Day one

… this was terribly hard.
The hug goodbye combined with the long drive back to Georgia was so tough. I know my husband’s side was harder.. watching us drive away… I am with the kids, he’s not… It’s just plain hard. Families are meant to stay together… I’ve watched so many friends go through long hard deployments. Each one is hard. For the family, waiting and wondering when that next phone call will come in is difficult. For him, he’s there and not with his family. Take all of the amenities we have, he doesn’t. When I want to complain, I am going to remember what he has.. and all of the soldiers serving in this place.
I wanted to grab a photo of our family as well as a picture of daddy with each child. For two reasons really. One; to frame and put beside their bed, and two; to see if they have any major growth over the year.
Here we are after Mass Sunday before heading to Tennessee.

Prayer to Saint Joseph for Fathers

Saint Joseph, guardian of Jesus and chaste husband of Mary, you passed your life in loving fulfillment of duty. You supported the holy family of Nazareth with the work of your hands. Kindly protect those who trustingly come to you. You know their aspirations, their hardships, their hopes. They look to you because they know you will understand and protect them. You too knew trial, labor and weariness. But amid the worries of material life, your soul was full of deep peace and sang out in true joy through intimacy with God’s Son entrusted to you and with Mary, his tender Mother. Assure those you protect that they do not labor alone. Teach them to find Jesus near them and to watch over Him faithfully as you have done. Amen.