15 days in paradise

I picked Jeremy up Sunday, September 21st, for 15 days of leave and we made it back from the airport in time for a bonfire birthday party for Jeremy's sister and niece at their house. Thus began a whirlwind two weeks, apple picking, hiking, visiting museums and air shows, eating dinner with someone almost every night, and ultimately just enjoying ever minute we had together.

Holding Anna for the first time

Apple Picking

Minter Family Picture

Reuben was not immediately overjoyed to see his Daddy, nor was he indifferent. He acted just as happy to see him as he would be to see any of his uncles that first evening. By the next day though, he opted to snuggle and play with Jeremy instead of me on multiple occasions, and from there on he acted almost as if Jeremy had never left. They had an awful lot of fun together now that Reuben can walk, run, and climb. Anna was her remarkably smiley and sweet little self for most of Jeremy's visit, charming her father just as every little girl should. Jeremy and I got to get away a few times just the two of us, or for a double date with a sibling now and again, which I thought was especially fun myself. Looking back I'm not sure how the visit could have been any better.

Snuggling with Daddy

Playing in the Puddles at Church

Jeremy's sister Hannah went with me and the kids to take Jeremy to the airport October 7 for his 10:40a.m. flight. Reuben gave Jeremy a good hug and understood we were saying goodbye, but didn't particularly understand the significance. This goodbye was the easiest one for me so far, and coincidentally our first goodbye where I wasn't pregnant (ah, life is so much easier without all those extra hormones!) A girl friend and fellow military wife from church brought over dinner and a movie that evening, and so mercifully I've had people around to keep me from slipping into the blues and staying there. Reuben woke up in the middle of the night, and when I brought him to my bed to warm up and go back to sleep, he immediately began searching the bed for Jeremy and grew rather agitated when he couldn't find him. Once I explained that Daddy was gone and he wouldn't be back for awhile he settled down and fell asleep, only to awaken shortly and start searching to see if Daddy had gotten home yet, needing yet another explanation before going back to sleep for good. Reuben isn't talking yet, so it's hard to know exactly what's going on in his little mind, and interesting to see how much he understands even though he doesn't respond verbally. I miss Jeremy quite a lot myself, but at the moment watching my little boy miss his Daddy is the hardest part of this separation.

Saying Goodbye at the Airport

My family, who lives south of Houston, is still recovering from Hurricane Ike but they're making steady progress. Reuben, Anna, and I will be flying to Texas October 25th for our extended visit. My grandparents camper (that I was going to stay in) was smashed by a tree that fell across my parent's driveway. However, the widow that lived next door decided to go ahead and move closer to her son in the aftermath of the storm, and her son has agreed to let me stay in the converted garage and house sit for him while he prepares her now vacated home to be sold. Brings to mind an all too familiar verse about God working all things together for good, doesn't it?