Waiting Just a Little Longer

Last evening I realized that the time until Drew's return was short and I should stop doing everything that needed be done this month and focus on what I wanted to have done before or for Drew's homecoming. I planned what to focus on each day so I could keep from getting too stressed and found myself looking forward to the upcoming week. I may not have known the exact date or time of Drew's return, but it was time to stop thinking of his return as sometime in the future and realize it is fast approaching and it was time to get ready.

This morning I found myself almost floating on air and watching the clock- counting down the minutes until the plane took off that would carry Drew out of Kuwait and help bring Drew back to the States. Then my phone rang. I almost didn't answer the call because it was from Maryland and we don't know anyone from Maryland. Something said I should pick up and when I did, I heard Drew's voice. Sadly he didn't call with good news; he was ready to go, his bags were loaded on the plane and then he was informed that he had been bumped from the flight. Drew would not be leaving Kuwait this day.

I have cried and cried. In fact it has been the hardest day in well over a month. Months and months of anticipation came crashing down around my shoulders.

As the news settled in and I tried to keep going with our plans for the day, I found myself asking, "What do I do now?" All of my plans had begun to focus on Drew's homecoming, but I found that too difficult to do just now. Plus with this last minute change in plans, I no longer trust future plans will go as expected. I won't feel certain until Drew's feet are on US soil and even then, it won't be certain until my arms are around him. So what do I do now? 

As I told Drew when he told me, we'll just have to wait a little longer. And how will we wait? We'll wait expectantly knowing the Lord is still in control- even when our plans are turned on their head.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:28-31

"Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage;

Yes, wait for the Lord."

Psalm 27:14

Lord,

This storm may be small in comparison to so much of what happens in this life, but thank you for giving me someplace to look that is above the fray- Someone to focus on that is faithful, steady and true. Thank you, Lord, for bringing us this far and help us in the days ahead. 

I cannot deny that I am disappointed. I am so ready for Drew to be home. I just want to touch him and know that he is near. I want to watch him with the girls and celebrate with him as he sees how much they have grown. I want to spend my evenings relaxing in his arms and enjoy family meals together again. But I must wait a little longer Lord. Please be with us while we wait. 

Yes it is painful, but help me to wait patiently, taking each step in obedience. May this time of waiting, be a time of peace and preparation, expectation and joy, as can only be found in You. 

The Merry to Our Christmas

A few months back, I was thinking about how I could incorporate Drew in our Christmas card without resorting to a picture from before he left. I wanted to embrace our situation. I found a Christmas banner that was split into two ropes- one saying "Merry" and one saying "Christmas." When I saw it, I knew what I wanted to do. I sent Drew the Merry banner and asked that he take a picture with it.

In the mean time, the girls and I would take a picture with the Christmas banner. Then I could order photo cards with two pictures- Drew's picture on the left and ours on the right. In that way our whole family could wish our friends and family Merry Christmas from around the world. Then we found out that Drew would likely be home before Christmas, and suddenly that plan didn't feel right.

Time has moved on and this last week, the girls and I have decorated our house for Christmas.

 As I pulled out the Christmas banner to hang over our basement fireplace, I stepped back to admire it and thought, "Now all we need is for Drew to bring the Merry."

How true is that! Christmas is a time of joyful celebration no matter what. Even if Drew was away, Christmas would still be a time to celebrate God's gift to the world and the girls excitement would be bubbling over and infectious. For me though, I knew Christmas would be bittersweet because of how much Drew would be missed. Now not only will Drew return the Merry banner to our home, but with his return, he will add the Merry to our Christmas. And that is a gift from God as well!

The First Step

I cannot believe what time it is. 

It's incredible, amazing and absolutely unbelieveable. 

As I write this, Drew is very likely at or even on the plane that will take him out of Afghanistan.

Drew is coming home, 

and right now he is taking the first step back to our arms.

Skype to the Rescue

Written Friday, November 21st (Follow Up to post "Soon But Not Soon Enough")

 As the week has progressed, Naomi has continued to struggle with Drew's absence- in a way we've not yet seen. She has needed more ways to connect to him and made many more comments about his absence.

For the last 25 weeks, it has been our tradition to wear "Daddy shirts" on Fridays. These may be red shirts in honor of Red Fridays, Army-themed shirts, or any other Daddy shirt they own (ie. "Daddy's girl," "I love my Daddy," etc.). Naomi in particular has come to love this tradition and does make the connection to Fridays. Today however when I mentioned wearing her "Daddy's Girl" t-shirt, she told me she couldn't because Mr. Pace (her teacher) wasn't her Daddy and that's who was going to be at the Pizza and Pops event. I reminded her that we always wear Daddy shirts on Fridays and that even if Daddy isn't at school with her today, she can wear a shirt to remember him.

What she didn't know was that my Mom had suggested I see if we could set up a Skype call between Drew and Naomi during the Pizza and Pops event, and everything was falling into place so that she could see and share with her Daddy at school as well.

What a joyous thing to watch Naomi talk to Drew and share wih him the gift she had made! Happiness was evident in Naomi's voice and her absolutely genuine, carefree smile.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who helped make it happen!