missing him

Remember this post HERE, well I could repost it again -- but this time it's a bit different.  You see, he's not on a sailboat in the Bahamas this time, Philip got to run our local camps again this summer.  This year it was a bit different, he was trying to train Camp Directors and a staff to be able to run the camps for the next season.  So knowing this was a unique year and that he wouldn't have to be away next summer, we started into the summer we know all too well "summer of a missing Dad"
I won't lie, it gets old after a week or two of not seeing Dad.  But we get through it because - well, because we have to, but the thing that helps me get through it is that he is working to better other people's lifes.  Not just people but young boys who will be husbands, fathers and leaders in our communities soon.  I know he is doing what is BEST (see last post) in our lives right now.
He misses us too -- I know if he had a choice he'd be home hanging out with his family (after all, he's the most fun of all of us:))

He got home from camp and took the week off to spend with us.  That week ended up being 3 days because he had to go in to work the first two days.  Then the next week he headed to Texas for a week and this week he's been gone from early AM to late PM everyday.  So, yeah, he's missing us and we're missing him.

This weekend, he is headed to Camp Kimball to run a weekend camp for a troop.  Normally I would be fed up, tired and ready to throw in the towel but this is different.  This camp is being help specifically for a troop who had a boy die up at Bear Lake this summer.  They are from Las Vegas and they headed to Bear Lake Aquatics camp to learn to Scuba Dive.  The boy died somehow while scuba diving - so very, very sad.  Obviously the troop came home early and didn't get to finish their Merit Badge classes.  So this weekend the boys will get a chance to finish those classes.

Our kids miss him and he misses us, but I am going to try to take the kids out there tonight so they can see the important work their Dad is doing.   The email below is from a leader of this troop:

Philip,

I just wanted to take this minute, to Thank You for the support you have given to my son’s Troop 34. The loss we suffered at Bear Lake will affect us and our boys for a long time to come, by the Council allowing us to help them move forward and finish their merit badges at Camp Kimball, and re-affirm that Scouting is supposed to be fun and educational. I cannot express how humble I feel, for what You, Shane, Ryan and all the Staff Scout House have done.

Thank You,

I thank you too Phililp -- I know you are tired and would rather be home, but you know what you should be doing right now and we are a strong family that will be here when you get here.  Good thing we know how to make the best of a free few hours together!:)