Is that a hickey on your neck!?*



This is Steve. Probably if you are reading this (SarahDianaAlyssaAliceMomJocelynAngelaPepperCourtney) you already know that. Steve has been in New York City for six days and--HOORAY, HOORAY, HOORAY--he comes home tomorrow. HOORAY!

Here are a few of the things that I missed while he was gone:

--> Him never criticizing me, just pure love, support and encouragement. How did I get so lucky?
--> Him reading The Hobbit to the boys for a long, long time before bed (because he wants to read it as much as they do) and saying, "Remember the rules? No questions, no comments, no interruptions until we're done."
--> Help getting the kids ready for school.
--> His great, clean smell after he showers after riding his bike home from work.
--> Doing "family" things (i.e., dinner, prayer, family home evening) as a complete family unit.


Here are a few things that he missed out on while he was gone:

--> One third of his daughter's life.
--> Aaron, upon being asked where he wants to serve his mission, saying, "Wherever the prophet wants me to go."
--> Numerous barfing episodes and about 1000 dirty diapers/accidents. (Have I mentioned that already?) And lots of laundry. (Thanks for the help, mom.)
--> Elliot's earnest attempts to dig a tunnel in the backyard.
--> Norah's umbilical cord falling off.
--> Norah's first words and first steps. (Seems like he's been gone for a really, really long time!)
--> Hugs and kisses from five adoring family members.

HOORAY for coming home tomorrow and HOORAY for New York being three hours ahead of us, so it seems like he is that much closer to being on his way.



*It's not. . . this time.

Comments

amyegodfrey said…
Kudos for managing 3 active boys and and a newborn by yourself! And on top of that, feeding the missionaries and us a great meal tonight!
October 16, 2006 12:01 AM
C. Jane Kendrick said…
I was VERY impressed with Steve when I met him at the World Famous Mexican Restaurant in Mesa. And this is BEFORE I knew any of this other stuff. Reading The Hobitt to the boys is VERY cool. As is sporadically writing words all in CAPS.
October 16, 2006 11:52 AM
Neil and Diana said…
I, too, am impressed with Steve.
October 16, 2006 6:43 PM
amyegodfrey said…
He's a winner, alright!
October 16, 2006 9:07 PM
Suzie Petunia said…
I am very sorry about all of the fluids and lack of husband to help clean it all up. Zook has just started traveling - its really something I don't want to get used to. I guess it wouldn't be so bad if we hadn't married such amazing men that are helpful, supportive, kind and whom we miss terribly when they're out of our sight.
October 17, 2006 12:43 AM
Anonymous said…
Picture a hotel room, high above New York's Times Square. You're exhausted from dealing with obtuse lawyers all day.

The client would pay for your dinner at any one of the famous restaurants in the city--he's already paying thousands of dollars for you to just be there. But that restaurant sounds depressing, because if you went there, you would look across the table and see no one; because you're beautiful wife and your unruly children are hundreds of miles away, at flag football practice.

So you order food up to the room--a more convenient table for one. Then you go out for a walk in those famous streets, killing time until she gets back home from football, and returns your call.

And you walk for miles, all the way up Broadway to 59th, across Central Park to 5th avenue. And those lights and excitements, those buildings and beautiful monuments, are only the circumstnatial setting for a phone call from home; the most beautiful thing you can think of is her voice on the other end of the line--at least until you get home, and get to hold the rest of her too.
October 17, 2006 9:29 PM
amyegodfrey said…
Oh, my goodness, that was beautiful.
October 17, 2006 10:47 PM
AliceK[i]ND said…
Steve, you brought tears to my eyes. Emily, you are one lucky gal. :)
October 19, 2006 2:57 PM
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