Priceless

How Many Deployments = 4



Each Deployment=12


12 Months without my sweetie makes having him home with me, absolutely priceless.

Words often fail me as I write out my feelings, my thoughts. Sometimes they feel like the puzzle box I kicked over, sending the various coloured pieces of cardboard across the floor and spending hours finding them all.
Sometimes I think I'm doing ok: going through thr day with housework or working on a given project.
Other times, I don't even wish to get out of the bed. Why clean? There is no one here to clean for.
Why cook? There is no one here to cook for.
And then the phone rings and it is the voice of my beloved.
He tells me of how his day is going; often working on some project to make the lives of the people of Afghanistan better, either through building of schools, clinices, wells, etc. The villiages he visits, about the children he sees.
And then he ask me about my day. How is the quilt, tapestry, baby afghan coming. Have I found any new recipes to try on him when he gets home?
And then comes the words of love, of how much he misses me, how he is looking forward to coming home and being with me. Playing with my briads, stroking my cheek. He also sings me those silly little songs he made up just for me that always makes me giggle.
His voice fills the room and I can, for a brief time, feel his presence.
Those few moments, 30 to 60 minutes in lenght are gold.
Priceless.
I hang up the phone, knowing I keep the house for his homecoming. I cook so that I can serve his favorite meals when he's back at our table. I get up and keep going, because my beloved needs me to be well, to be strong for his sake as well as my.
I can see him looking at the phone, wiping away a few tears and then heading off for the job of the day, knowing his beloved is home, waiting for him.

Before Dawn's Early Light

It's almost 7am.
I awike at 6am.
It's 3pm in Afghanistan.
My thoughts are on my beloved. What he's doing, how his many projects are coming along. Is he eating well? Is he sleeping?
It's been a few days since we last spoke and that was to tell him of the death of someone we knew.
Bill's funeral is today and my thoughts are with the family, with his widow Val.
Maybe that is why I'm up so early. Knowing another woman is laying her beloved to rest gives me pause. It makes me what to hold my husband tigher, tell him over and over again how much i love him. To take back thought times we exchanged angry words and replace them with how proud I am of him, what joy he brings to my life. How honoured I am to be his wife. To hear him call me his beloved.
My prayers are with Val this morning; that G-d will indeed comfort her with His comfort.
And for my beloved to return home safe.

Mark's First Report

For all who are reading this:
First, thank you. I know whether you post or not, you are praying for my Mark. As well as the other men and women of our armed forces.
It is not easy being away from your family, letting your loved one go. None of us wanted this war, and we don't glory in it. It is our military and their ones who pray the hardest for peace; for we know how dear the cost of war really is.
I spoke to Mark last evening. We are so blessed to have this time, though it is 30 minutes. I stay up for that call. He calls just as he day begins.
He is pretty much over the flu and now out in the field.
For those who don't know, Mark is a Civil Affairs officer. His job is not only to serve, defend and protect, but he also works with the locals to rebuild their country. Mark is very much a Nehmiah: he has blueprints in one hand and his weapon in the other. He is the bridge between the local leaders and the army. Mark is part of the 'winning heart's mission of the army. Winning the War, one heart at a time.
From time to time (like last night) I wonder is what we are doing makes a difference. And after speaking to Mark, the answer is still: yes.
Right now, Mark is working with a few of the villiages to get them a fresh water supply. Also, he will be working with a clinic to get it back up and running to meet the locals medical needs.
This is the thing Mark loves doing: for by helping the people learn to depend not on the Taliban or even us, but themselves. This is one of the things that will break the hold of the Taliban.
True, not everyone wants us there or is grateful for all we do. But many are.
Like Greg Mortenson (his story is told in Three Cups of Tea) Mark's mission to promote Peace...one school (he started two schools in Iraq) one football, one Water Well, one Clinic at a time.
So when you take a sip of water, thank G-d for that preious gift. And pray for Mark as he bring fresh water to thristy folk.
The Captain's Lady