Okay, so I have been doing some more pondering; and I have been thinking alot about plans; and how much we count on them; and how difficult it is to let your plans go.....
For instance, Louis and I planned on moving to Germany back in 2002; and I pictured cute little houses with flower boxes, the kids, Louis and I happily traveling down the cobblestone roads, experiencing homeschooling through touring castles!!!
Well, um hummn we know how that went. We arrived the first day to the usual "grey, overcast" October day; and suddenly we were in a hotel; and my husband had one foot out of the door with his sponsor. I casually, ask him about lunch; and he says well you and the kids can just walk up the hill to the foodcourt and grab something! I don't think I will ever let him forget that one.
Of course, that hill was more like a mountain after traveling 24 hours and pushing one child in a stroller. Let's not forget I was in a foreign country....
Anyway, from that day forward my, "our" plans changed. We had stairwell living, my friends from Germany can appreciate that one. Let's just say quaint and flower boxes was not stairwell living in Wiesbaden. Yeah, our family traveled, usually without Louis and our castle tours ended the day I lost Sydney for 45 minutes in one of the more famous castles over here.
I had plans of homeschooling my children, while immersing ourselves in the German culture. If you want to call shushing my children while sitting at the table, trying for the 50th time to get Deutch Telecom to explain why after two months I still did not have internet hooked up, immersion...well yeah we did that. (Again, my german comrades can relate to that one).
Did I expect to say goodbye to Louis the first year we were there, no. My plans defintely did not include trying to be normal around my kids, but as soon as I heard of another soldier dying in Iraq, dashing to the computer just to make sure it wasn't someone from First Armor Division.
I also didn't plan for rats infesting my building, all three of my children getting scabies from traveling over there. Yeah, there were lots of things that did not go with my plans.
Here are some of the other things I didn't plan. I didn't plan on becoming friends with woman, that I will never forget! I didn't plan on holding hands with other woman, praying, crying and knowing that I will never, ever meet heroes like the ones standing around me.
I didn't plan on being so proud of my husband, my country, and the ones wearing a uniform, that I literally could not watch a commercial with a soldier returning, or our flag waving without being reduced to tears. I learned in a short time, that freedom wasn't free; and WOW I can't tell you how much the history lessons that the kids and I share mean, now. Especially, the ones about America being founded.
I also didn't plan on my husband coming home for knee surgery in the middle of the deployment and gaining our fourth, sweet Katie Grace! I didn't plan on my marriage growing so much, while seperated and I didn't plan on appreciating little things, like Louis just riding in the car with us.
I didn't plan on really knowing what it meant to depend on God; and knowing that through all my suffering, I would know true peace. Alot of us, learned that on a very dark day in April, when we found out our husbands were being extended in Iraq. Some of them already home, and having to turn back. This, was also the same week that we lost some of our own in 2nd Brigade.
What did I not plan on my kids learning. I thought my kids would sail right through the academics and we would be experiencing European history through field trips.
Well.....the academics, were often stalled for real life challenges. When a neighbor calls and needs you, over here your all they have! Dr. appts. are at least a half a day ordeal, cars break down at inconvenient times, going away ceremonies, memorials, frg meetings, all of these things were interruptions, but also our life....and still our life.
My kids definitely got field trips; and wow some of the real life lessons they have learned. For example, when in Holland don't leave your wallet out, or you might just get mugged. They learned after visiting Dachau and the Corrie Ten Boom house, that yes there are really bad people out there; and yes that maybe what Daddy was doing was important.
Robert, learned what giving up a few hours of his time to do childcare so some ladies could just meet together and do a Bible study, could mean. He also learned, that it was not so easy to do a u- turn on the autobahn; and when his mom gets lost, she gets very cranky. He walked more memorial battlefields, than I can say. He, also got to see churches, that would take your breath away.
He learned, how to order in a restaurant, get directions, and he learned that saying goodbye to your Dad, and friends is hard. However, he also learned that life goes on and he learned how to show compassion for those hurting. He once carried all of our luggage up four flights of steps, because his Mom just finding out that her Dad was not coming home from Iraq when expected, was incapable of doing much of anything.
Sydney, learned that when you get lost in a very big castle, you get to do the tour twice. She also learned that when you say "NEIN"! TO German boys at an indoor playland, that you may just get punched. She learned that German's love to give candy away, especially at the emergency room. She learned that getting your tonsils out in a german hospital, was about the same as in an American one, except that they don't believe in giving painkillers orally (if you know what I mean).
Yeah, my kids have learned alot, most of it not planned. However, I am willing that the things they learned over here, will help them in life. They have a sense of humor about things now, and they have learned that when all around you is not looking to good, just look at the lord and he will get you through it.
What have I learned. You might just get what you ask for? So think about what you are asking......
goodnight,
Patty
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