packing
and more packing
We made a very last minute decision at the end of 2010 (when Bug was two months old) to go to El Paso with Andrew for his pre-deployment (families don't usually go along to this) we were going to have to pay for our own housing and figure out how to get there, ect. I still think it was one of the best decisions we have ever made. I know a lot of families are not able to do this and we were blessed to be able to. Instead of being separated for 11 months we were only separated for 7 1/2 months all the money we spent to make that possible was worth it. Instead of leaving a two month old Andrew was able to see his son for three more months before deploying!
This is where we lived for the first 3 months of 2011
I had a crock pot and two little burners. Let's just say I got pretty good using a crock pot! Brownies in a crock pot anyone? Yes, I have done that, pretty darn good actually.
El Paso has its share of beauty.
We were not sure how long Andrew was going to be in El Paso and if giving up our apartment in Louisville was a smart idea... we did it anyway. We were able to have three months of "stolen" time together and it was worth all the trouble (and the 24 hr. roadtrip with a baby!)
Judebug did a lot of growing while we were there!
Jude and his Daddy in the week before his deployment.
It was 9:46am in the morning. Jude was asleep in the backseat. I will never forget kissing him, seeing his uniform, watching him open the backseat door to kiss our sleeping baby, and I will never forget seeing him walk away. I did not think the ache in my stomach would ever go away. It did 7 months later when he came home.
Jude and his Daddy together again!
To be honest, I am glad 2011 is over. It was a hard year for me. But, I must say that even though it was full of a hard separation, hurts, and many mistakes on my part; I have learned so very, very much. I have experienced love and grace as never before. In 2011 I struggled to know how to best love, and support my husband who was across the world from me, I got frustrated with being a Mom and caring for my child alone; I felt like a single Mom most the time. If I think that 2012 is going to be amazing just because my husband is home and we have everything figured out I must be crazy. As much as I love having my man home we are both two imperfect humans trying to love each other perfectly... that is where grace and forgiveness comes in again, and again, and again, and again... (you get the picture). If I think I am going to be the "best Mom ever" (or even the best one I can be) just because "Daddy is home(!!!!)" then I don't understand life very well (though I must say, having a Daddy around is pretty wonderful). :) The truth is, 2012 has already proved to have its share of challenges (in the what? Three days it has been here). This new year may look very different than the last but that does not mean it will be easy sailing. Welcome to life, and by its very nature life is a little rocky. The question is how are we going to make it through this journey of life? Are we going to become cynical critics who are without hope? I pray that 2012 will bring myself, my family, and you, to a place where hope, grace, and faith meet; the cross of Christ.
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