The Downhill Side

Fr. Philip, or Chappie as he is sometimes fondly called, has finally settled into a "life" at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. He and I were talking just today about how he isn't quite sure what he's going to do to actually find all the time needed to get everything done on his very long "To Do" list before it's time for him to return home!

Funny . . . it doesn't feel the same for me! Although, I must admit, this side of our long 12 months apart is going by a bit faster than I'd thought it would.

Thank you, God!!

I think I may actually be able to get a bit of a handle on my life during this "downhill side:"

• Our boat is in the water!

Now, for many reasons, this is a real miracle!!

First or all, there were months and months of repair after a terrible accident while the boat was being shipped across the country; followed by battles with the insurance company(s); schedules and weather delays . . . need I say more? The list goes on and on!!

Our boat - renamed "Pelikan Cliff's" - was finally ready to go back into the water during "Papa's" R&R last month (October). The weather was still really nice, and thanks to a lot of effort on many a family member's part, everything worked out beautifully!

It was a beautiful time together! I thought it might be too hard this time to be together and then say good-bye again . . . and maybe it wouldn't be worth it.

But it was! It was totally worth it!