Deployment Day #7

Today I painted the girls’ room. They are getting a new bed tomorrow and I wanted to get it painted before the bed arrived. The last new bed we bought was when we lived in Virginia Beach, before any of our girls were born.

I remember taking all three kids to the furniture store and picking it out. I remember thinking I would never take ALL three kids to a furniture store again. We picked out a sturdy bunk and a dresser. I wanted something that could take a beating from our two little boys.

That was twelve years and ten houses ago.

It seems like a lifetime. All seven of our kids have had that bunk bed in their room over the past twelve years. Today I”ll put an ad in Craigslist and give it away.

Some of the kids are struggling.

My oldest boy has grown up more in one week than in the past year. He’s “stepped up” because that’s what you do.

I’m proud of him.

I’m proud of all of them.

They didn’t ask for this life, but they’ve accepted it and lived it with few complaints and much joy.

My husband has been deployed to the Middle East for 274 days.  These are my real thoughts expressing my heart during his absence.  I appreciate your prayers and kind words as we cope, adapt, and carry on without him until August 2014.  To read from the beginning, click here.