Comfort in Surprising Packages

So true to form time before the Dreaded D always gets busy with just life stuff. Army Guy has been off training for the last few weeks, so it's been a good trial run thus far for the hoodlums and I. I felt a twinge of guilt when it was 15 days into Army Guy being gone before I heard the first genuine "I miss Daddy". I'd heard it before, but it was right after someone had been in trouble, so I don't really count that. :) I've had some concerns about how they are going to handle this upcoming Dreaded D just because it's going to be so different then the last Dreaded D.
But then when I really thought about it, their Dreaded D's are so different then my Dreaded D's. Last time, they made videos for Army Guy when they missed him, they'd draw for him, etc. Even when Army Guy would call, they wouldn't really chat too much because the connection was so bad (listening to a then 5 yr old trying to talk with a minute delay to a guy half way across the world is a hysterical thing), so I'm HOPING that this Dreaded D isn't significantly different for them. I'm fairly confident that even though Thing 1 is older and exposed to more, he'll still cope well. We've marked Army Guy's destination on his map and Thing 1 will ask questions occasionally. I still don't watch the news, so I've dodged that whole issue with Thing 1. And yes at some point he'll be more aware of the world around him, but I just would like to let him live in not a scary world as much time as possible. It's the whole mother hen thingy. Thing 2 is completely oblivious to anyone else in the world other then herself, so we're good there. She has asked questions about how long Army Guy will be gone and we broke it down by major events-He'll leave, We'll Road Trip, Sam-I-Am's 1st Bday, Mommy & Army Guy's Bdays, 1st day of Kindergarten, Thing 1's Bday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Her Bday, Valentine's Day, Spring Break, End of School, Army Guy'll be home. That seemed to satisfy her. Plus the whole school thing is oh-so-exciting in her world.  

Anyways, back to the comfort in surprising packages train of thought. A year ago, we arrived to Campbell being told of how "high speed" it was. We had high expectations. Army Guy was excited about his unit, Thing 1 was excited about his school, Thing 2 was excited about painting her room, and I was excited about meeting people and getting involved again after taking some time off while Army Guy was at school. Then reality kind of struck. And not in a "gloom and doom" way, but in a "this is going to take a bit longer then anticipated" way. It took Army Guy a bit to get comfy in his new job. Thing 1 was still really excited about school, but I was not excited about how far behind this school was as compared to his DOD schools. Thing 2's excitement about her pink room had faded quickly. I was involved but there was only so much to be involved in and I felt on the outside looking in most times. Slowly, things started to get better. Army Guy's getting more confident in his job and the results are amazing! (and that's not just my opinion....) Thing 1 and I have come to an agreement regarding his schoolwork. His 2nd grade teacher is my most favorite person on the planet. She keeps them challenged! Thing 2 is just Thing 2 and her personality continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Sam-I-Am meshed very well with the group and continues to do so. And I've found my group. 

They all started showing up almost as individuals...first at an FRG meeting where they offered "any kind of help", then the next few showed up at a spur of the moment Food Show, then they showed up at a couple of FRG Leadership team building thingys and then they all made their "yup this is my group" debut this weekend. From the one who watched my kiddos, to the ones who I'm hosting a Luau with, to the ones who invited me to go for sushi and all the ones in between, they're my group. And it's funny to me that those are the things that bring me comfort. Knowing that I've got a "wife" here, knowing that I'm not alone in some of my FRG drama, knowing that I'm not alone in Dreaded D confusion, knowing that I'm not alone in bing-bongy kid land and knowing that all of that is with people who are right here is surprisingly comforting. 

Don't get me wrong, I have people in my life who are rock solid and who (more often then not) know me better then I know myself, but I've been struggling this last year with the fact that they're all so far away. But God (being awesome as usual) has not only shown me that I have the potential to have close friends here, but he's also moved my "peeps" closer. :) So now (minus my parents) they all live no more then 8 hours away, and in Army land that might as well be around the corner. :) 

I remember looking around the auditorium at our first Memorial Service at Bliss and watching these ladies, who 3 months ago I had no idea they existed, but on that day they were my support and they were my rocks and I thought "wow...this is it...this is how I make it through the Dreaded D...with these ladies". And while driving home on Saturday, I realized I'd found my "chickies" and the Dreaded D doesn't seem as lonely anymore.