Home, But Not Really Home

My husband may be home and in the USA, but tonight he is not really home. For the time being he must stay on his ship overnight every sixth night. On these duty says, I usually visit, bring food, and hang out with him for a few hours. We usually watch a movie together. Tonight we watched the The Return of the King. We started The Fellowship of the Ring on Monday and have been working our way through the series this week. While watching I tapped the computer and the time appeared- 9:30!! Could it really be 9:30? My the evening had passed quickly! It meant that I had to leave in a half hour. My heart sank just as it did when we were dating and had to say goodnight, yet this time my mind flew with, "But he's my husband. Saying goodnight and parting makes no sense." I gathered my belongings, and we sat together for a few more precious moments before making our way out. He makes his way through, around, and all over that ship as if there is nothing to it, while it is a feat for me to go up a ladder without bumping my head or even opening one of the ship's doors. I love leading the way even though it ultimately means I will be making a few wrong turns in the process. Tonight I hit two dead ends, but what would be the point of making the most efficient exit anyway. With a kiss on my check, I was off to the gangplank (as I affectionately call the stairs to exit the ship). He may not be allowed to walk me to my car, but he watches me to it from the highest deck on the rear of the ship. I wave, he waves back, and we sign I love you. On goes the radio as my eyes well up with tears. I well up because I miss him, I well up because I have him, and I well up because the pain of those six months and four days apart comes flooding back. I may not sail the seven seas, steer a ship, command troops, or fire missiles, yet my patriotism is seen in many different ways such as cooking dinner and washing the laundry simply because through it all--- I am a military wife.

Feeling at Home

This past Sunday N and I visited the next church (we had been to four others already) on the list of pca churches in the area (there are no OPC around here). We were completely surprised with how at home we felt in this church. The service was extremely similar to service at home. They sang from the blue trinity hymnal and from the psalter, they were dressed on the formal side especially for this area, their children and babies were extremely quiet and well behaved during service, and they served wine in communion. This church also boasted several large families, and had a good porportion of all age ranges. We were pleased with their formality; we were shocked by their hospitality and friendliness. On our very first visit ever we got a dinner invitation. I did not know that people invited total strangers to their houses. We gladly accepted and could barely leave in enough time to make the dinner invite because so many people came up to talk to us. We throughly enjoyed dinner and our brand new friends. The strange part was that it did not feel awkward. The couple that invited us over had seven children between 22 and 10 years old. The 22 year old was a very recent graduate of grove city, and we were actually able to name a few people that we knew in common!! Around that table I felt as if I had found a long lost uncle and aunt. They were just so nice and at ease with us. It was just perfect and was actually the first time I have been in a house since my moving down to VA. After dinner as is their custom, we took a walk. I love walks. The houses we strolled by were mini-mansions made of stone and brick right on the water. So beautiful!! Attending the evening service and receiving the same amount of fellowship as in the morning, solidified our opinions that we have most likely found our match. What a blessing!!