P2P

Day 9 complete – he’s home!

Yay, Daddy’s home!  S and I ended up taking our two vans up to the airport to get them.  We had a hard time finding it as the screen was not very descriptive of where to find arriving international flights.  So Scott was headed from the opposite of baggage claim when the girls saw him. So they did the whole running to and hugging him thing.  It was sweet.  Lexi didn’t let him go for a good 10 minutes.  Then it was back to mommy.  Such a mommy’s girl. 

So the trip went well.  No “big stories” to tell. They were able to give about 30 packages away and go into some places no missionary has been before but I believe that was about it.  Scott is horrid on details so maybe when I hear the story from someone else, it will be more dramatic.  lol.  He couldn’t quit talking about how beautiful the country was and how friendly everyone was. 

And he brought back lots of goodies.  I got 3 or 4 shirts, a dress, a skirt, a bracelet, ring and pillow covers.  I was incredibly impressed he clothing shopped for me with a bunch of guys.  Go Scott!  I love getting stuff I can use though from trips.  No random trinkets for me, thanks.  He brought the girls handmade necklaces and purses.  They loved their “real” necklaces.

So his parents ended up coming over here to fix dinner which worked out much better.  Scott’s eyes were drooping around 7 which was 2am his time and he had been up since 4:30 am his time.  Needless to say he’s been in bed.  The girls kept wanting to sit with him and even wanted to lay in bed with him after he went to sleep.  Lexi moreso than Emma.  Sweet girls missed their daddy, that’s for sure.

Tomorrow he’s already back to work having to do the prom talk at the high school.  He doesn’t actually go back on shift until Friday.  So we have a little bit of time to get back in the groove of things.  It’s good to have him home.

Day 8

Almost done with this Turkey trip!   Counting hours now, not days.  I think their plane takes off from Turkey to Germany in less than an hour if I have this figured right.

Today was ok.  A little tougher than last week.  I kind of was breaking down about 3pm.  Lexi was really tired from school and wouldn’t take a nap and I had Skyler here for a little while and we had problems at work and my house was a mess again and I was sort of losing it.  But we got out of the house when I quit working and Lexi fell asleep and Skyler had gone by then so I got the house picked up.  And I got work fixed before I left so it all got better.  I was optimistic the other night but today, I’m ready for Scott to come home.  Really.  I can’t wait to hug him.  I think I might cry when I see him.  I’m so excited.  And the girls are excited.  Emma said, is he going to be in bed when we wake up in the morning.  Aww.  She’s used to him sleeping work off from night shift.  She is ready for him to come home for sure.

No more updates from them except they said they will call on the way from the airport and we’ll meet them at the church.  Woo!  Can’t wait!

Day 7

So yesterday I ended up doing lots of stuff. Went to the gym, cleaned out my fridge, including above the fridge.  Did lots of laundry.  The kids came home around 3 and then we stayed around the house.  I cooked here (again-wow).  This morning of course was church and then we spent the afternoon and evening here.  Easter is over and there’s no choir practice for awhile.  And with S gone to Turkey, they played games at church tonight so I didn’t worry about going.  I let the kids eat Dora Soup here and Heather brought me some crab alfredo from Red Lobster.  Yum. my.  This afternoon I also completely cleaned out our kitchen pantry.  It now looks like a small grocery store it’s so organized.  And also completely cleaned off that messy kitchen counter.  Yay me.  Scott is going to have a duck when he sees all I’ve done around here this week.  I even had the cable company come fix channel 11 finally.

