It's That Time.



A few days ago, we hugged Stephen as he left with Laurie and Kasey to report for his deployment. He told us to have a good year - and all I could say as I hugged him was, "be safe, soldier" and then a weak "I love you" since my voice couldn't make it past the lump in my throat. I held him longer and tighter than ever before - I didn't do well at all. Which didn't help Laurie either since Ron cried as he shook hands and hugged Stephen as well. When she got back with Kasey a little while later, she was composed, and Kasey was ok too. Go figure, a little kid does better than a couple of senior citizens.
And so, we are into it - his third long deployment, fourth trip to the sand altogether. Yesterday, Laurie and I went to a scrapbooking place to see what they had (they had LOTS of really good stuff-a little pricey) and we will return there this weekend to buy. I need to make a practical list of what I need. Are practical and scrapbooking even in the same language?
Kasey and I are doing a two step - Kasey is dancing around the fact that Grandma is here to help him, although I fully realize that I am NOT "the boss of his toys." This in no uncertain terms from Kasey on Sunday when I asked him to please put some of his toys away.
I've asked Laurie to be straight with me - to let me know when she wants to do something for Kasey that I try to do. She's quite a young woman - independent, but still says very matter of factly that she still needs her mom and dad. It's good to be needed and not only needed, but wanted.
Kasey is grounded from cartoons today ('cause his mommy said so), so we will play a game after dinner. Kids version of Rummikub. Stephen said it might be even more difficult for us because we have to keep track of pictures AND numbers. Smart aleck. So we'll see how we do and then I can write and tell Stephen how we do....well, MAYBE I'll tell him. It depends on if he's right or not. :)
Digging our heels in, praying for the year ahead, and praying hard for all of our troops...not just for Kasey's mom and dad.

Up....or Down?

It's been awhile since I've posted here - most of my posts this summer have been over on my other blog. We've had a wonderful, memory making, but crazy busy summer working at a CO state park as camp hosts. For me, it meant many hours in Campground Services - checking campers in, selling them everything from soup to nuts to marshmallows - not to mention ice and firewood, and assigning sights to those who came in without a reservation but wanting to do some camping at available sites. There were the explanations of why I couldn't give them a week's worth of camping (we can only give the walk-ins two nights at a time because of the probability of double booking sites with the online reservations filling up the campground so quickly and double booking is a nightmare), lots of labor, but I loved every minute of it. Ron's jobs were a little more diversified since he was camp hosting (cleaning and checking sites to make sure everything was going ok with the campers and the campground). He also worked in the Entrance Station which he loved doing, greeting and selling passes ("I know you are only checking out the campground...that's only six dollars for a parks pass, sir").
But indeed the summer is over and we find that we are once again counting days until Stephen is deployed for the fourth time. We all know that life is a roller coaster for those who love a soldier - or two soldiers. It's more like the cyclone with two soldiers, but roller coaster nonetheless. A roller coaster is a roller coaster - doesn't matter how high the hills are, how sharp the curves, or how fast it rolls on the track. To make it a little easier for Laurie because of her hours, we have moved into their home to help with Kasey once Stephen is deployed. To be here if she is on call, or has to leave for work at 0500, or doesn't get home until 9 pm. Then there will be additional training during which she goes to another state for a couple of months.
So the question is, when you go through deployment, (again), is the car going UP, or DOWN?
Is it the going up that's so rough....when you don't know what's on the other side of the hill, or how far and how fast you will fall? Or is it the going down that's so difficult? It's going so fast that you can't see what's in front of you, or next to you... you can't breathe, you fear you will fall out, and the curves just seem to shake every bone in your body til it feels like you will fall apart. Is the down part when someone you love goes away, or is that the up part because you feel you will never get to see the top. You just keep walking up that hill, holding on for dear life.
And thankfully, we know our Father is walking with us. Sometimes He carries us and we know that we are in good and loving arms.
Up....or down. It doesn't really matter I guess. As long as I know Who is walking with us - and appreciating the fact that I know you will keep us in your prayers.
Just as you always have and because of this, I know we are in good company.
Blessings my friends - you are each a blessing to me.