Well, almost. Eleven hours from now Nate will be back home. I was able to care for the girls and our home and oh so many other things for two weeks while Nate was gone. YES!!! And yet my accomplishment can be likened to the ant who rolls a grain of sand to the bottom of an anthill compared to the thousands of military spouses who care for their children and homes while their spouse is at war thousands of miles away for a year or more, and usually on their second or third deployment. I have always had great admiration for them, and count it an honor to be in the midst of so many of them here, but my appreciation for them just grew tenfold.
But, at the same time, I can't really say to one of them, "Hey! I just survived 2 weeks alone while my husband surfed in California!! Pat me on the back, will ya?!" I'd probably get kicked in the shins instead. So that's why I am telling you.
Admittedly, at times it was a challenge for me, but I am a lot stronger too. And we had some good times too. Like last Sunday when my feet were aching so much I suggested that we have "Spa Day" and we soaked our feet in a hot peppermint bath, gave each other foot massages ("Mom, how much longer do I need to rub your feet?") and paint each others' nails. I wish I had my camera to show off the extra treatment I received, with nail polish dribbled around the tips of my fingers and pink, purple, glittery, and shimmery splotched here and there on my nails themselves. Fancy. The next day Ivy decided one coat just isn't enough for a real lady, and gave herself seven coats on top.
Or that same weekend when we had a North Shore vacation at Nate's parents' place in my favorite place, Haleiwa, while they were on the Big Island. It was sooo nice. I taught a stand up paddle lesson on Friday, then we played at the beach, then I watched TV and folded 1 1/2 hours worth of neglected laundry. And this time, America's Funniest Home Videos was actually funny! And then on Saturday we took an unplanned stop at a friend's house who just got a horse and a cow. Kezia got to milk the cow and the girls got to watch workers clean the horse's shoes. Cool. Then a car wash, then a block party in Waialua, more TV and laundry, and ah yes, the peaceful quiet of Haleiwa... Thank you, Kay and Eric!
And all the other times I felt really blest to have such wonderful daughters who are a lot of fun to be around.
2 comments:
Yeah, I am super impressed! I don't like having the single mom life for too long, so I can understand the relief that comes here at the end. So awesome! Way to go, you're a champion in my eyes. It's cool that you feel you're stronger in ways. I made a goal one day last week that I wasn't going to get Mad at Carter all day, and I was just going to let him be 2. Well, it ended up being a great day, so we did it the next day, and the next, and we still are...almost 2 weeks later. That has made me stronger. I've been able to train myself a little to be more responsive and less reactionary.
That is so funny- I can totally relate. Do you remember when we went out there and Sam left for China for 3 weeks. It was so difficult and I still had you guys there and my mom and dad. I remember the first time explaining it to a military wife as we were nursing our baby's in the Waialua Ward bathroom and feeling a bit foolish and spoiled about the whole thing. It was still very difficult. I think it was that trip that we decided me could not be a military family. -Erica
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