33 days

I think that Brooke is starting to get a better understanding of the paper chain. She has pointed to it all day, and said Daddy come home. I have taken this as a good sign. She isn't upset, and she is okay with only being able to take down one link. I think it is making her feel better to hear me talk about Daddy coming home. I guess I made a mistake, when I just talked about Daddy being gone. I didn't want her to be set up for disappoint everyday, when he didn't come back. I figured I would start talking about him coming home when the time got closer. Young children don't understand time, and I think her visually being able to see a long paper chain helps her understand it isn't going to be today, but someday will come home. Sesame street made episodes about deployments, homecomings, and changes that children of soldiers experience. I really appreciate it, and they give them out on dvd to soldiers with young children. I makes me very emotional to see Elmo interacting with his daddy, who is deployed. Brooke loves the dvds, but it gets hard for me to listen to over and over again. I hope that it helps her understand it better, and I feel like Sesame street does a good job of relating the feelings kids experience. Brooke, David and I may be missing time together right now, and we could label the military as an instituion that takes so much from us; but really this time is just making us stronger. It helps put what you need, and what you want in perspective. This time apart has already made it very clear to me that I am so blessed to have David as my husband. I think this time of hardship, will also help us define our lives, and help us discover where we want to go from here. Right now, I am learning to go to God first, and this is a lesson I wish I had learned years ago. I just wasn't listening to God, and I had too much to distract me. I feel like David's and my marriage is already stronger. I also  know that Brooke will be able to look back someday, and see how much we love her; and that is all she will remember from this year.