My little party (and a purpose)!

This weekend I had a party – it was a class A pity party, just for me!  There was chocolate involved (of course!  I would never dream of having a party without chocolate.)  There was some texting to a friend, a lot of “I can’t do this… o.k., I can do this, but I don’t want to do this!”  She texted back things that made me laugh.  Everyone needs a friend or two like that.  There was a sappy Nicholas Sparks movie involved, and even a few tears.  It was awesome.

I miss my husband.   People say, “But you are doing great.”  But the reality of it is, not all the time.  Some days, I throw pity parties for myself.

This one started when Josh asked me how many days until Christmas.  We were bored and sitting at a restaurant, waiting for our food, so I pulled out my calculator and started adding up the days.  (It was 73, in case you are curious, of course that was a day or two ago.)  So, then I got the bright idea to add up how many days since Bill had left, how many days until his R&R, how many days until he comes home for good.  I can’t say I loved seeing those numbers… especially when each day can already seem really long without him.  So, I came home and threw my pity party.  Waa!  Waa!  Waa!

There is a verse in Leviticus that I just love.  It says, “Because of His great love we are not consumed.  His mercies are new every morning.  Great is thy faithfulness.”  This morning was a new morning. 

Two things helped change my perspective.  First, I got to church.  And my pastor was rocking it!  He preached all about Matthew 6, the passage about not worrying.  I am not a worrier by nature, but I have been slipping into this destructive pattern lately.  Worrying about all the things around the house, worrying about the kids, worrying about when I will see my husband again.  But, not focusing on the things God has told me to do.  Like trust in Him.  And take life day by day.  And stop worrying about what I will eat or wear, because my Heavenly Father knows I need those things and he cares for me so much more than the birds and the lilies of the field. 

The second thing is just awesome!  Bill sent me an email that went something like this, “Just found out some soldiers are helping support a local orphanage.  Got the message too late to ask you to send anything, so I ran to the PX and bought a few washcloths and small socks.  I’ll let you know when the next donation time will be so you can send things.”  Oh my!  This was exactly what I needed… I can so get on board with supporting a local orphanage.  I love that my husband is doing this, that he is going to know how to ask all the right questions, that he is perhaps there for exactly this purpose.  Sure, he’s an amazing soldier who is doing a fantastic job, but this is so much where his heart lies, and mine too!

So, this is a heads up – pretty soon, once we get a few more details, I’m going to be asking for stuff.  Like maybe shoes, or coats, or candy, or toys.  Or whatever they might need.  So be ready.  Because now, I’m a soldiers wife with a purpose. 

And by the way, I threw that pity party to the curb.  Can’t promise I won’t have another one from time to time, but right now I am way too busy.  I’ve got some orphans to pray for and help.

So far, so good!

We made it though week one of "Operation No-Daddy".  Sorry for the cheesy title - that's what the Army does all the time.

I put both of the younger kids in camp this week, because this is not my first rodeo.  I knew they needed to be busy, I needed them to be out of my hair for a few hours each day, and it ended up being a great decision.

Michelle went to Nature Camp with her BFF.  She liked Nature Camp, except not so much the nature part.  She likes the water activities, the playground time and hikes, but not the bees and moths in the bathroom.  I think we need to take this girl camping a little more often.  I can't have a kid who is afraid of bugs!

She also had a couple of playdates with the above pictured BFF.  Good move - between camp, friend time, and the pool, she was too tired most nights to squeak out much more than, "I miss Daddy." as her head hit the pillow.

Josh did baseball camp this week.  On Monday morning he asked me how long he would be at camp.  I told him 6 hours each day.  His response, "So, 6 hours a day for 5 days... that's just awesome!"   He loves baseball in a way that's hard to explain. 

The older 2 were busy with jobs, friends, college summer life. 

I am hanging in there.  Miss my man, but glad this first week is behind us. 

Who seems to be having the hardest time with Dad gone?  That would be our crazy dog.  He is pacing around each night, looking for Bill.  He sleeps by the door, and if he hears the slightest sound outside he jumps up, looking for his Dad.  He barks at the least little sound.  It's sweet, and very annoying.

My New Year Resolution!

I would be willing to bet many of you saw this title and were surprised for 2 reasons - first, you were probably shocked to see I am actually blogging!  And secondly, you probably think I am very confused to be blogging about a new year in July!   In many ways, it is a new year for the Cole family.  Yesterday morning my soldier, my husband, the "Brats" Daddy, got on an airplane to fly to "a-land-far-far-away" to serve his country.  He's only been gone 24 hours, but yea, we miss him a whole bunch already! 

I am trying not to think a year, but think of this as 52 weekends.  Weekends are the worst part - during the week, everyone is working, in school, and life is pretty much business as usual.  But the weekends are tough, because that is family time, and we are painfully aware that our family is not together. The other thing that's hard is holidays, so I'm thinking of this as 52 weekends and one of each holiday.  All we have to do is get through one of each holiday - one Christmas, one of everybody's birthday... etc.  But, even if you look at it as one of each holiday and 52 weekends, or a year, it's still a long time!

So, I am trying to be more intentional about blogging in this "New Year".  I am hoping maybe Daddy can see our blog in his far away land.  But, I am also doing this to keep busy, to keep a record of our year apart. 

I had someone tell me just the other day she could never be an Army wife.  She said we are made a tough stuff, and she just couldn't do it. I thought about that for a while after she left, and I realized how many people really don't understand military life.  If you think we are made out of something different than the rest of the world, that's not true.  We just happen to love a soldier - that's the only difference.  We cry when we are sad, our children misbehave, and we will all walk around with a little piece of our hearts missing until we are together again. 

This was the last picture taken of our family as a "whole".   Only 52 more weekends and a bunch of "ones" until we are together again.