Day 60, my anniversary tomorrow!

Let me start with the fact that I have now been married 12 years!  We have ridden this crazy roller coaster a long time, and each day I'm praying more for him, and clinging tighter to him.  Just loving him more each day doesn't say enough.  He has become this amazing partner and other half of me who works hard for me, and harder on loving me everyday.  He surprises me constantly.  I have no idea how all of this will fit inside of my heart, because I love him so much more than the day I married him.  I've grown to love him harder and in so many different ways.  As a husband, a father, as my best friend, and realize even more every time the other half of me is gone how much more I love him.  I love him for for pushing through our hard times, when I wasn't the one pushing.  For always being strong and so gentle at the same time.  For letting me feel like I take care of everything, but only because he first takes care of me.  Simply just putting up with me, and any extra personalities I may have hanging out.  I miss him terribly, and wish I was spending the day with him by my side.  We've missed out on probably half of our anniversaries!  One of my favorite was when I was pregnant ready to bust with lexie.  We had been packing and he was doing almost all of the cleaning, because I couldn't bend and reach so well being less than 3 weeks away from my due date.  I ran the vacuum and carpet shampooer because standing was the easiest, especially after a crummy fall that involved water in the kitchen floor and a big ole ready to bust me doing the splits!  Either way, at the end of the day, he took me to red lobster, because seafood is my favorite!  I think I may have gotten 2 shrimp cocktails... But it was just something significant on that year that started pushing us into the marriage and family god had planned for us.  I can't imagine, and look forward to every year ahead of us, hoping to hit at least 62 years, and pass my memaw and pawpaws record!

The kids and I have had an awesome couple weeks spending time with family, and heading back to Campbell to spend time with our "family" right here.  We've been together just about everyday with our fellow families who have deployed daddies.  It's so great to have these women to fill in the gap, keep us company and completely understand struggles.  We are even on the same down day schedules when we miss our guys worse some days, and just last night, Ari's family just had a sleepover!  After a crummy day of moping, it's nice to just have friends who get it.  We've fed each other, watched movies, stressed together through ANoTHeR black out, and tried to keep each other busy and laughing.

Kyle and lexie are adjusting much better having pushed through the first month, and falling into the routine of daddy being gone, where mommy turns into both, and they're afraid!!  Just kidding, kinda...  They miss daddy, but are staying occupied.  I'm headed back home soon, probably just for a short trip to spend Kyle's birthday at home!   I'm feeling so blessed to have the love, the babies, and the family that I have.  I am on the path he had planned for me.  

Mark is doing as well as he can... He's spending his free time pre planning vacations for when he gets back home, which is adorable!  He's cleansing right now!  I'm always a little shocked by his return home after spending his free time in the gym!
Love you all!  Good night :)

Day 47... Yeah, it's been a while!

We've been several hundred miles all around in the past couple weeks.  Home, to memaws, then back here to Mississippi.  Glad we ended up getting a new car, because I'd be broke trying to fill up my Durango for all this driving.  I love keeping busy, and as soon as I got back home busy was all that happened.  I think my neighbor and I spent more time together in those few days than the past couple months.  Weights were lifted off my shoulders spending some time at home with friends, and so glad God put me back home while I was really needed for a few days.  Got my baby fix for the moment with the sweet little girl whose daddy just returned from his deployment, and was so excited to know that she pretty much immediately fell into a daddy's girl role!  (We worry when our hubby's leave, when we have little bitty ones, what their reaction will be to them). I'm glad he is home with his family, and also appreciative to have his help getting Mark's truck moved & started back up.  Apparently his truck is spoiled, and she is acting out since she misses her daddy too... Haha our visit home was finished off with Lexie getting to spend a little time with her friend from school that had to be absent through May.  She's missed her buddy!

