Additions to my list
If you have been a blog follower, you know that I have been trying to remain very positive during Tim’s deployment. From the outset I began a list of ‘Good Things’ that I plan to add to continuously. I thought it was time to add to my list.
1) Thankfully, Helena and Nate let me take a run on this gorgeous day in the Midwest…perfect blue sky, a bright tint of green (due to the most recent rains), and the most pleasant breeze. Michael Jackson’s Billy Jean was the first song to play on my iPod. My son busted me doing a little moonwalk down the street before I got into stride.
2) So…I have found myself on several occasions this week operating in foreign territory namely while Briggs has been teaching me football plays, stances, fakes, and handoffs. I admittedly was a high school cheerleader but I couldn’t tell you a single thing about football except when a touchdown is made. I know we had a cheer…’first in ten do it again”…but I don’t even know what that means. On top of that, I married the most non-watching-sports-man there is. So…here I am at 9pm at night learning something very new and trying desperately to appear interested.
The ‘Good Thing’ is I have a very creative child. I thought we were practicing the plays the coach asked him to review. But Briggs decided he had developed some better plays and wanted to give those a try. What do I know?
3) After learning the ‘double fake’, I found myself with the largest pot I have in the kitchen killing two palm-sized spiders that clearly entered uninvited through my front door. Seriously…they were two of the largest spiders I have ever seen cross the threshold of my home. Again I found myself in foreign territory because I am not the resident spider killer. That’s kind of a job that typically Tim takes on or my brother (although he never kills them.) I decided once they were dead the boys needed to investigate them and decide what type of spider they were. We recently got a spider book. We had some fun figuring out they looked closest to a wolf spider.
4) Longtime friends has to top my list of ‘Good Things’ today…there is nothing like settling down to a long conversation with a friend that you have known since you were a child. Jeni is the most selfless women I know. She is practical, simple, and beautiful. There is absolutely nothing pretentious about her, despite the zip code where we were raised. She is genuinely sweet, mildly goofy, and honest to the bone. I am thrilled that she and her husband are soon expecting their first child. She will undoubtedly make a wonderful mother.
5) I have been able to talk to Tim three times in the last week. This is a ‘Good Thing.’ But I keep finding myself asking silly questions, like “Is it hot?”. Can you believe I even asked that? His response was, “Yeah…it is kind of a scorcher today!”
I also asked “What is your office like? What about your room?” Now this isn’t so dumb…I am trying to get a visual picture of what his environment is like. But his response was, “Well…there isn’t any teak furniture. I have an RPG (rocket propelled grenade) hanging from my office wall and there is a fine layer of sand on everything.” Needless to say, we are learning how to have meaningful conversations over a not-so-clear phone connection.
6) Another ‘Good Thing’ (at least for me) is unannounced visits from friends. I think if a friend feels comfortable enough to just stop by then you must have an inviting home and personality. Kirk Beckham and his gorgeous girls just showed up to Briggs’ first football game. It was so thoughtful. What made the day even more eventful was the drizzling rain. We let the kids get drenched at the McDonald’s playland until we headed back to my house for some basement time. Don’t you remember playing the rain as a kid? What a blast! Kirk was kind enough to also give each child a bit of personal attention. The boys got beaten on, and had some football talk. The girls got carried around.
7) So, when I returned home from my run Briggs gave me a cold glass of water with crushed ice. Now that is a ‘Good Thing!’
Oh, and on a personal note…I learned to pluck this little black hair underneath my chin that Tim always has to get. I am becoming very independent in a variety of ways.
…
Special thanks to…Jill and Kelly Gardner for playing with the girls on Saturday so that Gage and I could catch Briggs’ first football game. Sylvia Duplainter for several unannounced stop-by visits (I just love that) and a fabulous dinner Sunday evening.
Briggs looks like a young man, serious and no longer a little boy. Gage has had his curls cut off.
They are both so skinny.
Kiss all our babies for me.
I love you!
tim - August 27th, 2007 at 12:11 pmTim - your kids are so beautiful. I have one of your family pictures as my screen saver and everyday when I turn my computer on and see all of you, I think to myself “wow they have 4 kids…Oh my Gosh they have 4 kids!” All of them are unique and so very special.
We miss you Tim! Take care of yourself, I pray for you and your men daily.
xoxoxoxoxo,
Suzy - August 27th, 2007 at 1:28 pmDear Tim~
Barbara B. Rowe - August 27th, 2007 at 9:32 pmOur family respects you as an American hero and we think of you daily. We think of you, Tiffany, Briggs, Gage, Emerson, and Campbell. We love all of you so much.
Tonight there is a huge yellow moon shining down on our summer evening garden. As I sat out there just now the evening garden noises were gentle and sweet…I could see the shadows of the neighbors horses on the hill against the night horizon and I suddenly thought of you when you came to a family wedding. You took Briggs to feed the horses from a bucket of carrots. I had just met you for the first time and I remember thinking ‘what a wonderful, loving father he is’. And so tonight as you suddenly came into my mind, quiet prayers were sent high.
We each pray for you, your sweet family, and those who love you, in our own way…as we are quietly in our gardens, or while watching the stars, as you come into our conversations or when we recall a fond memory of happy times together, or, as we go about our daily routines and suddenly we just find ourselves thinking of you. Each thought of you is a prayer for you. We pray for you, your men, and those you are helping, that all may be safe. We each in our own way “Hold you in the Light” and we send our dearest blanket of love to you.
Aunt Barbi
Hi,
Judy Davidson - August 27th, 2007 at 10:45 pmToday was my first visit to your website. I enjoyed it very much. I also am an army wife of one of the soldiers. I too am trying to stay positive throughout this deployment, some days are much harder than others. One thing that I do not do that I feel helps is I do NOT watch the news. I also try to listen to more music and I pray alot. I will continue to tune into your website. Thanks it helps hearing how other wifes are dealing with this deployment.
Judy Davidson
Hi Tiffany and Family,
I am a friend of Ann Smith’s. I went to visit her and the girls this past weekend while Anthony was shooting a wedding and she introduced me to your website/blog. Ann kept referring to your blog throughout our various conversations and finally (after the girls were both down for naps), she showed it to me. She showed me the pictures of you and your family saying good-bye to Tim and here the two of us were standing in her kitchen crying like blubbering idiots about how hard it must be and how we couldn’t imagine saying goodbye to our loved ones…but at 2nd glance - today- your blog not only has proved to be a wonderful distraction from my hum-drum life in corporate america but, it has truly inspired me. Your husband is an amazing person for making the sacrifices necessary to keep our country & our soldiers safe and you, Tiffany, are truly amazing too. I am inspired by the strength you sustain for your children, your ability to convey your thoughts so beautifully, your love for your family and friends and (even though I am not an overly religious person) your faith in God. Keep writing for Tim, for your loved ones and for people like me who need to sometimes be reminded of the “Good Things”.
Allison Curry
P.S. I will keep Tim in my thoughts and prayers : )
Allison Curry - August 28th, 2007 at 5:30 pmWhen Suzy said that she had the kids as a screen saver, I wondered what others have on their screens. When I was Googling where Tim is, I came across a picture of a troop tent which was taken during a sand storm. The tent is surrounded by sand bags (could be an oxymoron). I too have had the darling faces of the children on my screen, but have decided to keep the tent as it reminds me about where Tim is and the sacrifices that he is making for all of us. There is nothing pretty about the subject, just reality. Take care. I really wish that this wasn’t part of your personal growth. Stay safe. Love and lots of it.
Aunt 9 - August 31st, 2007 at 10:18 pm