Hey y'all...

I don't know if anyone's noticed, but I haven't been around as much as usual lately. I'm really sorry about that and will try to get back into the full swing of things! I really miss feeling like an integral part of this place! Lately, it's been more like the occasional cameo appearance.

Anyhow...Dean is fully ensconced at his job in Afghanistan. He's in a very secure location, and so far as I understand things now, his job requires very little travel outside of that compound, so there's little chance of him running into much in the way of war-time excitement. His days consist of waking up...working 16-18 hours....going to bed....and waking up again. Seven days a week. It's pretty insane. And he told me he's never ready for his day to end because there's always so much more to do.

Our communication has been more spotty than I'd hoped for, but hopefully as the weeks and months roll on, we'll settle into a more comfortable routine. I'm hoping, anyhow. But at least I know he's relatively safe...and has relatively comfortable accomodations. He has a small room that he only has to share with one other guy of equal rank (who happens to be a British Officer). Other than that, I don't know much about what's going on or what his day-to-day life is like, other than work-work-work-sleep-work-work-work.

Here at home, we're getting along alright. Emotionally, the kids and I are holding up pretty well. God has been very faithful and His peace and stregth are felt every day. But, each day it seems like I fall a teeny bit further behind in all that needs to be done. You just never realize how much you count on your partner being there and helping out with stuff until he's gone for sooo long. So lately, I've been in perpetual catch-up mode....which steals time away from the computer...and makes me feel behind on all the projects and duties I have here as well. It's turning into a bit of a vicious cycle.

Anyhow....sorry to ramble on so much. I thought some of you might like an update on how Dean is doing....and I thought I should let you know that I've not abandoned anyone or forgotten about y'all! Just really busy, with little mental energy left for the online world. But I'm optimistic that things will smooth out and perk up again before too long. I just need to figure out a new and more efficient routine for our day-to-day lives...and once that settles in, things should start getting better.

Miss you guys like crazy! And I promise I'll be around as much as I can be!