Please Pass the Comfort Food

I was going to post something like this anyway. But now that the Army has gone and said things like "he'll probably be home by Christmas but not before" it's extra special necessary for me to remember all the things I like doing while Luke is gone. Good things about deployment, if you will. Compared to the bad things it's a very, very short list. But it is a list nonetheless.

First, however, I was watching Nacho Libre with my family the other night, and Jack Black's sarcasm in this scene sums up my feelings pretty well:

"I know the wrestlers get all the fancy ladies, and the clothes, and the fancy creams and lotions. But my life is good! Really good! I get to wake up every morning, at 5AM, and make some soup! It's the best. I love it. I get to lay in a bed, all by myself, all of my life! That's fantastic"

By the way, if you've never seen that movie -- you really should. It's stupid some of the time but, like a lot of stupid things, also really ridiculously funny.

OK so my list of "grateful husband is gone" stuff:

-- I get to sleep in the entirety of a queen sized bed. Diagonally if I want. I mean, what's not to love about that?

-- I never HAVE to make dinner. Sometimes I just eat wheat thins. Again, where's the wrong??

-- I really really really like NOT flipping channels while watching TV. Ever.

-- Speaking of TV, I can watch whatever I want all of the time. Documentary about people who do crossword puzzles? Heck yes! Friends, season 8, for the 3,000th time? Certainly! More episodes of NCIS, a show I didnt even used to like at all? Absolutely.

-- Never have to wait for the bathroom.

-- Never have to wear anything even mildly attractive if I dont feel like it

-- In the last 6 months not a single person has tried to eat tuna in my apartment. It's like a deployment miracle.

So, don't go thinking that I want Luke to stay away because I REALLY REALLY REALLY DON'T. But I'm trying to come up with some positive thinking here. Yes, "no tuna" is really the best I could do.

I think I'm going to go to Five Guys now (while I'm still in place that has one nearby) and eat some comfort food. For the moment I've lost the will to be skinny. Someone feed me french fries and diet coke, please?

Gratefulness Everywhere

You can hit the little timeline of posts on the side of this page for Thanksgiving posts of yore. For now I bring you: annual "things I'm grateful for" post.

It's been a rough year -- that's not an exaggeration. There's been a whole hill of Army drama, personal drama and other drama making the ordeal rather, well, trying. And exhausting.

That brings us to this: I am grateful for all the wonderful friends and family who have helped us through it. Without them I wouldn't have been able to do six months without Luke and with an infant.

More things that I'm grateful for:

-- Baby Dave. As predicted last year he is cute, cuddly and super fun to tickle. But he's also some of the best company in the world, a really good listener and a true light on even the most down and hard day. I love that little boy SO much!

-- Luke. Even far away he is just the perfect support and person for me. I cannot believe how I lucked out in this deal.

-- My Army family. I can't even imagine how hard this would've been without them around. They have been and continue to be so important to me.

-- Coffee. For serious, folks.

-- God. We'll just say I saved the best for last. How could I have possibly get through any of this without Him to lean on?

Luke Returneth!

Excellent news: it looks like Luke will be able to leave for home in about a week or so. Praise Jesus!

It is blowing my little mind how SOON that is! After almost 6 months on the dot of waiting to see him again, I just can't wrap my brain around it actually happening.

Six months of sleeping alone. Six months of eating like crap because I can. Six months of watching whatever I want on TV. Six months of taking care of a baby all by myself. Six months of anniversaries and birthdays without the person that gives them meaning. Six months of hard core safety and homecoming praying. Six months of memorials, FRG meetings, being supportive, being supported, BBBs, small group, plane rides and oh so much more ... without Luke.

And all of that is about to end. I am so happy!

I know the reintegration process is not going to be easy. I mean, for starters, I really do like sleeping diagonally and it is not going to be a cake walk giving that up. And then there is the (legitimately) harder stuff. He's seen a lot of things go down that I would care to never think about, much less experience. He's been somewhere very hot, and, well, I'm pretty sure that starts to melt your brain after awhile. He has yet to really experience Baby Dave in all of his glory -- and now Dave is 7-months-old.

I'm trying to brace myself for the worst. I pray that the good communication we've worked hard to develop through journaling, phone calls when they were available and care packages pays off and we are able to pick up right where we left off ... if not further along.

I've got plenty to do before he gets here. For starters, I'm in Idaho until Dec. 1. And then there is house cleaning, grocery shopping, other previous commitments, Karissa good-byeing, meetings, pie making, shopping, pedicuring and other various and sundry husband-coming-home tasks to accomplish.

All of these are important ways to fill the time. Time until I get to be married again. Time until Dave gets to have a daddy.

Idaho. No, you.

I'm pretty sure I've used that line before but I don't care. It's just that good.

I'm here at the Doolittle homestead for a week or so. I'd say my family wanted me to visit but you and I both know that this is about them hanging out with Dave.

Case in point:

My mom: "My grandson is here so I'm doing great."

Me: scowling look

My mom: "Oh, and my daughter."

So there's that.

Idaho is cold, per usual. Actually, it's not much colder than Seattle is right now... but HERE it is rather windy all of the time - a dry, unpleasant wind.

And Dave is sick. This is particularly un-awesome here in the Land Of Dryness. I had to buy a humidifier for his room so that he could breathe all night long (or, more accurately, so that he could sleep all night AND NOT WAKE ME UP). At home we don't have this problem because it is way too moist in the apartment as it is. Anyway.

The really funny thing about this situation is that the poor kid now has laryngitis. So. Pitiful. But sooooo funny at the same time. You can tell he's TRYING to make a loud noise, but it comes out in a very small squeak.

Negligent

I have been negligent. Sorry about that.

Things have been very, very, very, VERY busy around here. Multiple days of the week I leave the house at about 8 or 9 a.m. and dont really get home until 6 p.m. or so. All of that time is spent running hither and thither and dragging my poor son around creation. Bible studies. Being supportive. Errands. Another Bible study. More being supportive. Memorials. Battalion events.

It's becoming a bit of a drag. I'm not going to lie.

It's also VERY cold in this apartment. Why oh why did the downstairs neighbors have to move?! I guess I should turn on our heat. Meh.

Thursday we head for Boise where we will spend a week and a half with my family. Free babysitting! woohoo!

I'm not feeling super inspired right now ... Ill write more later.