Post-R&R is for the birds....

Today I am grateful for Skype...I am sitting here crying, watching my husband sleep via Skype.  I miss him SO much. 

Today, I am thankful that we are over the two-thirds-of-the-way mark...meaning I only have to do this for four more months. 

Today, I am thankful for technology...and the free webcam I got just months before he deployed. 

Can you tell I am trying really hard to cheer myself up?!? 

He's still workin' on me....

God has reminded me several times in the last couple of weeks that I have not yet arrived.  I am not who He wants me to be...by far.  I have things that need work.  Some very big things. 

It is easy for me to sit here and compare myself to others, and think that I have it together.  After all....well, we all do it.

"I'm not so bad...after all, I don't do...."

Ha!  From the outside, I *may* look like a "goody two-shoes".  Those that really know me, know that I DO have struggles, and I am far from perfect.  I yell at my kids.  I get frustrated and angry with things that I should just let slide.  I speak my mind...lose my mind...give people a piece of my mind.

My mind is a HUGE part of my struggle.  And my tongue.  Pride.  Ugh.  That one gets me every time.

God gifted me with the ability to do a lot of different things.  I am so very thankful for that.  I have to keep reminding myself that HE is the One who gave those gifts...I had nothing to do with them, and CAN NOT take credit for them now. 

As I was sitting here contemplating, I was reminded again of a song we used to sing when I was growing up...think I'll pull it out, dust it off, and take it with me for the rest of my day...

R&R =/= REST or Relaxation (yet)

Jason got home for his R&R last Tuesday...he's been here *just* over a week now, and we have yet to slow down. 

Tuesday afternoon we went to the airport to pick him up (YIPPEE!!), and spent the evening at home. 

Wednesday Jon had a performance, so we got him there.  We cleaned up the house, packed our stuff, and sorted through where the kids were going to stay, since our arranged-months-in-advance house-sitter/baby-sitter fell through.  We went to the store.  We went to the bank. We finally dropped the kids off with some wonderful friends, stopped and got supper, and made our way out of town for two nights at Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, VA.  That *WAS* actually restful.  We talked, Jason did homework, we played putt-putt, we went out to eat, we shopped, and we SLEPT.  That was Wednesday night, and Thursday. 

Friday we drove back to town, took the kids to lunch, picked up things at Walmart, Sam's Club, Verizon (new iPhones!!), Men's Wearhouse, and the vacuum cleaner store (new GOOD vacuum!!).  We made appointments to get the car in to the shop, the dog into the vet's, and verified dentist's appointments for myself and 4 of the kids.  Then we finally made our way home and hung out for a while, waiting for the big surprise for the kids...Nana & Papa get here in time for supper!!  After eating, they left for their motel, the kids went to bed, and Jason and I stayed up waiting for our friend's flight to get in....and we finally got to bed around 1:00 a.m....

...only to get up and go at it again in the morning, leaving early for a beautiful wedding back up the road past Williamsburg.  Jason was an usher for the wedding, and the two little girls were flower girls...and Jason's parents met us up there, too.   Saturday was another LONG day...we got back to the house around 9:00 pm.

Sunday was another long day...church, with Jason, Carl, David (who got in LATE on Saturday night), and Jason's parents all needing to catch up with people they hadn't seen in quite some time...then home for naps and then swimming and dinner at Jason's sister's house for the evening...which meant ANOTHER late night.

Monday started early, since Jason's parents were leaving again to head home to South Carolina, which meant an early breakfast at our house, to include *only* 15.  Pshew...ever so glad for paper plates and a dishwasher!!  Carl was supposed to leave then, Monday night, but because of a thunderstorm his flight was canceled, so he got to spend another night here. 

Yesterday saw Carl catch his flight, the dog to the vet, and Leah to the dentist to get two (baby) teeth pulled and another filled, as well as two separate Bible studies for the two oldest kids, and a movie for David and Jason. 

Today, the little dog went back to the vet (poor little guy is having surgery today), the car in to the dealer for an A/C recharge, an oil change, and a visor replacement....and now Jason and David have taken all of the kids to see Cars 2, while I sat down to catch my breath...do laundry, do dishes, shower, work, and catch you guys up on our crazy lives. 

Hopefully tomorrow will slow down even more....because I can't keep this up!! 

Meanwhile....Isn't that man in the tux handsome?!? 

What I do when stressed....

Take one block of chocolate almond bark....

 Melt...

Add one bag of pretzels...

dip...

dry...
and eat...
YUM!!

Accomplished

This weekend was a BUSY one. 

