Letters From Tim

Someone asked me recently how I was REALLY doing…and it got me thinking. The kids and I are doing well…we have adjusted to life without Tim’s presence…but he is ALWAYS in our thoughts, prayers, and conversations. We are in a routine of sorts. But I do miss my buddy when the house is blissfully quiet with slumber.

Some days I feel a great deal of frustration and hope that I have thick windows (I am known to yell loudly from time to time). However, I committed myself to maintaining a positive spirit. I believe a positive outlook can be contagious. For me, it is unrewarding to expend energy on bitterness and worry. There is so much in life that I cannot control (especially during deployment) but I can illuminate a positive perspective. The bottom line is Tim is at war, in an unsafe place, and with little comfort. But I believe wholeheartedly that they will successfully complete their mission having learned a great deal about themselves and the human spirit. And, I believe when Tim arrives home we will ALL have bigger hearts, greater patience, and a deeper gratitude.

From the beginning, this deployment has offered me a time of great reflection. In many ways, it will also provide us with a revitalization of our marriage. Like many young couples with young children, Tim and I were consumed with first building our family and now raising our family.

Over the past several years our children have been the priority…the center of our lives. We are undoubtedly blessed with four children we like to describe as our ‘family unit.’ However, it is so blatantly obvious to me now how important it is that Tim and I carve out time for ourselves when he returns. And more importantly, we make a habit of it.

I remember long ago people passing judgment on Nancy Reagan for putting her marriage first…but maybe there is something admirable in that. In a less than two decades our children will be gone. I do not want to wait to enjoy my Partner until then. I want to enjoy him along the entire journey.

I found these while I was looking through pictures with Gage today…the kid just loves his Dad!

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Special thanks to…Chris Rent for hanging some pictures. He is a fantastic friend to both Tim and me. Jacob Hyten and Brandon Julian for moving more furniture. Great job for high school kids. I promise the home rearranging is coming to a quick close. Allison Maines (a long ago bride of ours) that offered to watch the kids so I could go to Book Club. Tracy for driving Gage to school. My father for running an errand. Beth Olsen for a quick but enjoyable visit. Linda Palamar and Debbie Hackleman for great conversation. The women from the Austin Oaks Bible Study for dropping off food. Joel Peigh and Mark Keifer of Home Zone for doing some drywall repair work after Tub Time.