Together

Our little family of 5 just spent a week hiding away in a small house near a big lake. Ginger came along too, of course. We went boating every day, swam at the beach, played frisbee in the dark (with light-up frisbees), picked our own sweet corn, let Ginger run up and down the slides at the park, rode bikes all over the place, and just enjoyed being together. Some very good friends joined us on Wednesday and Thursday, and that made our week even sweeter. You know what else made this week special?

For 2 and 1/2 months my police officer husband worked 12 hour night shifts. Two nights on, two nights off, three nights on, two nights off, two nights on, three nights off, and that would repeat every two weeks. Figuring out Derek's new schedule took me a couple of weeks! Vacation time was non-existent, and when Derek wasn't working he was sleeping. I tried my best to keep the kids quiet, but I'm no miracle worker. We stayed busy and had fun this summer, even if we had to do it all without Daddy.

This week of vacation was Derek's week to transition from night-life to day-life. No night fishing for him this week. Instead, we celebrated his return to a normal schedule. :) Up in the day and asleep in the night. Something I will not take for granted.

When Derek and I both worked night shifts, it was kind of fun. When the boys were small and he was on rotating shifts, that was all I knew. But now? Now the boys are bigger and they need their dad around. Now they see him working shifts and they ask him if he's arrested anyone. Now they worry about their dad when he's gone all night. That was the hardest part about this summer for me. Watching my boys miss their dad, and being the parent left behind to pick up the pieces.

Our theme for the summer was, "God's not going to waste this." I wish I had some great revelation to share about God's sovereign plan for this schedule change we did not see coming. I don't. But night after night, Derek shared stories with me of "divine appointments" he experienced at work. Interactions with co-workers. Knowledge to solve crimes. Being in the right place at the right time. Living out his faith in a dark world. Literally, since it was during the night. :) Sorry, I couldn't resist.

So here we are, ready to step back into our "normal" life. This week away provided the perfect kick-off for that! Hopefully soon I can share more about our week through pictures. And to all of you who knew about our summer and prayed for us--thank you. :)