A trip to pick up Beloved from War

He Is Home From War! (The Short Version.)




(Now for the longer Version for those that like the details.)
I AM ON THE ROAD AGAIN! 

This past Friday afternoon,  Beloved sent me a cryptic email that translated into "I am coming home early. I am not coming into Savannah like I originally thought. Drive to Fayetteville. I will be on US soil TOMORROW!"

I read his email and thought, "That man knows how to get me excited!" -- HE WAS COMING HOME FROM WAR!

I know! Having gone through so many reunions you would think the excitement should be some thing I should be tired of! (Is this our seventh, eighth, or am I on our ninth deployment separation? I tell you they all run together!) I am here to say, that each reunion is different, but all are filled with Bubbling Joy!

Now I know what you are thinking! One person at a friend's baby shower asked me, "Are you crazy, Carmen? Are you really going to drive eight hours with three little ones by yourself?" Well. Absolutely! I am a REDHEAD! (Weeks before I did a twelve hour drive with three children and two animals and headed down to Georgia's sunny warm weather from Kentucky.) Besides, I can't disappoint Beloved!


Beloved never doubted that I wouldn't come and pick him up! You see, Beloved was warned before we were married, from my Daddy, that my middle name should have been the word "GO!" (And my Mom and Sister should have the same middle name.) However, even if my Dad hadn't warned him, a few years into our marriage, when I was described as the FEMALE version of Indian Jones, Beloved had to agree. And in his normal even- toned voice he said, "Carmen is always up for an adventure."



OH! I do love adventure! But for those of you who have never been out of your own little home town, don't worry about me! I don't want you to think I am reckless! I am not! But just to assure you that I am not hanging from some bouncing rope by my feet, you should know that Beloved keeps me grounded! Hints the reason why I didn't go bungi-jumping between two cliffs over a rushing river, in New Zealand several years back. He wouldn't let me! (Chuckle! --Sigh!) However, for those who love adventure too, you should also know that Beloved didn't squish my spontaneous side. Instead, he suggested a safer sport -- Parasailing! (And that was amazing! It was the most relaxing air flight I have ever had.)

Okay, back to my trip. --- I hoped into the car with my three children and off we drove the eight hours from Georgia to North Carolina. After several hours of stop and go traffic, ( 20 miles per hour in some spots) a sinus head ache, and my ears tired of hearing children's videos, we arrived at our hotel.

And that is where the little ones and I checked in!

Secret # 1 - In case you don't know how to get three children into a hotel room with a suitcase, sippy cups, bed time stuff animals, and a computer (I can't live with out it and wireless is free), a cooler filled with milk (Because every one refuses to go to sleep without a sippy cup of milk) those handy dandy hotel luggage carts can be a life saver!



Secret # 2 Oh and if there happens to be three children that refuses to walk on their own and instead wants you to carry them inside, remember that it isn't to hard to convince them that those handy dandy hotel luggage carts are the latest in fashion! And if you have at least one in the bunch that is tired enough to be contrary, you may have to get creative. Here is where it helps to dust off the Interstate Zombie Cob Webs that have been plastered to your brain and think like a Toddler! Tell them that the ride will be better than any ole GROCERY Store child car shopping cart that they have at Kroger! It should work! However, then you have to stretch those tired bones, stretch your legs and arms and get your body in gear to make that ride worth your words! How do you do that? You run them into a few obstacles, pretend the automatic doors are going to shut on you, and hit a few bumps, then they think you are the best mommy ever!

Now, once we were all cozy in the hotel, it didn't take long for all the questions to begin.

"UM. Where is Daddy?" asked the little ones. (And the "WHY?" stage child asked every few minutes.)

"I don't know little ones. He will call when he arrives in the States." And the questions continued.

And we waited!

Finally, dinner time came and there was still no Beloved. So, with not many restaurants to eat at, and no one wanting to get in the car, we ate at the hotel restaurant which happened to be an upscale - use your FANCY manners- cloth napkin, crystal glasses, china plates, and a whisper type of restaurant!

I sighed! I felt like I might be taking my adventurous side a little to far! I questioned my sanity! Then I questioned if I TOTALLY lacked common sense! I suppose I had!  I proceeded to walk all three children to the "Please Wait To Be Seated Sign!"

Now, my children are well behaved and any other time I would not have been so concern. However, I was tired. They are tired and it is closing in on the little ones bed time. It is way pass their dinner time. They had been in the car for hours. There are three of them and one of me! And they are age four and under. Needless to say, I wasn't sure how dinner was going to go!

Well, we were approached several times on how wonderfully behaved and how well mannered they were during dinner so I felt relieved! (And they were very well behaved!) And those comments were appreciated! They make a mommy feel proud. But, truth be told, I was REALLY PRAISING GOD! Praising Him because no one needed to go to the bathroom during dinner. I know it sounds silly but there is nothing worse than being the only adult, and having to take all three to the bath room, while your food is getting cold at the table. (Not that any mom with three little ones ever gets to eat warm food anyway. However, I can still dream of the day where I am not separating food, not cutting food into small bites, and not having the table conversation totally surrounded on the importance of not just eating the butter but actually putting it on the dinner roll.)

Now, with dinner over, we headed back to the room. With diaper changes and everyone in their pjs, we sat and waited some more. And this is where the Questions continued from the child in the "WHY?" stage. But, "Hallelujah!", God gave me the Little Lady! And being wise beyond her years, (Okay, probably really because she is a girl, and doesn't mind being in charge, and maybe also because she has those 1st born, older sibling qualities) she began to answer those questions with the statements that I had been saying for the last two hours!

Finally, a text message. "I have landed."

Then an hour later another text message came over my cell phone. "I am 15 minutes away."
I text message back "ROOM 1006".

Tick-tock! Tick-tock! More Waiting. Now, there were different questions.

"Will Daddy be here in ONE minute?" This time from both of the talking little ones.

"No. Daddy will be here in 15 minutes. We still have a little bit longer to wait."

Tick Tock!

A KNOCK. (This better be Daddy!)

The door opened. Beloved walked through the door, with black bags, and wearing a tan digitized uniform.

Giggles and screaming roared through the room.

Many "I missed you" spilled out of little mouths.
Hugs.
Kisses.

Relief!

A little time passed by....

"Daddy?" said the little ones. "Will you lay down with us?"

And an hour later all was quiet and all were at rest.

The anticipation was over! Our family is complete. Daddy is home! Well, as "AT HOME" as you can feel when you still have a two days to drive home to our little farmhouse.
Once home, we will be there for a few days until our next adventure begins -- Always on the move!