I have learned...

As these looooong six months with Curt gone slooooowly come to an end, 7 weeks left, but who is counting... I thought I'd take a few minutes to think about what I have learned from this experience.
While I am so glad Curt will be coming home soon, I unfortunatley know that is probably not the last time we will be apart. But as much as it goes against my nature, I am going to try and NOT focus on that. I am going to try and just focus on the happiness and joy I feel in my heart knowing that our family will be back together again and push away all those worries and fears of how I will get through if and when we have to face this again. As a good friend of mine said, "this is the life we have chosen and accept it for better or for worse..." Being apart has taught me how very important it is to cherish the times that we ARE togther.
So, have I handled all this the way I thought I would.... you know the delusional way I had in my mind when it all started. You know, keeping it all together all the time, perfect house, PTO, sports, sleepovers... doing all this with a smile while mantaining a poistive attitude and patience with my kids. Well, that would be a big, fat, NO.... I have had more temper tantrums than I care to mention, we have been thru every drive thru in town more than I ever imagined, and don't get me started on the house.... I have had to so say no to sleepovers many times because I just don't have the energy and PTO has become an afterthought. Yes, my goals have definitley gotten a lot simpler. Do my kids feel loved everyday, do I comfort them when they are sad or hurt. Yes, despite all the things that in some peoples eyes could be considered failures, in my eyes these are the MOST important things and I feel I have succeeded here.
I have been following a good friend's blog and she has been writing about getting through her husband's one year tour in Korea... she put into words what I never have been able to to describe how I feel about this seperation... she said, " Althought the military has required us to spend much time apart, we are ALWAYS in this together...."