The Soldiers Left Behind - BlogThe Soldiers Left Behind Blog
Keeping the family and the faith going strong
Sorry it's been so long since my last entry. I have to say I feel like I have been on a wild ride for quite some time now. While dealing with my own physical issues with my foot, I had been dealing with almost daily issues with both of my children. The tough part is that with my son the best I can do is give him my words of wisdom by phone when he calls from college. My daughter who lives 5 1/2 hours away is expecting my first grandchild and having complications. So almost 2 weeks ago I found myself packing my bags and making the 5/12 hour drive to spend the last few months with my daughter. She had been put in the hospital because of her complications and although she was thankfully discharged the next evening we are doing all that we can to keep her in bed resting so this baby doesn't come too early.
My husband drove me over and ended up flying home so he could work the next day and remain home to manage the household. It's been 2 weeks since I have seen him and I have to say I think we are both learning what deployment was like for the other person. He is now home alone taking care of the empty house and the dog and I am away on a 2-3 month mission to take care of my daughter and be here when the baby comes.
I am starting to understand that although he had a job to do, he must have had to work very hard to keep from missing home. I miss home a lot (perhaps more because I don't know when I will get back there) but I also feel I need to be here to take care of my daughter. It's such an emotional struggle. On the flip side, my husband has said he is really starting to understand what I went through being left home alone. Going to bed every night with nobody taking up space on the other side and nobody to talk to, share meals with and just hang out with. He has however discovered that he loves to use his new free time to fish for Bass out of our lake. I am happy he has found a way to clear his head at the end of the day and even catch one or two fish!
Regardless of how much this experience is putting us both to a new "test" within our relationship, I can't help but think it will also help both of us understand the other person so much more and that I will finally be able to put my baggage aside and let it go for good. I'm learning it couldn't have been any easier for him to be separated from me than I am feeling right now and vice versa. I am excited to chat with him about all of this when he comes to visit and talk about what lessons we have both learned.
The next few months will be tough and I am trying to wrap my head around how to plan a vow renewal from so far away but I'll get through it.
So I have had some time to think about what's going on in my personal world and I will share more in my next post.
Wishing you happiness and light!
Until next time,
Laura D.
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