Another Week Down!

This is one Monday I was glad to see dawn. Last week was probably one of the longest of my life! I am thankful to feel better and hopefully, be over the horrible head cold that hung around longer than I would have liked! I have too many things to do and three precious babies to take care of to be sick! I am so thankful God's mercies are new every morning and that He gives us a fresh week to start things over! The kids were out of school last Monday and Tuesday because of snow, so by the time Wednesday rolled around, the pantry, fridge, and freezer were just about about empty and I was ready for some time alone! Five straight days of being in the house with three kids and little to no adult conversation will do that to a girl! I am definitely ready for Spring and sunshine! Our house in Nashville showed FOUR times last week, which is good, but exhausting. Sometimes I feel like we live in a museum that people tour for free! More exciting than the showings was that our new house in North Carolina broke ground and is officially being built! In that regard, time seems to be moving along, but for Chad, the kids and me, time can't move fast enough. Chad is stuck with pretty much the same routine day to day unless something "exciting" happens and he gets to operate. I know he is anxious to step off of the ship for a bit but as the joke goes, it is the military and there are no guarantees, even though port calls are generally a part of deployment. I have a feeling that some of the stories he has to share once he returns will blow my mind! Based on the movies he has told me I need to watch to catch a glimpse into his Navy world, there is a whole other side to life I never imagined (or him, for that matter) before this deployment! Fortunately, there is our "real life" and our faith in God's plan and provision that keeps both of us grounded and focused on our future and our reunion as a family. Although both of us have burdens to bear right now, we begin to talk about the kids, our marriage, and other difficult times God has guided us through, and most things come into focus and our path becomes more clear. Hunter continues to become more like Chad every day and in every way that matters. He is loving, kind, compassionate and a wonderful leader, like his daddy. Courtney continues to think "out of the box" and blow me away with her insight and "spunky not punky" (most of the time...) attitude, just like her daddy. And Graham tries to comb his hair perfectly, like daddy would do if he were here, and wear his cologne so he can smell like daddy. These are the things that make Chad and me smile and hold us together while we are apart...these are the things we have invested are lives in and that matter to us the most. I am so thankful to know that no matter what the day brings and how I feel during this deployment, God never changes, nothing catches Him by surprise, and He knows how all the pieces will fit together! Chad...I love you...four hand squeezes are being sent your way!