After spending a few days at home, we took off to hang out with memaw in Paducah.  Had a chat filled day with her, and then spent the first night hanging with Meme swimming.  Then the next day ended up at the pool at her house again after morning & lunch with memaw.  My cousin's son came with us, and they had a blast, even though Kyle wasn't with us... Friday morning, we spent a couple hours looking through photo albums.  You know the good ones with the sticky pages!  That has always been one of my favorite things to do, and Lexie really enjoyed it as well.  She was excited to see all the old pictures.  We left there around lunchtime, and I stopped by to visit daddy's grave.  It's beautiful where he's buried.  I would give anything to have him here for my babies, and everyone else he mattered so much to.

When we got back to MS, we checked out my little brothers new house, went to chili's and back to granny's to wait on our TX family to arrive.  Lexie wasn't feeling too well, but perked right up after her cousins, aunt Kimmie & uncle Dave got here though!  We haven't seen them since Christmas, so everyone was excited!  The weekend was spent with a going away party for him, and Sunday was breakfast & church with my awesome father in law, and then off to see my other daddy.  Grateful that all of these incredible hard working men have been placed in my life.   Sad that our day lacked the one daddy who means the most to us, and only wish he could keep from missing so many holidays and celebrations.

Today was quiet for the most part, everyone was gone but me for the early afternoon, and then I went to catch up with my Stac & we talked and laughed while Hoot cooked!  I hate admitting it, but his sweet potato fries are sooo much better than mine!  I love that family... They're my own, really!

Mark is doing well.  I hear something from him everyday, but miss my conversations all the time.  I miss a lot of simple things.  I miss just simply texting him while we're away from each other for the day, sending funny pics or just running him lunch on my way to the gym.  I miss my love being in bed with me every night, even if I do get so annoyed with his snoring!  (And having to sleep in the middle, and stealing all my covers...) He's sent both the kids a little something, which I'm loving.  They're  each getting little pieces of understanding that daddy thinks about them and misses them more than they can imagine.   You can tell them all day long, but they feel a little something special when they get something personally sent for them.  He is amazing.  

Our pace should slow down for the next couple of weeks, as we head back home in a couple days to spend some time with our campbell family.   July starts the kickoff of a busy beginning of the month with my 12th anniversary (one of many we've missed being together for), Kyle's birthday on the Fourth, the trip to Texas, Stacy's kiddos big bday bash, and Lexie's birthday.  Then the month is more than half over, and we'll be preparing for school and football! Moving right along... Seems like forever some days, but all is well with everyone.

Goodnight everyone!

Day 38

Let me start by saying, I'm glad I got home when I did :/
 I'm finally comfy in my own bed, and my neighbor really needed me tonight!  Glad I was here to help....
Lexie, Charlie, and I hit the road today to come back home and check on our friends here.  We've been enjoying family time, but ready to be back at home, for a few nights anyway.... Then off to memaws and back to MS to see my favorite nephews!!! I'm so excited I can't stand it to see those boys.

Things have definitely settled down since our crazy day that I last wrote about.  I've talked to my love pretty frequently, and had several things going on to keep us busy.  The kids had a blast at VBS all week, and I enjoyed going to see them perform at the end of it all on Friday.  I saw and chatted with a friend i havent seen in a couple years, too.  Then a great afternoon with Sarah and all our kiddos, minus Micah.  We let the girls pick what we ate for lunch, so of course, we ended up at the McDonald's play land.  Maybe not so great, but they had a blast playing.  Then off to her house for a few hours of sun and swimming for the afternoon.  Busy busy is the best way to make these days go by faster.  It's only been a little over a month, but those 2 weeks at home went pretty quick, and I'm sure the next few will too.

After an unusually eventful Friday night, with one wetting the bed and one awake early up chucking (from what he swears was one chip), we tried to get a little more sleep.  Lexie however was wide awake right as I got comfy again, practically demanding cereal & juice.  This is my child that usually is sleeping in, but couldn't be persuaded to do so today.  It's funny too how lately she wakes up and immediately want cereal, just like her daddy.  Unless he's off to PT, he has to eat before he turns into a crud from one of those snickers commercials!  Haaa!  Gotta love that Russell blood :) Kyle is more like me, where he'd rather skip and go straight to lunch, or have random leftover dinner food for breakfast.  He'll settle for cereal, but would chunk it in the trash for a hot pocket!  I adore my family, as crazy as they make me.