To be honest, this has been one of the best weeks I’ve had in quite some time.  I’ve been less irritable, more patient, more productive and just peaceful.  I would hate to say it is because Scott is not here.  I know I’ve worked really hard to keep the house really clean.  And it shows.  Even A came over and said hey, this house is really clean without Scott here.  Which if anyone knows us, Scott is the ultimate straighten-upper and I am not.  But I have worked hard this week to pick up the slack.  I’m a very neat, organized person when I try to be.  But most of the time I just like to LIVE in my house.  But this week, I don’t think I’ve had a dirty dish in the sink or counter for more than an hour.  Every laundry basket is empty right now.  I even washed some of Emma’s dress up gowns.  And I mentioned how much I have cleaned out.  And the girls and I have not eaten out once.  Sure the family has cooked a meal or two for us but even lunches I have fixed them.  And this is all without them in school…which I’ve always thought made life easier.  And barebones honestly, Scott and I haven’t been around each other to fight.  We don’t fight like throw things at each other fight but we’ve always called them “discussions” but really all of our “discussions” have been quite exhausting lately and not having to “discuss” every thing we do this week has been quite nice.  Which I think accounts for the lack of irritability on my part.  And people keep asking me if I miss Scott and I do really miss him but at the same time, I’ve had a great week and I can’t really knock that.  I know the girls are starting to really miss him.  I think Lexi has given up asking Where’s Daddy she’s asked so much.  Today I had to give her a spanking and she called once for Daddy and then immediately called for Heather (who has been around quite a bit this week).  And Emma, the first thing she asked when she woke up this morning is ask if Daddy was here.  It breaks my heart to say no.  Only 2 days left though and it surprises me.  Heather tonight on the phone says wow, you did good this week.  And I thought about that and Scott is really gone a lot.  With his schedule, he’s either working or there are so many people that count on him for different things that he’s usually gone a lot on his days off.  I guess I’m used to running the house without much help.  I sort of picked up the “straighten up” helpfulness he usually provides and it all worked like normal.  But the girls don’t have their Daddy to play with in the living room floor and I don’t have my husband to cuddle up with at night.  It’s not the same but I guess part of me is pleased that I could at least run this thing by myself with two kids by myself.  A 9 day trip certainly isn’t the measurement of single motherhood by any stretch of the imagination but I think if forced to do it I could.  I certainly would never, ever ask for that.  His time in police academy for 5 months was enough glimpse of that.  And little girls need their daddy.  I’m just sayin I’m proud of myself for this week.  Or I’m happy someone prayed for me this week.  Because if that’s it, all I’m seeing is answered prayers around here.

Got an update!

Scott emailed me a little bit ago saying it “This is an awsome trip, the Lord is blessing.”  It makes everything so worth it.  Then S called S and said he hadn’t been with M much so that is why he hadn’t kept in touch much and he was getting ready to give a concert somewhere!  Wow!  A few minutes after, I simply wept and knew God is moving there.  S is very talented and I know God is using him and the other guys.  I simply can not wait to hear all the stories of how God moved.

Day 6

Yesterday may have proved to be the easiest day.  Mom came and got the girls before lunch and kept them until about 4 or so.  Work was light for me but I kept busy.  Heather came over in the evening and I cleaned while she played with the girls outside.  MIL came and got the girls about 7:30.  They are still over there from last night.  Supposedly they made hot dogs and s’mores on a campfire last night.  I sort of wish I had been there for that.  But Heather and I went to Longhorn last evening and it was the. best. last night it has ever been.  (that’s what she said lol) The steak was just perfect and the juice and flavor exploded in my mouth on the first bite.  Yes, it was THAT good.  I hadn’t eaten anything but a small salad for lunch so by 8:15ish when we got our food, I was starved.  So we went and got this movie Love Comes Softly and watched it.  Heather left about 3/4 into it.  It was a cute, sappy movie.  Just what I was in the mood for after all those crazy movies this week.

So today I didn’t wake up until 11.  Which was great.  I’m eating my breakfast now and am determining what to do.  I’m not sure when the girls are coming back.  I do have the house entirely cleaned so yay.  It was so much easier since I have kept this house virtually spotless all week.  I’m SO proud of myself for that.  All I had to do is pick up some radom things in each room and then dust/vacuum/clean the floors.  I had deep cleaned last week so nothing was really dirty.  Now I’m just finishing up the laundry.  I’m thinking today I will head to the gym and then come back and clean out some really bad areas.  The fridge and pantry need cleaned out.  And our side kitchen countertop always could use some help.  Or, I could go to the church and load some video.  Who knows.  I guess whatever I do means I need to get off here and go do it!

O, btw, no news from the guys since yesterday morning.  And by now it is their bedtime, so I guess there will be no news until tomorrow at least.

Day 5

Yesterday “the hardest day” was quite easy.  My second meeting only took me 20 minutes.  yay. 

We finally heard from teh guys this morning.  I couldn’t stand it any longer and emailed M’s phone and just said let us know if you guys are ok.  Scott emailed back at 4am our time this morning and God is moving and blessing them and he misses us.  Yay!  Good news!  Honestly, it was almost as if it was someone else typing that.  Sounded like things he would say, but just in a more humble, peaceful manner.  It’s hard to explain.  But I believe (as I have from the beginning) that he will come back greatly affected by this trip.

We spent the evening at Mom’s house last night. Ate dinner then Lexi fell asleep watching Robots.  So we stayed there until about 8:15 when I sorta rushed home to hit the record button for The Office.  I also watched the Grey’s special last night.  Several of my favorite scenes in there.  And finally I stayed up to watch Children of Men.  Sorry, Jaynee, but I did not enjoy this movie whatsoever.  I even fast forwarded through the last 15 minutes.  A little predictable there at the end.  Maybe I’ve been watching too many intense movies lately but it was just too depressing/violent for me.

