Time? I love to read other blogs but I must get better at posting on my own. I can tell you for sure that I LOVE being married to my husband. He left early yesterday morning to go to a conference in Kentucky. I have missed him terribly! I believe we've talked as much if not more than we do when he's in town. Our children know when I am on the phone they are not suppose to interrupt. When Patrick is home and we are catching up on the days events it's easy for me to get distracted by what one of our blessings is needing or wanting. However, the last two days when I've been on the phone they haven't interrupted because they have been trained not to. It has been a good thing for me to realize how often I don't engage Patrick when he's here. Also, I tend to "put out fires" the minute they spark. When the toddler needs milk it's easier to get it than to make him wait until his dad finishes what he's saying. You know, Patrick's a grown man he can understand that our two year old "needs" something. Actually, it should be the opposite. We have trained the older ones to put their hand on our shoulder if they need something. Then we will put our hand on theirs to acknowledge they need something and then when there is a break in the adult conversation we excuse ourselves and address the child. I have realized this week that our two youngest need work on this. I HATE that it takes Patrick not being here for me to realize these weaknesses. It has been a wonderful time of refreshment for Patrick . The older three were up later tonight with me and Mary Paige said, "I wish Daddy were here!" Reese said, "Oh! Don't remind me that he's gone I miss him so much", Parker said, "Me too". This made my heart leap! I pray they always miss there dad when he's gone. Reese had a baseballgame tonight. Patrick has always coached our boys teams. Patrick talked to Reese by phone three times today trying to calm his nerves before the game. Reese said tonight after the game, "I was okay but I sure missed Daddy being there, it makes me feel better during the game to know he's right there" I can't wait to tell Patrick this when he calls. Patrick does a great job putting our family on the top of his list but sometimes he has so many balls in the air that coaching is sometimes a burden. However, tonight Patrick wanted me to stay on the phone with him during the entire game to give him a play by play account. Patrick had already done the line up and where the kids were suppose to play each inning. The other coaches did a great job of filling in for him. Reese's team won 26-5!! Now they are 5-0. Reese was very excited and so were the rest of us. My parents came by our house this afternoon to try to take the younger two home with them. Any of our children jump at the chance to go home with them. Today both Gabriel and Miles said no they wanted to go to Reese's game. We were all pleasantly surprised. It was a picture perfect moment. Gabe and Miles wore old uniforms of Reese's that were the same team. Miles was convinced the team was going to let him play. They sure looked cute as mini ball players though. This was our day today! Full of wonder and excitement and wins. None of it was as much fun as it could have been because our hero wasn't here to share it with. As you can tell WE CAN'T WAIT TIL DADDY COMES HOME!!!!!!! Pray he travels home safely tomorrow! God Bless!