After several weeks of living in the limbo between Jackson and Memphis finishing all of the moving, we finally made our trek to New Jersey to spend Wills last civilian week with my family. We decided to use the night time to travel to optimize time with little man asleep, which I am so thankful we did due to very impatient toddler that was ready to be out of the car come morning. The 16 hours passed pretty quickly and before we knew it the whole loud Peterson clan was under one roof again. It was such a sweet week of nothingness.
The drive to Newport was quite surreal. It was this feeling of wanting so terribly to just get there already while at the same time I was completely dreading it. Luckily the drive was beautiful and we arrived in Newport just in time for sunset. We decided to check out the Navy Base to get a feel for where we would need to go in the morning, then have one final date night. Thanks to Urban Spoon we ended up at the prettiest seafood place right on the water and had our quintessential New England dinner complete with lobster fritters and scallop chowder. It was amazing! We had planned on walking around and checking out the town after dinner but it got really cold really fast so we ended up calling it an early night and heading back to the hotel. It was the picture perfect last night with my Wilbur Senior. We talked, we prayed, we ate and just enjoyed each other in a way that I wish I would have on every date we've been on.
Unfortunately Sunday did have to come. It was an early morning so I was hoping my exhaustion would completely knock out my sadness....HA The drop off was a success though. The base looked beautiful as the sun was just coming up which was comforting knowing Will would have some scenic runs in his near future. After following several OCS signs and crossing a small bridge we found where Will needed to check in. I would love to tell you that I did not completely make a scene and embarrass both of us but I would be lying. Luckily there were other people around us walking by forcing me to contain the audible level of my crying. I imagined us getting to park and hug and kiss and say a proper goodbye but we were instructed to just pull to the side with our hazards on so we needed to hustle with our goodbyes. I sniffled and snorted out an "I love you" as Will reassured me he would be fine. I jumped back in the car and watched him make his way into the big building and was able to snap a picture before he made it inside.
This picture still makes me tear up thinking back on how bravely he trudged in their knowing the hard and trying months ahead of him. Luckily they have to make a phone call first thing when they check to let someone know they made it, so before I made it off the base he had called. He asked how I was holding up and let me know he had made it and we got one last "I love you" which made the hysterics start all over. By the time I got to Dunkin Donuts I had composed myself and was able to sit and pray. I dont remember most of the prayer but I know I was pleading that God would just send me something to comfort me, to remind me that He's not leaving me or Wills side in the next 3 months. I then started my drive back to NJ and was so grateful for being able to drive back alone and get myself together.
About an hour into the drive I received a text from a dear childhood friend, that I really think was my answer to prayer. She let me know that she and her family were thinking of us and praying for us and gave me a verse...
Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Thank you Jesus, not only for this sweet friend who continues to pour out love on our family, but for giving me exactly what I needed to hear. A promise of peace. A motivation and goal to keep my eyes fixed on Him, the only one who can give Will or I this inexplicable peace. What a gift!!
The rest of the drive seemed to fly by and I made it back just in time to celebrate my youngest sisters 14th birthday. An exhausting day but so grateful to see how God molds and shapes my family in this adventure to come!!
Please email me if you would like Wills address. I know he would love to hear from everyone!!! Chelseaep@me.com He can only receive standard letters and envelopes right now and any boxes or packages could get him in trouble or even pushed back and therefore I would have to hunt you down and fight you! (joking, kind of) I know mail will be a treat for him though so I know he would be so appreciative of anyone who wants to write him!
Thank yall for your prayers and encouragement!
No comments:
Post a Comment