This Christmas, I am very grateful to have my husband home. I know that there are many readers of this blog who are not as lucky, and I want you to know that you are in my prayers.
If you feel the need to have a sharp knife piercing your heart, check out this video: Bring Him Home Santa.
Six years ago, Bill was not home for Christmas. It was a bad holiday. Back then, I wrote about what it was like, and a few years ago, I posted that memory on my blog. I’ve come a long way in six years, and would like to think that things wouldn’t be as bad now that I have children who are older and more helpful. I’m not sure, though. Older children have different ways of making life difficult.
If Santa didn’t bring your soldier home this Christmas, I sincerely hope that the rest of his deployment goes quickly for you. And if you have no deployed soldier in your life, try to say a prayer today for those who can not fully experience the joy of Christmas, especially the children.
Reit This Way 
Michelle, I'm really glad you shared the old post. It is helpful to see that we all have difficult days. The post represents everything I am terrified of should that ugly D word happen here in the upcoming months. Bless you for thinking of the others out there who are not as lucky as you this Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you and your family! May God continue to bless you as you have been such a blessing to so many!
With our two deployments, we were lucky to only have one separated Christmas. But it was awful, too. The 2nd time, he actually came home Christmas Eve. I only knew about it two days before, so we were able to totally surprise the kids. They believed in “santa” forever for bringing Daddy home! As he gets ready to leave again in January, there is a possibility that he won't be home for Christmas next year. We're hoping that won't happen, but I'm already trying to prepare myself for it. So glad you are all together this year!!
Thank you for this. It's been 10 years since we've missed Christmas together. And, we have 3 more children since then.
Oh, that video is definitely heart wrenching.
Have you seen this video? http://www.9news.com/news/watercooler/article.aspx?storyid=129477&catid=337 (The video's to the right of the article.) We've missed every holiday, birthday, and anniversary except Christmas. We may not be so lucky next year.