I can't believe that Doug is back in Philadelphia on his last rotation. I have felt every 294 days that he's been gone (minus the few days we've seen him). I won't say that the time has flown by because it hasn't. Some days have been VERY long, some days have been very short, some days have been filled with tears, some days have been full of sheer joy. The only constant in this whole ordeal has been the love and support from my Father in Heaven. I would be very ungrateful if I did not acknowledge where my strength and determination to keep going came from. I truly feel like the Footprints poem where it tells of how the Lord carried the man during his hardest times. There have been many times where I just didn't know how I was going to make it one more day with such loneliness in my heart. Our Father in Heaven has designed for us to live as families, to support and love each other. This separation has been a trial, but I have such a strong testimony that the Lord knew that with His help, I could make it.
I'm determined to make this experience be a positive influence on me. I want to be a better friend, a better neighbor, a better sister, the first one swooping in to give service, the first one to sit by someone new at church, a better confidante, a better listener, someone who gives healing hugs, someone who carries the Spirit with them so that people can feel our Father's love.
Hmmmm.....I'm not sure why I just wrote all that. This was not the direction I was planning on taking with this post. Oh well, I'm to lazy to delete it and try to come up with something else. Hopefully my rantings may be helpful to someone else.
These are Doug's rotations away from us. Sorry, I didn't realize it was going to cut off part of it. It all started in May 2009.
This is what our time looks like now. We went from four sections down to one. As of tomorrow Doug will be 1/4 of the way done with Philadelphia!
To my hunny bunny: I LOVE YOU! Thanks for working so hard so that we can have a pleasant perspective of the future. WE MISS YOU, but are so proud of you. No one will be cheering louder at graduation than me. Well, that probably isn't true, I'm not one for shouting or using blow horns. Just know my heart will be bursting with joy and pride. Only two months and three days until I'm with you in person again. Keep up the good work!
