I sent Karl off to Iraq today and it wasn't fun. I just wanted some documentation of the day, on the day so here are a few very noteworthy things...
- I don't know why I am ever surprised by the love that my Pi Phi sisters show me. It is showered upon me, time and time again, in good times and in bad, unconditionally. I know it sounds silly, cheesy, stereotypical, and difficult to understand. I wish everyone could experience it. My phone died the day before Karl deployed but since my mom and aunt were with me, I knew I could last until we got to Raleigh the afternoon of Karl's deployment where I could get a charger and turn it back on. I just turned it on and it blew up with texts and emails from the past 24 hours. Who were they from? Pi Phis. Pi Phi best friends and friends that I only see once a week. Pi Phi actives and alum. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and overflowing with appreciation, love, and emotion at the unexplainable bond we have. Silly? Maybe. Real, continuous, by and through the grace of God? Absolutely. Thank you sisters for your incessant encouragement.
- The same love shown to me by Pi Phis, also poured out by my mom and dad's small group friends, church members, nursing school friends whom I've gone thru the academic good/bad/ugly with now tromping thru personal life hell, and old high school acquaintances. Nothing really warms my heart quite like an outstretched hand and an offered prayer. Praise The Lord for warming and softening the hearts of those who are willing to offer their time and grace to pray for those in need. I am in need, Karl is in need, and God is placing SO MANY in our lives to meet our needs.
-The bond of military spouses, children, and the military community in general. I wish I could explain this in greater depth... what is a fiancee new to deployment processes and norms to do when her one and only link to the military world is now out of reach? This is where other spouses come into play. Sweet women who offer up their contact information to people like me who just don't have a clue, men in uniform lucky enough to be staying behind and talkative enough to offer words that bring peace as my loved one boards a plane for a place so unfamiliar to me, kids playing together that have never met as their moms trade stories of their husbands deployments. It's obnoxious, it's stereotypical, it's utterly necessary and vital.
I wish each of you could've been with me, seen the impact that your specific words had on me. Felt what Karl & I felt as you prayed for our peace. I'm praising God for each of you.
-Tonight I talked to Karl once he landed in Ireland. I held it together. I wanted to just let it go, which actually happened once my phone was turned on and my inbox was flooded as I got ready for bed in London's bathroom. My chest is sunburned from standing out in the sun all day. A literally painful reminder of the crappy day. I didn't want to wash my face, to brush my teeth, to change clothes, to move on and sleep, to move into another day. But I'll go to sleep, because when I wake up I'll be one day closer to marrying Karl, to seeing him day in and day out. When I wake up I'll be more thankful and have a better attitude, closer to the one that I should have now... I'm thankful for his safe job. Thankful that he has a job at all, actually. Thankful that there are dozens, DOZENS of people praying for him.
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