Things I Don't Miss So Much...

In the interest of not being a total "Debbie Downer" with yesterday's post, I have also compiled a list of things that I don't miss that much when Tim is gone. As wonderful as my husband is and as much as I adore him, there's always a silver lining, right? So here's the ever so small one I've found.

1. There are no dirty clothes left on his side of the bed for me to find after I've done the laundry.

2. I can watch "One Tree Hill" and "The Hills" without being mocked. (Except now that I've written it on here I'm sure someone's going to mock me for that!)

3. I can eat cereal for dinner every night for a week and no one complains.

4. I don't have to share the computer or Facebook time.

5. The toilet stays cleaner longer.

6. There's no stubble in the bathroom sink. (Thanks for that one, Meredith!)

7. There's a lot less laundry and none of it smells like the boat.

8. It's much easier to workout, diet and lose weight when Tim's gone

9. The alarm doesn't go off at 5 am.

10. I can rearrange the budget to spend money on shoes instead of food. (See #3.)

Anything else that's an advantage that I've forgotten?

Things I Miss...

By no means is this list exhaustive, but these are a sampling of the things I miss when Tim is at sea, in no particular order.

1. Having someone to cook for

2. Having someone to laugh at all my jokes

3. Sleeping well (that doesn't happen when I sleep alone)

4. Praying with him

5. Someone else getting up in the middle of the night with crying little boys

6. The boat smell (I know it's horribly gross, but I guess that's just how much I love him...)

7. Who I am when I'm with him

8. The way he hugs me

9. His ringtone

10. Not having to finish my own sentences

11. The way the boys scream, "Daddy!" when he walks in the door

12. Foot rubs

13. Going to church as a family

14. The background noise of college football for 12+ hours on Saturdays

15. Spooning

16. His eternal optimism about OU and Cowboy football

17. Having someone to take care of me

18. His grin

Sundays are Hard...

I think Sundays are the days I miss Tim the most. The other days of the week just sort of run together. Tim would be at work all day Monday - Friday anyway, but Sundays are our family day. We try really hard to protect it as a day for worship and time together. No work, no studying, no outside activities for the most part. So, these are the days that feel so empty when he's at sea. Everything we do on Sundays makes me painfully aware that he's gone.

I get up and get everyone ready for church - alone. I get the kids and bags into Sunday School and checked in - alone. I sit and wait for Sunday School to start - alone. I find a seat in the sanctuary - alone. I stand and smile during the fellowship song - alone. I come home, make lunch and put the kids down for a nap - alone. It's not that those things are that hard. (Well, maybe getting the kids and bags all into church in one trips is kinda hard!) But I can certainly manage. We have our routine and I know what works for getting it done. It's just that everything on Sundays is a constant reminder of how much I miss my partner.

And today is the worst day we've had. I didn't expect it, but Super Bowl Sunday makes me miss him more than I have during this patrol. I think it might be because it feels like holiday only it really isn't one. If Tim were gone over Christmas or Thanksgiving, people would be sympathetic and invite us over. They'd say things like, "I'm so sorry that your husband is gone today. Do you have plans? You shouldn't be alone today." And even though today isn't a holiday, it's a day that makes me miss him terribly. If Tim weren't at sea we'd be having a fun dinner together and watching the commercials, er, I mean the game. It's not a big deal, it just would be nice if people acknowledged that today might be tough.

But that's enough feeling sorry for myself. It's just one more day closer to Tim coming home - whenever that might be. And after throwing this pity party for myself, I made Mark Garrett and I Crazy Nachos. Actually, it was my version of them. But they were pretty good anyway. Good enough to impress a 3 year old at least. And I'm still going to watch the game. Life goes on, right? I guess I'm rooting for the Cardinals tonight. Who doesn't like a good underdog story? Plus, I think Kurt Warner is a stand up guy along with my brother-in-law from Arizona. So there it is. Go Cardinals!