Calvin has been sent to OBS for a leadership program and it's his first day there today. He's gonna be gone for 5 long days... I wonder how you girls manage when your husbands go for reservist... The emotional monster in me took over me and I know I must have made him feel really bad last night by displaying obvious signs of the can't-bear-to-see-you-go syndrome. This morning when I sent him off at the door, I felt like a piece of me has left with him.

Well, it's not the first time we're apart for days. I've gone on trips without him but it's somehow different this time. I guess the difference lies in whether you're the one going or the one left behind waiting.

Some time ago, my colleague Mingli passed me some Christian family magazines and one of the articles that touched me deeply is the article featuring US military spouses - Inside the Homes of the Braves. The strength, faith, courage and determination of these women amazed me. One of them said, "God used the time when he was gone to force me to depend on Him for my needs, instead of expecting my spouse to meet them. It was a great stretching time for me, and my relationship with Him grew by leaps and bounds. I hated that he was away, but I loved my new closeness with God."

As I wallow in missing Calvin, God reminded me of this article and I thank God that my husband is merely gone for an adventure training course and not gone to fight a war. I thank God that he's coming home in 5 days and not 5 months or 5 years. And I thank God for His perfect love for Calvin.