Mark wasn't able to call today around his normal lunchtime call.  I looked forward to it since I was driving home, then couldn't talk very long this evening.  Enough to help me figure out which charger to use for his truck, since it was dead when I got home, and to walk me through starting up the bike, since Kyle didn't come back to handle that!  We did get to talk a while just a couple days ago!  I love long conversations with him, because its like a mental & emotional recharge.

When we got home, Connor & Kaydee were immediately running out the door to see us, and we all went inside for mamas to catch up, and kiddos to play while I sorted through mail and papers.  Then we pulled out slip and slides for a little water fun for them.  When it was all over, my baby girl and I came in & she had some chicken nuggets, pickles, and cheese.. Then pretty much crashed after reading our new book from Dolly Parton!   Looking forward to the next few busy days!

Day 34...

Well, for those of you that read last night, I did finally hear from Mark.  It was several hours after receiving a phone call from one of the point of contact ladies in our frg.  She was calling to give me information on an attack that some of the guys from our brigade were involved in, and had me unable to breathe until finally the words came out of her mouth that if you were receiving the call or email, that your soldier is unharmed.  So, that sickening feeling and the worry that ensues after a morning like today's is hopefully going to be a distant memory very soon.  Hearing his voice, and seeing him frozen on my phone screen for just a quick second was a relief.  A huge one.  He was completely fine, and pretty ticked that I even got a phone call to worry us... All is well in our family for the moment.

While I do trust in Gods plan, I still fear for the safety of my love.  Why, doesn't he say FEAR NOT!?

God thank you for whatever lesson You were teaching today.  I appreciate my husband, and love him more and more everyday.  Thank you for helping us grow together, and for only receiving a simple phone call today, instead of the news that 2 other families had to hear.  I pray for them too. Keep molding me until you think I've reached Wonder Woman's strength status if that's your plan.  Amen

PS if you could also throw in some awesome super power with that...


We went to dinner, and then water Zumba tonight, while pawpaw took Kyle & Lexie swimming at the outside pool.  Between swimming  and VBS my kiddos are having some exhausting and exciting days. They're like little energizer bunnies that are programmed to annoy each other constantly.

I have to sleep tonight!!

Day 33

I can't explain what it is, the feeling when everything is  spinning in circles, and for 2 days in a row, I've not gotten a call from my hubby when I normally expect it.  I know they have issues with the phones, and the Internet.  I didn't hear from him yesterday morning, so the rest of the day is a blur.  You can't help but worry that something has gone wrong.  So, last night I get a call.  It's his usual morning call to tell me goodnight.  He only talked for a minute, saying they had bad weather the night before, so the phones were out.  Then a message from him in the middle of the night, but again this morning... no phone call at what's becoming his usual time to call.
If he was just in the field, or training, this would be different.  He is not.  He's in a country where people use weapons and grenades as a form of communication.  Where he sleeps with some M4 or something instead of his wife, where he's constantly watching and correcting and training soldiers as if they were his own kids playing too close to the road.  I know he calls me as soon as he is able, but in the meantime, a wife worries to death and tries to put on a smile and throw in some laughs, and not be too impatient with her kids because of the stress it causes.  You have no idea, unless you're spouse is doing the same...

It is just another few days passed, we haven't had the busy schedule that I expected coming home, with friends and family out of town.  Vbs has just started, and then we'll be heading back home for a week until our family comes up from Texas.
Had to handle something today that honestly shouldn't have even been my concern anymore.  But must follow processes to wipe slates clean I suppose.  Thankfully I had a few hours this morning to myself, and a few hours at moms chatting with my sis and letting my little wild ones swim some energy out.  Mom cooked lasagna :) pretty awesome!  Was supposed to go on a dinner date with a lady in town who is renting my house, but she cancelled, not feeling well.  Glad it worked out that way though, because it was much better than chili's would've been!


  I should be getting a phone call soon, lets hope...