Half-way point!

Today marks 6 months, my husband has been deployed. Six months down, 6 months to go!
You can tell we've made it halfway by the attitude of the wives and children.

Some of the soldiers are coming home for their much needed R&R, some of the wives are waiting anxiously for their turn and the children are really starting to feel the effects of daddy being gone. But for most, this 2 week stint is bittersweet.
We know that 15 days later, we will be returning to the airport soldier in tow, kids crying and a repeat of the deployment day. As we walk through the terminal our man in uniform will usually receive atleast one, "THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE". Of course, this gratitude is appreciated, but its like a double edged sword.
Everytime we hear this statement, we almost automatically, grip a little tighter to our spouses hand. In an attempt to not be reminded everything we are giving up.

We'll stand there and wait for the final boarding calls, sick to our stomachs, again wondering if this is the last time we'll ever see them. We'll comfort our children the best we can, pretending we aren't worried so they don't pick up on our concern. We'll tell each other, its ok and it will be over soon. We'll take that one last deep breath to push down the fear. That breath is always followed by a sniffle.
We'll have one child in our arms, and usually atleast one against our hip.
Then he'll disappear into the boarding area, just out of our site.

We'll wait a little while, to see the plane take off. We'll hear "is that daddy's plane" atleast 10 times before we can say yes. Once "daddy's plane" is in the air, and the excitement of seeing the plane has passed, the children's tears will flow again.

Strangers will look at you, guage your reaction, some will say I'm sorry, others will stare. All you want to do, is give the entire airport the finger.