Stairs & Tears



        As I was looking through pictures of Joe & Ryan today, I came across this picture and it hit me that their days of sitting on the stairs together are limited.  Everyday Joe comes home from work, he sits on the bottom stair to take his boots off...and Ryan doesn't miss it.  He goes right over and sits beside daddy.  Ryan has become such a daddy's boy & a little man...where has this past year gone?  I just pray that this year we'll be apart will go just as quick.  Not being together as a family is part of our lifestyle, but saying goodbye never gets any easier...2010 was the first year we were together for the entire year (no deployments or TDY's).  As our days tick away, I cherish every minute we have together.  I pray for strength because I know this upcoming goodbye will be the hardest yet!  I'm so thankful to have family that is willing to take us in for this next year, and that Ryan will be around strong men (my dad & his Uncle Chad).  Well, I need to go and finish up Ryan's snack because daddy will be home soon, which means...it's time for them to sit on the stair.