Mush

We have arrived at that point in the deployment when I get all mushy about my husband.

I have forgotten that he leaves books and mail everywhere. I remember only the fact that he washed all the dishes and the laundry.

I have forgotten how he is ALWAYS late for EVERYTHING and he dawdles. I remember only how much I love to ride in the car with him.

I have forgotten that he bites his nails and jiggles his foot when I am trying to sit still on the couch. I only remember holding his hand...(actually he holds my two fingers...it's this cute little special thing we do.)

I have forgotten how he can't stay home an entire Saturday, and drags me around running errands that aren't really necessary. I remember only the ease and comfort of being together, no matter where we are.

I have forgotten his habit of assuming that because he WANTS something to be a certain way, then it IS that way. I remember only how enthusiastic he is about life and how much fun he makes it.

This, my friends, is in my opinion, is one of the causes of post-deployment troubles. (There are other causes--I'm working on that book as well!) We get all starry-eyed and rose colored glassy eyed, and all the other puppy love blindness cliches in our heads, and we forget the reality of living in the house with another grown up.

The fact that they put the toilet paper on the roll upside down and the forks in the dishwasher upside down and never put their shoes in the closet. Those things seem so trivial when they've been gone a long time. Those things ARE trivial--until they get home. And then, honey--look out. Those things become monumental, fight inspiring catalysts for territory battles.

There are ways to plan for it and deal with it. We learn them in AFTB and in conversations with our Army sisters as we sit around tables planning welcome home celebrations. . .or we don't, and we have to bungle our way through it as it arrives and pray we come out the other side intact. Maybe in a later post I'll collect some of the experts (meaning, my Army sisters) best advice for dealing with these issues.

But, for now, I am living in the dream world. Thinking of my husband, whose every flaw has been erased by 8 months of separation. I'm smiling as I picture him in his backwards baseball cap and crying a little as I sing his favorite praise and worship songs at church.

As it turns out, I am an "absence makes the heart grow fonder" kind of girl. That's a good thing, because "out of sight, out of mind" wouldn't serve me too well in this lifestyle! The trick will be holding on to that "fonder" when he gets back, and not letting the trivial annoyances erase the appreciation for JUST HAVING HIM HERE that I developed while he was away.

Pumpkin Carving

I do not like to carve pumpkins. I think it is gross and nasty. I think it is very little payoff for very much work. I don't much care for holidays in general, and I especially don't like to decorate for them. The jack 'o lantern is very similar to a vase of flowers in my book--the sentiment is nice, but it is a lot of money and work for something that is going to smell and rot in a day or two.

Anyway--S is pretty in to the whole carving thing. He lets the kids pick a design (any design--not necessarily Halloween themed) and carves them each their own pumpkin. He generally does some sort of TCU themed pumpkin as well (by the way--WHAT'S UP with Kirk Herbstreit doubting my Frogs???? Did they show him OR WHAT??)

Back to the grossness of pumpkins. . . Since S is not here, I have been frightened that I would indeed have to carve pumpkins this year. I knew I couldn't shirk it entirely, since the boys LOVE IT, but I thought I would force them to do the traditional three triangle, snaggletooth design and be done with it...

But guess what we have?? A teenage boy who is WONDERFUL. I mean it when I use those capital letters. (When I say "Guess what we have?" I don't mean like he lives here or anything...we just borrow him periodically. He lives with his own very nice family.) He is truly awesome. He is a senior in high school, quarterback of the football team, sometimes babysitter, full time role model/idol for my kids. If they had a choice of hanging out with W or hanging out with a rock star, W would win, hands down.

Anyway--this is the kind of boy that you pray that your boy will grow up to be. If anyone ever says "Hey, your boy kinda reminds me of WW..." I would consider that a true compliment.

So, guess what? He came over this evening and carved pumpkins!! I am so very grateful that W is here! I did help, because we got a late start due to the TCU/BYU game (check out that score, Herbstreit!!!) But, I just did the quick parts and got out of the room in time for him to do the frustratingly complicated tiny cutting involved in R's chosen design.

I also did not have to touch the inside of the pumpkin guts. He did that too. He even shamed the boys into doing it as well. Awesome. I love having a role model/idol living a few blocks away. He is wonderful...my kids have carved pumpkins, I have clean hands, and I DO NOT have mommy guilt!

R's pumpkin

N's pumpkin...two face...1/2 jack o' lantern, 1/2 what? Dracula? I don't know...

J's pumpkin...on the porch it will be throwing up pumpkin guts. . .Great!!

All in all, the perfect day!

PS--W even cleaned it up. He made the boys help, too. I actually heard him say "Don't leave all that mess for your mom!" Don't you want him to marry your daughter, OR WHAT???"

PPS--W just convinced J to have his pumpkin throw up candy instead of guts! This just keeps getting better!

Cousins--by birth or by friendship...who can tell?

Look at the cheeks on these kids and tell me they couldn't be blood relatives!!

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