My Favorite Guest Blogger Ever!

     Here we are, an officially unofficial post from the Dad/Husband. This Blog has been going for quite some time, I know, but something happened just the other day that I figure would be best served as a confession from myself than through Nicole. As the majority of you know that know us personally or who follow on from a distance, my job has had me away from home a lot recently and for some time for that matter. Well, I am currently on my leave period from work for 2 weeks as of this past Friday. Yesterday, Saturday morning, we had a birthday party to attend for the son of some friends of ours that we've known since we were in Italy.
Turns out said party was at a local bowling alley and turned out to be quite fun.
       Enter the confession... So Joshua's name pops up on the monitor as being the next bowler up and I'm standing there looking around trying to find him. In the mean time, up steps this little boy with his back to me, grabs a bowling ball and starts toward the lane. I literally was about to reach out and stop him when it hit me that it was Joshua. As mushy as it sounds, my heart sank right there. Yeah, I've been away that much this year that it apparently takes a second to recognize my oldest son. I do enjoy my job, do not mistake that. I don't even terribly dislike the regular side of the Navy all that much. But for those of you that do not know what it's like to have to be away, or to have your Spouse away, or are even numb and indifferent to such a demand that the military requires (and yes, other civilian jobs as well), then from one of the ones that has to be away, it is hard! I do not regret serving and doing my part which requires that I leave my family behind in my very capable wife's hands, but that does not change the fact that it is difficult to be away not only from your Spouse and the “quality time” there, but also your kids. I do not always realize just how much I miss them until I'm home and take the moments to grab them up and hold them and tell them how much I love and miss them.
    Not too sure where I was headed with this other than to put this little story out there, but I hope that it can at least shine a slight glimmer on the other side with the one who has to be away. Life is hard, yes, work some times is difficult, yes, and it's not always easy have to hear and deal with the fact that your little ones are acting up in your absence, but I know that doing what I do is worth it for them. And with any sappy life lessons spiel, I leave you reading this with the good 'ole mantra of do not take for granted the time you have with your families. Yes, part of the Season is to take time and reflect and enjoy the time that you have with loved ones both friends and family, but what I'm talking about is far beyond that. Seriously take time to reflect on how much your family and particularly your kids mean to you and how serious you are about it when you comment things like doing anything for them. Beyond the gifts, beyond the stereotypical facade of the Holiday's of “you mean so much to me”, really take time and mean it. Really take a few moments within the next week or months and spend some time with those you hold closest in your hearts.
    Eh, and with that, not to be a Scrooge or anything, but I've got no other way at the moment to end this other than to say, Phil/ Out.