you are gone. I will do this because I know that you are doing a job that gives you purpose and fulfills your dreams. I know that you are doing a job that God planned perfectly for you and that he will use you for purposes greater than you will ever know. And so I ask Him to give me the strength, endurance, and peace that I will need to make it without you here. And He will....He always does.

I love you my heart!
I even love your snoring....at least when you are getting ready to leave. ; )
M~