day 205: tears wrapped up in a padded envelope

The three of us knew its contents before we even had to rip it open.

A large, padded envelope sat waiting on us in the mailbox today.

Had I known that....well, I couldn't have come home any earlier, but it sure would have made the anticipation of going home much sweeter.

You see, during the Gunny's last deployment, the USO had these little rooms set up on base where Marines could go, pick out a brand new children's book, and video record themselves reading the book.....then they'd mail the book and the DVD back home to their kids.

(you know how much kids love a good bedtime story? well, this blows the regular bedtime story out the window.)

The girls loved these books and videos last time....as did I. I rarely made it through one without crying.

Well, this deployment, the Gunny didn't have access to such posh resources.

Luckily, though, he and I are smart. I bought books ahead of time, way back in 12-months-ago-land, and they made their first journey over the seas with him. Slowly, one by one, he'd video himself reading them and would then ship them home.

Pure delight on four girls' faces when those packages showed up here at home.

However, I had forgotten about this one.

I had read this book before, enough to know the storyline and its significance. Enough to know that only the oldest little would make the connection, and that it might be lost on the younger two. Enough to know that this book was a good one.

sigh

So technically, I was bawling when I ripped open the package and saw which book it was. The final book he'd video and send.

In the video, of course, his tears met mine.

I know, realistically, that it won't be long till he's sitting on a twin-sized bed, reading a picture book to three girls huddled around him, three girls who will be fighting for who gets to sit on his lap for that one story.

I don't imagine my tears will stop any time soon.