The day began with a frustrating 2 hour visit at the JAG office. After days of compiling paperwork and legal documents to prepare for deployment, it just seemed like cruel and unusual punishment to have to hash through it all again on our last day together. The remainder of the day was filled with more paperwork, packing and laundering the Captain’s gear and other tasks too numerous to mention to get our house in order.
Before w
e knew it, the alarms were sounding. It was time to get up and take the steps we had been dreading – it was time to start our good-byes. We quickly got dressed and ready and woke each little duck. We gave them their ‘Daddy Dolls’ (see picture). Each little duck has their own doll with a recorded message from the Captain. We piled into the car and headed for the airport. We had decided in advance to just say our goodbyes at ticketing and head home rather than hang around at the airport. After a tearful farewell it was a lonely drive back to our house.
e knew it, the alarms were sounding. It was time to get up and take the steps we had been dreading – it was time to start our good-byes. We quickly got dressed and ready and woke each little duck. We gave them their ‘Daddy Dolls’ (see picture). Each little duck has their own doll with a recorded message from the Captain. We piled into the car and headed for the airport. We had decided in advance to just say our goodbyes at ticketing and head home rather than hang around at the airport. After a tearful farewell it was a lonely drive back to our house.About 2 blocks from home, my cell phone rings – it is the Captain.
Our conversation goes something like this:
CAPTAIN: “They didn’t pay for my ticket”
MAMA DUCK: “You don’t have a ticket?!?!”
CAPTAIN: “My orders didn’t come through correctly and so they booked the ticket but didn’t pay for it. I’m on the phone now trying to straighten everything out but why don’t you come back to the airport because I’m going to be here for a while”
I had NO IDEA our car could turn around so quickly. We tore back to the airport eager to spend just a little more time with our precious Captain.
MAMA DUCK: “You don’t have a ticket?!?!”
CAPTAIN: “My orders didn’t come through correctly and so they booked the ticket but didn’t pay for it. I’m on the phone now trying to straighten everything out but why don’t you come back to the airport because I’m going to be here for a while”
I had NO IDEA our car could turn around so quickly. We tore back to the airport eager to spend just a little more time with our precious Captain.
**NOTE: I share this next part for the benefit of my family as it is just another testimony to how wonderful Ames IA can be. Sitting next to the Captain’s gear was a young man covered in Cyclone wear. I couldn’t help but ask: “Are you from Ames?”. He broke into a huge grin and shared that indeed he was. Well, we had to just take his picture. Of course, I asked if he knew any of my relatives and sadly, he did not.
The Captain got off the phone and it was clear that they were not going to be able to re-t
icket him until the next day. There it was. We had been given a gift! The gift of another day together as a family that was free from the stress of packing or tying up loose ends! Indeed “every good and perfect gift comes from above!”. Isn't our God wonderful?! (Also...kind Ames IA boy helped carry the Captain's gear out to our car and thanked the Captain for his service!!).
icket him until the next day. There it was. We had been given a gift! The gift of another day together as a family that was free from the stress of packing or tying up loose ends! Indeed “every good and perfect gift comes from above!”. Isn't our God wonderful?! (Also...kind Ames IA boy helped carry the Captain's gear out to our car and thanked the Captain for his service!!).So, what does one do with a free day?
We sang praises of thanksgiving the whole car ride back home.
We enjoyed a family breakfast together.
We crawled back in bed for a little more sleep.
We took the kids swimming together.
We had a root beer float in the middle of the afternoon just because we could.
We enjoyed time out at the dollar theatre, followed by dinner, a trip to the book store and we enjoyed another night to tuck the kids in as a couple.
What a delicious day and a delicious gift. Now, our alarms are set once again for 5:30 am so that we can get the Captain to the airport on time for his flight tomorrow morning.
We sang praises of thanksgiving the whole car ride back home.
We enjoyed a family breakfast together.
We crawled back in bed for a little more sleep.
We took the kids swimming together.
We had a root beer float in the middle of the afternoon just because we could.
We enjoyed time out at the dollar theatre, followed by dinner, a trip to the book store and we enjoyed another night to tuck the kids in as a couple.
What a delicious day and a delicious gift. Now, our alarms are set once again for 5:30 am so that we can get the Captain to the airport on time for his flight tomorrow morning.
I love you all so much!!!!! Thinking of you and praying all the time. You are so amazing and strong. I'm thrilled you were given such a gift. God is so good!
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