Auf Wiedersehen - Until I See You Again

Our precious three weeks with Phil have finally drawn to a close. We accept it, though. We're used to these goodbyes. First Phil was deployed to Afghanistan for 6 months in 2006, then he PCS'd to Korea for 8 months in 2008. Thankfully we're getting really good at "soldiering up" and dealing with missing each other. Separations force us to be our strongest selves, and help us to appreciate one another more than we otherwise would. There are so many lessons to be learned, and so much growth to experience, from these goodbyes. 

I attribute much of our family's closeness and team mentality to our extensive traveling and also to these lengthy separations. We're constantly in situations that call for us to think and act as one mind, to help one another, to depend on one another in critical ways. We're each a pillar of our family structure, and each of us knows it.

The Frankfurt airport never saw so much hugging. Surprisingly there were very few tears, because we all felt so loved and so close, and we knew that Phil would only be gone for another three months. Compared to eight months, three is a breeze.

Comic relief!

As Lvov used to say, "We love our-chothers!"

A Thousand Miniature Get-Well Wishes from Lvov

The second week that Phil was away, I caught a cold (compounded by allergies). To keep me company, Lvov sat at my desk next to my bed tinkering away for about an hour and a half. This is what she was making, instead of playing outside or watching a movie or playing with the hamster...(please click on this picture to see the little notes!)

My children are so wonderful, they even make being sick joyful. They are my joy, every minute.

Manga Madness

The kiddos are taking a Manga cartoon class at the youth center this summer, and as we were researching Manga online, we found this funky site that transforms your photos into Manga pictures:

Lvov

Akychame

Akychame, the "Dog-Gone Good" Entrepreneur

Braided Together on a Sunny Day

Lvov's "Sponge Bob" 10th Birthday Party!

Lvov's Apology Gift Left Outside of Akychame's Door the Morning After an Argument

Inside the tissue paper baggie is Lvov's prized possession: the smoky quartz rock she bought at Idar-Oberstein, the mining village where we visited the church in the cliff. These girls are always leaving little love notes and gifts for each other, and for us.

Phil and Jalina Going out to Dinner for their 14th Wedding Anniversary

Isn't this fantastic??? Lvov made it for us for our anniversary. I can't think of anything better to do on my anniversary than to embrace Phil with cardboard arms while being served miniature dinner at a milk carton table. Lovely!

And we really did go out for a nice dinner, but the place was a real dive - no milk carton tables, no wash cloth table covers...but we did our best to enjoy ourselves.


We dined at Club 21, a bar/restaurant that has a stunning view of Kaiserslautern. It felt as if we were looking out an airplane window - the fresh perspective revealed the city's secrets and every building, alley way, store, and park suddenly made more sense. I saw the interconnectedness of the city; I finally understood the dead ends, the roads I had always meant to take, and the confusing places that I can never quite "map" in my mind's eye.

That night, feasting on delicious food and looking back over the view of our lives together with different and older eyes, everything made sense: the dead ends, the confusing places, the roads we never took. Everything with my boy made sense.

I'm lucky, lucky lucky.

A Yummy Valentine's Day (the girls were our rollerskating waitresses!)

A Loving Note from my Dad in a Children's Book (dated Christmas 1976 )

and now for some serious reflection...

Going to a "Talk Like a Pirate Day" Party & Phil's Fledgeling 1970's Moustache

Our Apron-Making Weekend

Because my apron was so boring compared to theirs, Lvov drew lovely pictures all over it in permanent marker, and wrote nice little notes to me. In the front pocket of my apron she wrote me a secret message upside-down, so that when I look down to get something out of my pocket, I can read it perfectly. She wrote, "you are the most beautiful mommy in the world!"

Optimism in Unlikely Places

Lvov's cup is more than half full...and it's smiling, to boot!

Butterfly Necklace for Lvov's Birthday

Eyeball, Finger!

Follow the Puffball