No....I'm not leaving BP.net.

....but other than saying that....it's hard to know where to begin.

As most of you know, my hubby is an officer in the Air Force. And some of you know he is supposed to deploy this fall/winter for a six month stint in Afghanistan. We knew we only had until the end of this month to be together...but at least we knew. There were a few weeks left...still time to get stuff done...still time to be together. Time for my birthday and our 17th wedding anniversary, which both happen later this month.

But the bureaucratic machine that is the military decided Dean has "more important" things to be doing, and they called him out early...with less than 36 hours notice. Yesterday was pretty much spent in tears for me, when I got the news...and the evening taken up with huge bags of military gear being sorted and packed for a trip that will now be seven months instead of six.

Early this morning, before the sun was even up...we were all kissing him goodbye. We'll see him again sometime in mid-April of '08.

I love this man more than words can say; the respect I have for him knows no bounds. And I'm SO proud of him it feels like my heart will burst sometimes. I know the Lord has His reasons and purpose for all of this. I trust Him in that, and I trust Him to take care of us and keep us strong while Dean is away. But oh, sweet Lord....I was not ready for this, yet.

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Petra wearing his flak-jacket and helmet. This vest alone weighs about 30-40 pounds!


Dean and the kids yesterday evening...


And because it's SO impossible to catch a real smile from Dean when he is posing for pics...here's a few from our Labor Day weekend up in Dallas with his family. The room was full of cousins, aunts, uncles, Grandma and Grandpa...all of us having a huge battle with soft-sided blocks and balls.

Here's Dean hording ammo....






I love his smile and his laugh.....