a longing for family

During this season in my life times get difficult. My husband is a girls basketball coach and keeps busy during the winter with games, scouting, practices and every other PR thing he has going on. He is absolutely amazing at it and I love that he has such a passion for the girls he coaches...not just from a basketball standpoint, but on building character and helping them see the big picture of life. I love that he builds character and strength in these young women and shows them how to care for people. He uses our marriage to show them what a relationship should be like, he talks about his thankfulness for God and he goes over different topcs from work ethic to loving each other. I love him for his love for them. I love him for his love for his family. I love him for his love for the Lord. I love him for being the person he is. What can I say, I LOVE HIM!

So...this time in life gets difficult because he's not around a lot. I see him for a few hours here, a few hours there, but to spend a significant amount of time together is almost impossible. Those are the times I long for my family to be here. My parents moved to Alabama 5 years ago because my Dad was offered a job. I'm so happy that they have made a life down there, but my heart longs for them to return. I miss our old house, the one I grew up in. I miss the moments with my mom in our kitchen. I miss visiting my dad in his garage with the blow torch heater (have you ever seen one of those things? I actually forget what they are called) working on restoring a car. He actually had this heater rigged to turn on and off depending on the temperature in the garage. I swear, he can do anything. I miss seeing them on every holiday, every birthday and very day I needed "family time". They are parents that are filled with such wisdom, such love for the Lord, love for their family and love for each other. I wish they were closer. Then, there's my brother. He moved to California 4 years ago to start a life with a young woman. I haven't seen him since, but I think that has been good. Hurts needed to heal and they needed to make their relationship the most it could be. He has two gorgeous boys that I have never met...only seen pictures. I long to see him. I love him dearly, but life doesn't always allow time together. I miss the times we would go outside and play in the snow, I miss watching him play baseball, I miss his singing, I miss his caring eyes...ones that would look past any ones "wrongs" and love them regardless of their faults. He is such a wonderful man. I miss my family.

Even though I'm alone a lot, it gives me time to focus on the Lord. He comforts me, He loves me, He gives me peace, He fills the voids. Needless to say, my family being gone has helped me find my comfort in the Father. It's not always easy, but when it's at its worst I'm always comforted through His Word and through prayer.