Our little household is suffering from a bad case of missing Daddy. He's been away fourteen days and counting, and the time changes (he's been both five and six hours ahead of us here on the east coast) hasn't been conducive to the kids getting to chat with him very often. Lucky for us, he did a great job of leaving cards/notes for them before he left.

I'm so grateful that the missing dad stuff is ameliorated by having lots of family around (a rare treat for my brood). Yesterday, we were able to splash, lunch and bowl with two of my nephews...and the youngest spent the night, giving my ds1 a much needed companion to "boy around" with!

This is the nephew I know the least...he was born after our western exodus, but I'm grateful that our lack of physical presence in his life doesn't make him cool or reserved around us. On the contrary, I was the recipient of several warm and snuggly, "drive by" hugs yesterday evening that warmed my heart!

Despite my technophobic nature, I'm counting email (and long distance phone cards!) as some of my biggest blessings this week. I've been able to IM with my dh, and email back and forth. With reasonable calling card rates (and much confused English!) I was even able to get a bit of a birthday treat placed in his German hotel room (although not the treat I was trying to get there!).

I'm thankful at all of the support I have while traveling here...and all of the support that I'm receiving from my friends via email and calls from home.

I'm very thankful that my husband doesn't travel like this all the time, and that we'll all be together by the end of next week!