Charlene Kidd: Two are One

This entry has been amended; see the end of the post.

I got very strategic about my eating and exercising at the beginning of this year. Through January and up until today I have been very consistent. I am seeing some results again. But for some reason I am not feeling it today.

I must say I would be perfectly fine eating a bag of Dove's (my absolute favorite).

I think it is because my husband, Allan, left at 3:30 this morning for the airport. He will be out of town until next Tuesday (actually it will be Wednesday morning in the wee hours before he gets in). I feel like my motivation is not here. Katie and Ryan do not even want to do their school work today (actually that is not too unusual!)

It is silly I know, but Allan has not been gone for longer than one night in almost a year. I am finding myself feeling a little helpless. He works from home and is very helpful. He often gets the kids to and from school, he vacuums, washes the clothes, ( I fold them). I see now that I have become comfortable with all of his help.

Am I silly for feeling off kilter, just because my husband is traveling? I remember in 2006 he traveled most every week, we adjusted and life continued on. Then in 2007, as I said, he really did not travel much at all. So why is today so hard?

Okay, now that I got it out; I feel better already. Maybe I just needed to write it out.

Does anyone else ever struggle with this? I know there are ladies out there that can't wait for their husbands to travel, I am just not one of them.

I think I will send him an email or a text message to let him know that I appreciate all he does.

I promise to get my act together and exercise too. I wont promise that I will vacuum though!!

I am happy to report that I did exercise yesterday and today!! I am in a much better mood today. I am settling into handling all that needs my attention

At the suggestion of Joy(see the comments); I am working on one project I know Allan would make him happy to know it is done (our taxes!!!). I also loved Melissa's suggestion about a camp out. It is going to be cool and rainy tonight, I have a fireplace in my bedroom; so it would be a fun night for all of us.

Thanks for the encouragement.

I still have not vacuumed!!!

Blessings,

21 Comments:

Joyful said...

Charlene, you are NOT alone! I hate it when my husband travels. I feel like only half of me is functioning - and I guess like your blog confirms - "Two Are One", and without our 'other half' we do feel that loss. However, in saying that I also realize that with God as our "other One" we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Do you know what I do when my husband is away? I try and tackle something really special around the home - maybe some major task I've been neglecting until "someday" and surprise him with the completion of it when he arrives home. I try and throw myself into some project that will encourage his heart when he returns (something HE wanted done - not some major re-decorating surprise I just want to see accomplished)!

The thing I hate the most while he is away is being alone at night. The Lord has brought me a LONG way in that respect. I now have a beautiful picture upstairs in our home of the most tranquil bedroom scene you'd ever see with a verse from the Psalms printed below - Psalm 4:8, "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Whether my husband is home or not, I can rest in safety.

May the Lord make Himself very real to you over the next few day.
Praying for you,
Joy

at February 28, 2008 at 11:21 AM

MelissaTaylor.org said...

Oh Charlene, I feel your pain. I HATE when Jeff leaves. He's part of me. You are not silly at all. I love that you feel that way about your husband. I wish all my friends felt that way about their's.

Jeff is not gone very often. Last week he was away one night. I was thankful that I was still on the major pain killers and was slightly out of it! I cry when he leaves otherwise.

Charlene, thanks for sharing your heart. When Jeff is gone, we always have Camp Taylor in my room (I don't like to sleep alone in my room). You have some time to plan a special "welcome home" date:)

Love you girlie:) Thanks for always posting sweet comments on my blog.

Love,
Melissa

at February 28, 2008 at 10:19 PM

Celly B said...

Charlene,
I can completely identify! My husband is an accountant, and quarter-ends and year-ends are very busy. This January has been much worse than normal. Joel is so great with the kids and around the house, that I have definitely missed his help and have also felt "off kilter."
I guess this time when they're not around should be a reminder of how blessed we are with such great husbands!

at February 29, 2008 at 10:35 AM

Hi Charlene,
Glad you were able to feel motivated to work on a 'surprise' for your husband.

Like Melissa said, I too "camp out" with my son on our pull-out bed by the fireplace when my husband is away. It makes for a fun adventure - and thankfully he is never gone TOO long, because that bed is way too uncomfortable!!!

Hope you're having a great day!
Joy

at March 1, 2008 at 10:30 AM

Dawn Ward said...

Charlene, I feel the same way! I really don't like it when my husband travels. As a matter of fact, he is leaving for California in a couple of weeks, and I already dread it. I especially hate when he travels there (which is most of his trips) because we live in North Carolina so even finding time to talk on the phone with the time difference is difficult. I usually tell him to call when he gets in for the evening even though it's usually about 1:30am our time just because I want to talk to him.

He doesn't work from home, but I wish that he did. He jokes with me and asks if I wouldn't rather him be out of my hair at the office, but I truly don't feel that way at all. As Melissa said, he's part of me. I love him, and I enjoy being around him. I completely understand your feeling out of sorts when your husband is gone.

I do like the idea of tackling a project he would like to see done when he returns home. I need to think about that for when my husband travels in a couple of weeks. Great idea, Joy!

Blessings,
Dawn

at March 1, 2008 at 11:31 AM

Van said...

Charlene - Traveling men! My husband used to be gone for three weeks - to Europe, India, China - now he's retired and home all the time. It was worth the wait. But seriously - Melissa has a great idea. I used to call camp when my DH left town - picnics, on my bed, pot luck fun nights with other single moms, camp outs under the dining room table, and all nighters watching Little House on the Praire. You'll love the memories!

at March 1, 2008 at 9:59 PM

Jodie Wolfe said...

Charlene,
Just wanted to know that I am praying for you. My husband used to be in the military and would be gone for a month at a time. It was very difficult because I was a new mother, with an infant and living overseas. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

at March 3, 2008 at 9:47 AM

Charlene,

I was glad to hear you are getting through the week! I can't wait to hear more about camping out in your room with the kids (Kidds--ha!).

How sweet of you to do something big for him. (nice idea Joy) He will be so thrilled to see how you worked so hard to keep his family happy while he was away and also continued to serve him.

Just reading all this makes me want to do something extra for Jeff. (I'll wait til I can walk a little better)

Love you,
Melissa

at March 3, 2008 at 1:29 PM