Never a dull moment...

Jeremy found out on Saturday that the Army is going to fly him home for 15 days of leave starting September 20th. We had both been hoping that his leave time, if he got any, could be in January, though anything November or later would have been past the half-way point of the deployment. So at first the news had us both...at a loss. We wanted to be happy, but we just weren't. Right now being apart is miserable, but we've become more or less accustomed to it. Getting two full weeks together will be like heaven on earth, but then we have to say good bye all over again for six whole months, which rather overshadows the heave on earth bit. Up 'till now there's at least been the hope of leave time to look forward to somewhere in the middle of this forever long deployment.

This new development also means that I'm not going to Texas until early October, rather than next week like I had been planning on. It also means that when I go to Texas I will stay there until it's time to come home for good. Basically all major life events for the next eight months were just changed quite suddenly and without warning, and that really threw me for a loop. But, after sleeping on it, I had gotten over my sense of bewilderment and now I'm just thrilled Jeremy's coming home in a month! :)

My Mom used to have a Nancy Reagan quote posted in her kitchen, "You never know how strong a woman is until you put her in hot water."As days and weeks keep passing, I am frequently surprised to find how strong I can be when I have no choice. It takes about 3-4 times as long, is at least twice as difficult, and I end up doing deep breathing exercises before it's all over, but we can do just about anything we need to. However empowering each little achievement is, I am so weary of parenting alone. Though surrounded by people who love us and help out all they can, the care, training, and discipline of our two children ultimately rests on me. It's a burden that would be so much easier if it were shared. It isn't so much that I want Jeremy to take his turn or I want a break, I miss the camaraderie. Beyond parenthood, I just plain miss having a husband around. He makes life so much more fun.

A weekend visit from my friend Beth Anne

Anna Beth & me

Reuben & Anna, enjoying the Washington County Fair in RI