I think everyone handles a loved one’s absence in different ways.  Heath has been going on business trips for as long as I’ve known him.  They’re never long.  He’s always invited me to go with him on the really long ones.  And I have.  Even though his trips are short it’s still hard on me.  I’m perfectly capable of taking care of a household in his absence.  It’s the emotional toll of missing him that makes it hard. 

The dinners I make have become a bit of a tradition.  Heath doesn’t like breakfast for dinner so I make it when he’s gone.  The kids love it.  Last night I made blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, and sausage.  It was so good.  Parker and I were ready to puke we were so full.  Gavin, on the other hand, ate six or more pancakes as well as the huge helping of eggs I gave him and two sausage links.  Heaven help me when that kid becomes a teenager because when he hits a growth spurt I can hardly keep him satisfied. 

This trip did not bother me.  Heath kept saying how sorry he was for leaving me alone with three sick kids.  It didn’t phase me.  Until Tuesday night when he went to play basketball at the church.  I wanted to selfishly keep him to myself.  But he goes for a specific person and we agreed that hour was better spent at church than with me.  Wednesday morning I couldn’t stop crying.  I didn’t know if I had legitimate concerns or if I just didn’t want him to go. 

I asked him to pray with me.  He did and I felt a little better.  I prayed after he left.  I begged my Heavenly Father to bring Heath home to me in one piece.  My thoughts were filled with the idea that I needed to exercise my faith in my Heavenly Father.  I was overwhelmed with the feeling that He knows me and that He would take care of me and my family.  The boys and I have been praying for Heath constantly. 

I cried a lot yesterday.  Everything bothered me.  Keeping Gavin home from school and knowing because of yesterday’s fever I had to keep him home today bothered me.  I don’t know why but I felt it was worth crying about.  So I did. 

Through all the tears and endless worrying (the job I signed up for) I couldn’t help but feel that the Lord was there taking care of me, making my burdens easier simply by His presence in my life.  My thoughts went back several times to the spring of 2007 when my faith was tried harder than it ever had before.  I had no doubt then and I have no doubt now that the Lord held our hands through every second of that trial of our faith in moving. 

The miracles I have been blessed with are simple but they mean a lot to me.  Besides feeling my Savior’s love and support, Heath was safe.  He said the client was very impressed with his work.  They gave mixed reviews last time he went but this time they unanimously loved everything he did.  More answers to my prayers since I prayed that he would do well with his meeting and would continue to be viewed as a valuable asset to the team. 

I was blessed to not have to be out too much in a pretty mighty storm.  Was Gavin’s fever really a blessing in disguise?  I don’t know but I thanked my Heavenly Father for that blessing anyway!  One worry that crossed my mind a few times with the crazy storm was that the power would go out or something catastrophic would happen.  Nothing happened.  We were safe and secure in our home. 

I have had friends offer to help.  I asked my neighbor to pick up Gavin’s homework folder.  Unfortunately, she missed the message.  When a friend called and knew the kids were sick, she asked if she could help.  I asked her to get the homework folder.  Unfortunately, her grandmother is in the hospital and suddenly got worse after our conversation.  She was unable to get the folder.  But my neighbor did.  I was pleasantly surprised to see her and her daughter at my doorstep with the folder. 

Another friend offered to do grocery shopping or at least go on a chocolate run for me.  Tonight the friend with the ill grandmother wanted to give me the night off of cooking.  Her husband brought Domino’s Pizza with a salad mix and Diet Coke on his way home from work.  How sweet is that? 

After getting the run around from Mini Med again over my automatic supply shipment, I was able to have samples overnighted to me.  It cost me $15 but it worked out better than if I were to call the local representative.  The reps have supplies in their cars.  But I know for a fact that he doesn’t carry my infusion sets.  Some may consider that to be a strange blessing but it is a blessing to me. 

Skype was how we stayed connected while Heath was gone.  He forgot his phone charger so we didn’t talk on the phone as long as we normally would have.  We instant messaged on Skype and the kids crowded around the computer for a video call.  They loved seeing their daddy. 

These miracles are simple.  Most are.  But to me they mean a lot.  I have heard the analogy that God does things for us throughout the day that are like getting a post it note from Him saying how much He loves us.  These experiences were my post it notes.