Bye Bye Daddy...

I am a little late posting this, but wanted to get it on our blog... Kelly's departure from us this past Friday was both very painful and also much easier than I thought it would be. I totally held it together until he went to give the kiddos a last kiss good-bye...and then I broke down...just a little in front of Kelly (still trying to be tough), but as soon as we drove off, I sobbed all the way home. I have cried on and off several times and at odd times...maybe they really aren't odd at all...like at Small Group on Sunday...I just couldn't stop the flow of tears...I miss my best friend. Some husbands and dad aren't around much and so it's not as noticable when they're gone, but Kelly and I have been pretty inseperable since the day we were married. I always said I wanted to marry my best friend and I did just that....and it hurts that he's away from me. He is my love, my best friend...my rock and my safe haven. There are a lot of things that have changed over the past 5.5 years, but those things have not.

It pains me every time that Brendan says "let's go pick up Daddy"...and I have to explain to him that Daddy isn't coming home for a while, I remind him of Daddy's big trip and that he's working hard on big airplanes, etc... It hurts so bad to see my children (really, just Brendan) miss his Daddy and be sad...he's four and so there's some things that he gets and some things (like why Daddy can't just come home) that he doesn't get.

Now I say all this mainly to get it off my chest...there's a whole other side that is in my heart and soul (but, of course, right now, I can't get to it as easy b/c of all the newness of him being gone)... Like...I am sooooooooo proud of Kelly. I know he's a wonderful man who is going to represent the Banks family and extended families, the Donaghey small group family, the Highland family, Dyess AFB and Abilene, Texas, the US of A, and most importantly our precious Lord & Savior in such a profound way. I know that he will daily be Christ to others. I know that he will love the Lord with all his heart and soul and mind and strength and that everything that he says and does will make the Heavens smile.

I think that I just might be falling in love with my husband all over again...and maybe that's part of the reason for the deployment. God is so good!...!...!