Almost 3 weeks and counting

Well we are one day shy of 3 weeks and counting. I will be so glad when Mike gets Internet access. It is kind of hard to cram in as much as you want to in a 3 or 4 minute phone call. When he called Sunday, Kyla was finally able to talk to her dad. It was the first time since he left. She was so excited and happy.

When I do get to talk to Mike he sounds good, very tired, but good. For those who sent me letters for his book, thank you very much. He loved it!!! He especially loved the letter from Peanut and Sheba.. Trust me, I go no where without my cell phone now. When I am at home I have the cell phone in one hand and the house phone in the other and that includes in the bathroom too. I have made it thru my first "crisis" without him. My dad was admitted to the hospital last week for chest pains and as it turned out he had 3 heart attacks in a matter of a couple of weeks. He now has 5 stints in. I felt to helpless down here and I wasn't able to get home like I wished I could have. Mike finally was able to call me and that is all I needed was to hear his voice to calm me and comfort me. He just knows what to say or how to say it to make me feel better. Luckily my dad is home now and feeling better.

The other night while sitting up unable to sleep I got an e-mail from Mike which surprised me so much I just sat here and cried while I read it over and over. He was able to send me his address so now we can start sending care packages!! YEAH!! For some reason having that address makes me feel a little better.

I won't lie and put on an act, this is hard as hell... I don't care who says what. Knowing you can't just pick up a phone to hear them, knowing they won't be home at night to comfort you, and mainly knowing how long they will be gone really eats at you little by little. I can say that without very close and good friends and support I don't know how people do it. I have some of the best friends here who have been God send. I honestly don't know what I would do without them.

Kyla has done such an amazing job since Mike left. I tell him when we get to talk he would be so proud of her!! She has been a huge help and has grown in just 3 weeks. She is hoping to get hired here for a summer internship. They are starting a new program down here for teenagers and they will get paid while working. Tonight is her last choir concert for the year. I will be taking my camera to take pictures to send Mike. She hasn't said anything but I know how much it hurts her that her daddy can't be here but she understands.

We are hoping once he gets Internet the communication will be better. I will let you know when he gets it in case anyone wants to e-mail him. I also signed him up on the Adopt-a-Soldier program back home on a radio station. I just want him to feel and know how much we love and miss him but that we are also so proud of him... I know I can't send him everything he wants, such as his chair or the water bed but little things will help, I hope.. The last time we talked he told me he had been taking pictures and will send them to me as soon as he can. I can't wait..

Please keep him and his team in your thoughts and prayers.