Deployments and hardship tours are difficult to navigate when you have children. In my personal experience, they're more difficult the older one's children get. There are a limited number of minutes that we get to speak with our soldiers. As our children get older, the minutes that they need grow in number, and it becomes really hard to navigate the needs of all members of the family to connect with their soldier.
Long ago, I set up the plan that when our children missed Daddy, we would write it down. When they were little (and could not write letters), it was pictures.
I miss Daddy!
Me too honey. Let's go color him a picture!
Okay!
This was our norm. And through it, Chief has been bombarded with coloring pages and little notes written by grieving and heartbroken children.
I have treasured these things in my heart. I have celebrated the truth that he is such a great impact, such an amazing Father, that his absence wounds them. That they long for him deeply, and look for ways to connect with him.
This morning, I woke up missing Chief. My heart felt heavy. I'm not feeling very well today, and maybe that amplifies the longing of missing one's spouse. Either way, I slept in late, and then laid in bed for quite a while.
My kiddos were wondering what was wrong and I told them. You know what they did? They all brought paper and pencils and journals and ideas and they said Let's write Daddy some letters and color him some pictures until we feel better. So that's what we did. And it worked. I feel better. Yes, I still miss him. Yes I still feel a bit under the weather. But there is power in picking up a pen or a pencil and writing words of love to one's beloved.
I hope you have a happy weekend.
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