i have been waiting a long time to be able to write this post, because that means that the "missing piece" is no longer missing. in my christmas post, i talked about curso Social Media online how my family and i had a tough christmas and that i would post an explanation for why that was in a couple of weeks. well, here is the explanation.
my dad was deployed with the u.s. air force to the middle east this past july. it was a 6 month deployment. he missed a lot in 6 months...
i got engaged...this day was the happiest of my life. my mom was able to be there, which was awesome. but i would have given anything to be able to get a hug from my dad. the man who taught me how a father and husband should be, how to love, and how to be loved. i've heard before that a father is a daughter's first love. my dad was my first love. at such a significant moment in my life, a moment that was a result of all that my dad taught me about love, i wish he could have been there in person.
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| © 2015 Copyright Christine Lan Photography |
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| © 2015 Copyright Christine Lan Photography |
holidays...my dad was gone for both thanksgiving and christmas. it wasn't the same without him. it was so obvious that a piece of our family was missing. thanksgiving and christmas both felt like ordinary days, only we knew they weren't supposed to be ordinary, so it was heartbreaking.
bumps and bruises...while my dad was away, my brother was hit in the head during batting practice by an oncoming ball. i didn't realize it at the time, but after talking about it more with my mom and other family members i learned that my brother could have died. my dad is a radiologist and reads patients' films with the exact injury my brother had all the time. he knew from experience that my brother was going to need surgery to reduce the bleeding in his brain. in the end, andrew didn't need surgery and is playing in his first baseball tournament, since his injury, tomorrow!
i firmly believe that heavenly father was watching over my brother. he knew my family needed a miracle. my dad was deployed, i was away at school, and my mom was alone to deal with andrew's potentially fatal injury. we are lucky to have extended family live close by and they stepped up to help my mom.
and through the power of a priesthood blessing, andrew was okay.
when i wrote about how sad christmas was for my family, my cute blog friend courtney commented that she hoped it turned out to be a blessing.
it sure has.
my family has been tested and tried during my dad's deployment. it was really hard, but we have been spiritually strengthened and given a better appreciation for the blessing of being an eternal family.
and we are finally complete.
more homecoming pictures coming soon!
I am glad your dad is back home again.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all the men and women like him who serve our country
Dresses & Denim
ah kiely this post made me cry - what a sweet reunion with you dad! and i hope that having him with you for the big moments NOW, will make up for the ones he has missed. also - you are amazing for finding the silver lining in this trial. xo
ReplyDeleteThis is the sweetest. So grateful for his safe return and for the miracles that happened while he was away. Isn't it wonderful knowing our Heavenly Father watches over us? So happy you are all together again!
ReplyDeleteAll I can say after reading this is God is amazing! I'm so happy for your family- your dad's homecoming & your brother's healing. Happy Monday :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lovecompassionatelee.com/thinkoutloud/2015/1/15/11515
that's a tear jerker Kiely ... brings back memories. we too feel like deployment was the hardest time in our lives yet, was also the time of great spiritual growth.
ReplyDeleteAw I love this post! God is good!
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thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteyou're the best kay! thank you :)
ReplyDeleteAwww, I am so glad your dad is home and that your brother is okay!! That's so scary. My husband is ARNG so I know what it's like to be missing such a huge part of your life. :( I'm glad you're all back together again! :)
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Thank you! Means so much to me.
ReplyDeleteWow! This post def brought some tears to my eyes! So proud of what your father can do to keep us all safe in this country! Very happy you guys are all back together
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