The US Army Wrecked Christmas

Not really....but sort of.

B. won't be home for Christmas.  I'm pretty sure it was highly unlikely from the start that B. would be home for Christmas - but he was hoping for a Christmas miracle and held onto that hope vehemently, refusing to consider any other possibility.  But his pass request was immediately declined.

He is broken hearted - so I'm trying hard not to be.  It's a mom's duty to hold their crap in check while their child work's through their own - but it's hard.  I've got to regroup around getting things wrapped and shipped ASAP, so he'll have things there at Christmas.  Do I ship all the stocking stuffer stuff, including chocolate?  Will it all melt?  Guess I'll put it in Ziploc bags and hope for a cold front all the way to El Paso.

And then I have to smack myself over the head and continue planning all the same fun and festivities we had planned for four - only now it's three.

While simultaneously wishing we could just head to Arby's and skip the prime rib, popovers, augratin potatoes and other stuff planned for Christmas dinner.

We will continue to make it a very, merry Christmas - and we will Skype on Christmas morning! B. will be live via iPad and we will make a morning of it no matter what!

It was inevitable that one day, the boys wouldn't both be home for Christmas - and that day is approaching.  A huge adjustment for all of us -

I've got a hugely busy weekend ahead getting his stuff ready to send off to the UPS store on the base in time for him to pick it up and have it there by Christmas.  And coming up with an idea to send him a 'flat' Christmas tree. I could send one from Jackson Perkins or a place like that, but guess what? He's on maneuvers in Louisiana for the next 10 days -

Heading to Pinterest.