Jon had his first concert with the Virginia Arts Festival Rhythm Project All Stars (Steel Drum Band).
I had to grocery shop.
And lawn mower shop.
And clothes shop.
Which meant a trip to Walmart.
On Saturday morning. 

Yeah, I thought it was going to be crazy.  It wasn't.  I took Jon with me (after all, the clothes shopping was for slacks for him, for the concert that evening).  We used and filled two carts, NOT including the lawn mower.  Ah, what a beautiful feeling to have FOOD in the house again.  I'd forgotten about that thing that goes with having kids home for the summer....3 teens, 1 tween, and 2 elementary girlies...myself, 2 dogs, 1 cat, 1 leopard gecko, and 2 water frogs (we're caring for the classroom pets for the summer).  Sheesh.  They all eat...ALL.THE.TIME. 

Anyway...back on track here.  Jon got the lawnmower put together, and mowed Sunday afternoon. 
His concert went really well.  GREAT group of kids.  They had their first gig today.  He should be home soon so I can find out how it went. 

Today we are working on finishing house cleaning/prep for R&R (translated: Mom is packing to run away for 2 days before she totally loses-it!).  Also Jon's concert/gig, Frances went out for FroYo, and now has a band sectional.  I spent quite a chunk of time this morning inputting dates on my calendar.  *sigh*  I am TRYING to not get overwhelmed.  I also went to the post-office-kind-of-place to mail some long-overdue stuff.  Yipes. 

Onward...last minute prep for R&R must be accomplished in the next 24 hours....

I *should* be overjoyed...

We are quickly approaching Jason's two weeks of R&R, and I am working on finalizing details of all that has to happen while he is home.  There will be a LOT happening during that time, including he and I getting away for a couple of days, a wedding, visits with friends, and a few other small surprises to cram into 15 short days. 

I *am* excited to see him.  I really am.  I know that all of us will enjoy the time with him, catching up on the last almost 8 months he has been gone, getting Daddy hugs, snuggle time, and long talks.  I look forward to having him here to have another adult to talk to, and having that male presence that the kids respond so well to. 

On the other hand, I am also already feeling the dread of him leaving again.  This is not an adventure any longer.  The days are dragging, and I am just ready for him to be HOME for good.  I am tired of trying to sort things out by myself.  I am not good at organizing things, time-wise...he is.  He is a GREAT cook...and he enjoys cooking.  I don't.  There are so many little ways that I miss him...his presence, his smell, his hugs, his big booming voice yelling at the football games...the house is *so* empty without him here.  

Meanwhile, I am already anticipating that pain again.  Because 15 days is NOT enough.  And when he leaves again, we'll have another 4 months.  There will be Operation Purple camp in August for the 4 little ones, Band camps for the oldest two, Steel drums performances for Jon.  School will start again...Frances starts her senior year, Jon his freshman year, Heather will be in 8th grade, Justin starting middle school, Leah in 4th, and Katherine in 2nd grade.  I will be starting my second year of grad school.  We will settle into a routine again, and somehow will accomplish all that has to be done.  

But there will be a hole where he belongs...one that he gets to fill for 15 days...reminding us how much we miss him.  And then he'll be back to his work...back to being in a time zone that is 7 hours different than ours, sleeping while we work, and working while we sleep.  And, as much as we LOVE Skype, it just cannot substitute for having the real man here, in person.

So, honey, I just want you to know how much you are missed and loved, and how much we wish you could be here with us to celebrate you when we get up tomorrow.  Thanks for being such a GREAT Dad to our kids!!  Can't wait to see you SOON!!!

One of *those* mornings...

We all have them...the morning when we D-R-A-G ourselves out of bed, stumble to the kitchen to start the coffee...only to realize that not only is there no milk left, but we forgot to get coffee last night, too.  Ugh.  I guess I'll start with tea today. 

Sheesh.  I really could *EASILY* go right back to bed now that the kids are all out the door to school.  Unfortunately, there is way too much to do this week to even consider it.  I'm sitting here trying to figure out how my "nice, quiet" summer without school has turned into this craziness. 

I am preparing for Jason to get home for R&R  (YIPPEE!!!!), going away with him for a few days, a wedding, friends coming, a farewell party for another friend, the end of school for the kids, and filling out paperwork for camps, as well as working.  Yes, I am working again.  From home, thank goodness...because there is no way I could finish everything else if I had to put in my time at some other address. 

Okay...it is time to get back to work...washer and dryer running, dogs sleeping, another cuppa in hand...yeah, I believe I'm ready....