The First Time Apart

Ryan and I have been married for 21 months, and in all that time, we've not spent a single night apart. The very thought of it gave me hives. I know that so many of you out there reading do this kind of thing all the time. Your husbands {or wives} are truck drivers or nurses or in the military and you are used to suitcases and packing and separations of the long or short variety. {Or maybe you never actually get used to it...but you survive it.}

But I was adamant that I didn't wait 34 years to get married just to be apart all the time. Or ever, really.

But last April, when Ryan turned 35, I wanted to give him a really good present. I knew he'd gotten a letter in the mail from a friend of his who was organizing a whitewater rafting trip, but I also knew he'd put it aside because he didn't think we had the money for it, nor did he ever imagine that I would be okay with being apart for three days.

But I dug up the letter, contacted the guy and reserved a spot for Ryan on the trip, and surprised him completely when he read the letter inside his gift.

And so it was that last Saturday night, he began to pack...and I pulled a Braeya:

He reminded me that this was my idea to begin with. I told him I'd not had enough time to prepare. He asked how much longer than four months I needed, exactly. Don't ask. For the love of Pete, don't ask.

I hid all manner of cards and treats inside his bags after he packed them:

And then on Sunday morning, we went to church together to spend our last little bit of time before he left. This is my attempt-to-look-happy-when-I-want-to-cry face:

And then I DID cry. All the way through church. We hurried home, changed our clothes, and it was time to load him up in the car to deliver him to his departure destination:

The eight guys heading out met up at a church in Kokomo, and yes I was the only wife who showed up to see her husband off. Make fun if you want; I don't even care. I managed to be brave as I said goodbye, and then I got in the car and snapped this picture right before the waterworks let loose.

Cried for about the next three hours, before I headed off to one of my friend's houses. She told me she wanted me to come over for the afternoon just to keep me occupied. And she did! I spent the afternoon chatting with her and playing aunt...which included a trip to the sandbox!!

She fed me dinner and then I headed home to make it through the first long evening and night without him. Surprisingly, I did very well - even when he called to talk to me for a little bit!

When it was bedtime, I unmade the bed {proud of myself for even sleeping in it...I bet he thought I'd pull a Bekah and sleep on the living room floor} and found THIS under my pillow:

Yeah cried after I read that too.

Braeya wasn't handling it any better than I was. She spent her evening sleeping on the ottoman where Ryan props his feet every night - because normally she sleeps on his legs while he has them propped up. And when it was time for bed, she cried and cried and CRIED...and right after I FINALLY fell asleep, she threw up. Twice. So I got up, cleaned that up, and started over. This time she nestled right in on his side of the bed. Bless her heart.

He got up extra early Monday morning to call me, and I risked being late to work just to hear his voice for ONE MORE MINUTE. Then he was off to raft and hike...and I was off to my day. Found this tucked inside my lunchbox and MADE myself wait until lunch time to read it.

 One of my friends offered to have dinner with me, which I appreciated. We soaked up the goodness that is Chick-fil-A and then I came home. I wanted to just sit and wait, but I forced myself to get up and be productive...to clean up the kitchen, to do some laundry, to take out the recycling...and to make this tasty treat for my dinner appointment on Tuesday night. Doesn't it look good?

By the time I finished all that, it was bedtime, and LESS than 24 hours until we would be reunited. We could do this! It so helped that throughout the day, Ryan sent me pictures and texts and videos just to let me know even though he was having a blast, he hadn't forgotten about me.

{And no, I didn't really think he would...but there's something comforting about KNOWING you're remembered...and more importantly, missed.}

And just so he was sure...I updated our message board in our room. :)

Woke up Tuesday morning and scurried STRAIGHT into the living room to rip open the card that had been sitting on the shelf with STRICT instructions not to open until 9/9/14. He got me the sweetest card, and after mopping myself up, I tried to get all cute for when I picked him up!

He texted me during my time with the morning guys to tell me he had the whole rafting group gathered round his phone and they were streaming live to hear me. {Melt.} So I gave them a shout out! I loved it that he did little things like that to make me feel included from 8 hours away!

The day took f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to end. I was trying to read a book for work...a very good book...but my mind was wondering when it would be time to pick him up and bring him HOME!!!!!!

One of my new friends invited me over to her house for dinner, so after work, I grabbed my pre-made dessert and drove her way to spend a couple of hours talking and eating with her...before going to pick him up!

I had grand plans of being WAY early for pickup, and stopping at Starbucks on the way to get us some coffee, but they ended up being EARLY, so I actually arrived after the caravan, and I sped {literally} into the parking lot and screeched to a halt beside the cars. The guys scattered, probably very unsure of what they were about to see, and I ran to Ryan and about bowled him straight over onto the ground with the biggest hug.

Yes. I was that wife.

One of the guys commented that he was surprised I didn't show up with balloons. I would be lying if I said I didn't think about it.

And so it was that we were reunited:

So grateful to have this handsome guy back. And also thankful for the technology of texting and cameras on phones and radio apps that let us stay connected for the time we were apart!