So Mom is coming to get the kids for the day.  I either am going to take a nap (highly unlikely) during lunch or going to the gym.  Since I haven’t been to the gym since Tuesday and I’m not a very good napper, I’ll probably be headed to the gym.  Or maybe I’ll go get a steak at Longhorn at enjoy a lunch on my own lol.

Meeting cancelled

Well that works out well…my first meeting got cancelled.  One less thing to worry about today.

Hardest Day

Today should be the hardest day out of all of them.  I have a meeting in 15 minutes that I should be able to get through without too much trouble but then I also have a 1:30 meeting that I’ve never attended and may require some attention.  I may have Scott’s cousin or my sister help with the kids in some way during that one.  We ARE going out to eat with my family tonight so that will take care of this evening.  Although I really want to go to the gym since I didn’t go yesterday.  I’m sorta hoping Mom offers to keep the kids tonight and then I can go later tonight or in the morning.

Day 4

So last night’s spaghetti dinner was a complete flop.  We only made $60 and hardly anyone came.  Probably due to spring break and the rain.  I think we are doing a car wash to raise some more money for youth camp.  But every student costs $270 to go so we better have a GREAT car wash.

The girls spent the afternoon at MIL’s.  Which was nice.  It was odd after they left I actually smiled.  Not because they were gone but because it was sort of the middle of the week and I was so proud of myself for taking good care of the girls, the house and even getting the trash taken out yesterday.  That’s sounds stupid, but I was. 

We haven’t heard anything since yesterday morning from the guys.  I knew they’d be horrible at checking in with us.  They need a woman delivering all the details!

Day 3

I think this is Day 3 anyway…depends how you count it.  Anyway, we are doing well so far.  I made dinner last night and we headed back to the gym.  A fabulous distraction for all 3 of us.  Heather was at the house when we got back and stayed through American Idol and House.  M showed up halfway through AI and then she stayed also through The Good Shepherd until 1am.  More on the shows/movie later.  The kids were quite rambunctious after more Easter candy and finally were out around 9.  The kids are handling being home without school quite well this week.  They are both sleeping in until almost 9 and are happy to play around the house.  I even offered for them to go outside to play yesterday when it was warm enough to go out and they didn’t want to go.   So I guess that’s good they’re not whiny about going places.  Which they can do that sometimes.  And today, they actually do go somewhere.  And I’m helping with the youth spaghetti dinner tonight so my afternoon and evening are mapped out as well. 

Update: I talked to S and she said she heard from S this morning so they are all good.

No word

OK, so no word from them since they landed.  And since then, they have flown from Istanbul to Van.  Or, I think they have. Or they are right now. lol.  I can’t tell from these time zones.  If the flights for today were in Turkey time, they are already there…and it’d be nice to hear from them. 

Arrival

Just got an email from Scott saying they have been in Turkey for a few hours, it is nice and there’s good food (all-important).  Yay!

Day One Done

No news yet whether they’ve arrived anywhere but no news is good news I suppose.  They supposedly have landed in Germany and are now on a flight to Istanbul.  Hopefully by the afternoon we will have heard something. 

The girls and I are doing well so far.  The girls ate their dinner and then I took them to the gym.  The girl had to come get me because Lexi needed a diaper.  She said, I heard Scott is in Turkey.  I was like how did you hear that?  She said Emma!  I thought that was cute.  So we came home and immediately got baths.  Then Lexi fell asleep in the recliner so she was out by 8:30.  Emma was out by 9:15.  It was a very relaxing evening actually.  I spent the rest of the evening watching tv (more on that in a minute) and reading.

So far it feels like Scott was on night shift and is sleeping now.  If I keep thinking like that I think I can get through.  I usually have them all day on Tuesdays.  And tomorrow is Wednesday and even though they don’t have school, they will be going to his mom’s as normal.  Thursday may be a long day also especially since I have a meeting in the morning but hopefully we’ll get out to eat like normal with my parents.  Friday my mom usually gets the girls and of course Friday night and Saturday they stay at ILs again.  And then we’re back to our busy Sunday and school is on Monday.  So I think we can do this without going insane.  I love my kids but sometimes you just need a break from being referree, servant, driver, cook and anything else you can think of.

And they’re off…

And by they I actually mean two sets of people.  My out of town family left yesterday morning after a good visit.  And then the 6 people including Scott left for Turkey today.  They should be landing in Germany by 5am, fly to Istabul by lunch tomorrow and then flying to Van the next morning.  They aren’t expected to be back until next Tuesday.  Another busy week seems to be looming ahead.