My daughter asked me the question that every mom hates to answer during deployment: "Mom, when is our daddy coming home?"

That knife went straight into my heart and then she twisted it just a little! Ugh!

Before school started, we were having lunch in the PX, and I happened to see a friend and her kids. I knew that she was expecting her sweet soldier home any day for R&R, but I was not sure when. We exchanged pleasantries and I asked when she expected him to arrive and she replied, "He's in Kansas City waiting to get here, but he said not to come get him."

I was so excited for her. I gave her a big hug and we talked about the anticipation and excitement. I really do get excited for people when their soldier comes home. As they left, I sat down with the kids to eat and my sweet girl looked at me with her big blue eyes and said, "When is our daddy coming home?"

I took a deep breath, thought for a minute, and began my explanation.

"Well, Honey, it is like we learn in school. We have to take turns. If the bosses sent all of the mommies and daddies home at the same time then the bad guys would take over, and we don't want that, right?"

"No, ma'am," sweet girl replies like any dutiful Army kid.

I continued, "So Ryan's daddy comes home this time. Andrew's daddy comes home the next time. Emily's daddy comes home the next time. Alyssa's daddy comes home the next time, and then it will be time for your daddy to come home. So we can get excited when other mommies and daddies come home because we know that it is one turn closer to our daddy coming come."

That was all she needed. It was just the gentle reminder that we all need sometimes that great things will come when we wait patiently for our turn.

But in a special note to my sweet soldier in particular ... Waiting is the hardest part! We miss you!

Strength and Courage ... sby