The hubby left on the 17th of this month. To go to Afghanistan. For a year. Or more.               

While we are accustom with his comings and goings (which is a fancy way of saying  ‘we deal with it ‘) , it doesn’t get any easier as we get older.

In fact, it just becomes harder. I really miss him. Really.

As I told Rick years ago when we started this mad-cap adventure of ours called marriage…”I didn’t think I’d like you this much!”   - which adds to making it that much harder to say good-bye each time he goes. I like him. Really, I do! Yes, I love this man with all my heart and soul…but I will honestly say at first I was a tad cautious on the “like” part. I’m not much of a “liker” – I either love you or I tolerate you. Ask anyone who knows me well. But he has grown on me….I truly like him as well as being completely in love with  him.

So here we are – again – counting the days until he returns. I am only at Day 11 with only 354 more to go. But who’s counting? Oh yeah, I am. Again.

I have learned that the best way for me to make the “time fly” is to keep busy….doing all those things that I never seem to get around to doing while he’s home…not that he’s in the way or keeps me from doing things, but because I’d rather be with him – doing things – because I like him.

Being the great list maker that I am, here’s my list of things to do/get done while he’s gone….and hopefully by the time Day 355 rolls around, each item will be crossed off!

To-Do List for 2009:

1. Unpack all the moving boxes  (we just moved on the 5th!)

2. Organize the house

3. Purge/remove all junk! (garage sale, ebay, craigslist)

4. Start new job And wow, what a job!! Loving every minute of it!

5. Find a new church

6. Complete remodel on the condo

7. Exercise!

8. Lose 5lbs, 10lbs, 15lbs, 20lbs, dare we go for 25lbs? (note: this is always on the list of “to-do’s” while he’s away – and somehow these never get crossed off…)

9. Visit Liz & Matt in Vermont (when it is not blizzard weather)

10. Visit Robin in Hawaii (which also means get a tan and completing something from #8 )

11. Pay off all our credit cards (notice this is after the trips!)

12. Scrapbook – another one I dream about…

13. Catalog all our books (ok, this is for when I am really bored…)

14. Read all the books on my “to-read” list

15. Plan Rick’s 50th birthday bash!

A grand list for starters. But for today, I am just going to sit here and miss him.

Because I love and like him so very much.

Rick and Carla - Thanksgiving 2008

Counting the days and making it count, honey….I miss you!

 A portion of this post is from my Friday night date   weekly update to our homeschool organization – HIS Kids

Blessings to you & yours on this Easter weekend!

As you gather together this weekend to celebrate God’s grace and mercy shown to us by the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that you hold those dear to you just a little tighter – and for a little longer.

I have been working on putting together an “Easter” scrapbook for the last week or so. You see, I am not a “scrapbooker” – not even a diligent picture taker (as my younger children will testify – there aren’t many pictures of them as little children) – so this is quite a feat for me.

As I have sifted through the years of pictures from my children’s “Easters” – twenty five years worth to be exact – I have been flooded with memories and emotions. Some have moved me to tears. Some make me laugh. But they all bring one common thought to my mind….

WHERE DID ALL THESE YEARS GO???

I know you hear people say “they go by so fast” and you shake your head and think, “yeah – right, its been days since I have had a moment to myself and the only thing that goes fast around here is how high the laundry pile grows”.

Please know that what you are doing – right now – as homeschooling parents is invaluable to your children’s lives. You will not regret this time spent with your children. You may look back and say “where did the time go” but you will have taken the time to use those years wisely by pouring into your child’s heart on a daily basis – and yes, their minds, too. However, I do believe when you are “done” with this homeschool journey, you will look back and not regret these days. You’ll just want more – I know I do!

As my children have grown up and I have grown older, it makes me wish for those days of long ago. I tend to get very melancholy over the holidays now – they aren’t as much “fun” as they were when the kids were little. I seem to be in a “funk” over it at times. Unmovable as far as defining this stage we are in – with all “adults” in the house – knowing that I should be doing or creating something “fun” or memorable for them as young adults – but finding myself either tired, worn out or lacking the creativity to do so.

Anyone else out there feeling this way?

It’s been a weird season of holidays for us lately – hubby’s been gone for a year, my oldest dd & hubby are all the way up in Vermont, then there’s the prodigal who weighs heavy on my heart everyday and most especially on holidays, and then the three at home – who are gone most of the time with work & play.

Sigh.

As I have reminisced this week looking through the pictures of Easter outfits, egg hunts, family gatherings at my grandmother’s, –  it has made me appreciate and cherish those times together even more.

And again, IT GOES BY SO FAST!!

So in closing, take the time this weekend to enjoy togetherness as a family – worship together –  fully engage with your children in the true meaning of Easter – take some pictures – make some memories – and most of all, make it count!

Because He Lives – I am making it count!

~Carla