Today, we said goodbye to Dad. Thankfully...it won't be forever. While his body here on earth wore out, we know that his heart lives on and he is with Jesus. we WILL see him, again one day. I think today was the hardest day of my life....watching Hans bury his Daddy. I know it was for Honey. He was so prepared and calm and together, yet he longed for his Dad and it showed as he read the eulogy. Hans paid tribute to his Dad with an amazing video of his life, set to music. Everything from birth to death, and all the possible moments in between. Military pics, ball pics, ballet recitals, coaching, weddings, working on cars, working on houses, church functions etc. It truly was an incredible snapshot of Dad's life and who he lived for-others. He was a servant a leader, a giver, and a humble man. Always putting others first, and always taking a back seat. It was a great tribute. For me, the most heart wrenching moment of the funeral came when Hans stood back at attention, paid one final last respect to Dad and saluted him. That image will forever be ingrained in my memory. Goodbye for now Dad....we love you.

Mini-Me

This is a picture of Joyanna and Daddy. It was taken one day after he came home for
R & R. Don't you think they look just alike? What a pair! We call Joyanna "Little Hans" or "Mini-me". I hope she grows up to do more than just look like him..I hope she has his great character too!

Welcome Home Hans

Today is the day. Honey came home. Although it's a little different than I had planned, I am thankful and happy. I hate that he came home under such sad circumstances, but my heart is filled with joy at the thought of seeing his handsome face, and having him in my arms once again. He was to arrive in VA at 3:30 PM, but being the little sneak that he is....he caught an earlier flight and arrived at 9:55 AM! I was no where near ready! So, I sent everyone off to church, and jumped in the shower. I got ready, Uncle Don handed me the GPS, and I handed him the "Welcome Home" sign to hang while I went to the airport. The airport is about an hour away. I think I broke EVERY speed limit and ran EVERY red light there was to get to Hans. When I finally arrived, I went up the escalator with butterflies in my tummy. As soon as I arrived at the top, there he was. My groom. My handsome. My soldier. I love that man!
We went and ate at Olive Garden. Then on to the house where a bunch of family was waiting for him. I am so glad he got a big welcome from his mom, and uncles and aunts. Just wish his Daddy could have been there too. Some of my favorite pics are of Hans and the girls. I don't think I have EVER seen Hannah that happy. Sammy RAN to daddy and threw herself into his arms. And little Joyanna even rested her head on daddy's shoulder. Such sweet memories.....Welcome Home Honey. We missed you!

The call....

Today started out like any other day. There were errands to run, things to acomplish and lots of busyness. We are getting ready for Honey to come home on R & R. We have plans to meet Mom & Dad Ruska at the beach. They just bought their tickets last night. Only things started to look a little different at dinner time. Mom called and was on her way to the salon. She said she'd call me back after. After the girls and I ate, she called. She said dad was not feeling well and she was nervous. She said he was "tired...tired....tired...he was not responsive to her talking, and was slumped over". She had just called 911. I talked to her all the way to the hosiptal. We were praying and I kept telling her were going to "trust God". Funny how, looking back, I never said that "he would be just fine"....a little weird too. She asked me to make a Red Cross call to Honey. I got off the phone and did just that. A few moments later, I received the dreaded call. Papa had gone to be with Jesus. He had stepped over time, and into eternity with his Lord. Words cannot express my sadness for Mom & Hans. How in the world can I break this news to my beloved, when he is 7,000 miles away? I can't even hug him. I can't console him. All I can do is pray. And "trust God". And so we shall.

Red, White and Bl...blood.

Hannah and Malia are best friends. Malia and her family live right across the street. Our two families have so much in common. Malia's daddy is a chaplain, her mom homeschools, Malia has all sisters etc. We love the Saldanas! This Fourth of July, Rochelle invited us over to swim and play. All the girls were having a great time! Malia and Hannah were swimming, sharing secrets and being sweet little girls. Then they decided to jump up and down and sing. Well....Hannah jumped up, Malia came down....and well....you can pretty much figure out the rest-Malia's teeth met Hannah's head. Blood went everywhere. There were screams, there were tears, and of course lots of hugging and "I'm sorrys'. Rochelle was so calm and I followed her lead. She was great during the chaos. All in all, it ended fine. No one needed stitches, everyone got ice applied to the boo-boos and dessert. And the girls are STILL the best of friends!

Another Surgery

My little Hannah is a veteran...o.k., not of war, but of surgeries. Today she had her third surgery....and she is only 5. After a long bout (5 months to be exact) of continuous Strep, we asked for a referral and the surgery to be done. It was scheduled immediately. With my history of Strep and then contracting J.R.A., I decided it would be best for Hannah to have those little tonsills extracted before they caused any permanent damage.(At one point I was doubting if this WAS the right thing to do, maybe I was being to hasty, etc). Our sweet friend Ms. Carol Corwin came along with us so she could assist. We got there at 11 AM. Lots of waiting. Daddy called and talked ot Hannah and prayed before surgery. They called Hannah back and prepped her. Then I had to leave. Hannah was such a big girl. She walked be herself (holding the nurse's hand, of course) down the long corridor and straight into the operating room. Never once did she shed a tear, or look back, or cry. She is so strong and brave. I am so proud of her. What a precious gift God gave us!

Dr. Poole was also going to fix the labial frenectomy while she was under, so that her teeth would come in a little straighter. After the surgery, they called me back into the recovery room. Hannah was resting quietly and doing well. Her usual post-op routine is to either lost it all right after surgery, or on the way home. Our specific prayer for this surgery was for her to do neither. Daddy was praying hard. we are thrilled to announce that our GREAT GOD answered that prayer, and not once did Hannah get sick! The LORD is good, and good to us. The doctor did visit with us after. He reported that although her tonsills were very small, they were entirely infected and filled with scar tissue. Almost no healthy tissue remained. We did the right thing. I am thankful the Lord confirmed to me that I did make the right decision. Again, thank you LORD.

The Gang's All Here!

One of my favorite things to do is put my little girls down for bed. Not just because it means quiet for me either *wink*. It is a special time with each of them that I treasure. My children are very secure and every since birth, they go to sleep on their own, securely. I take them in, pray with them, put their music on, give them a kiss, and walk out. That is our bedtime routine. Ever since the deployment, however, Sammy has slowly been adding items to her nighttime ritual. I hope Honey comes home soon, or she will be out of bed space! So far we are up to 7 items....we have our Binky, our Taggie, a pink glow-in-the-dark-buddy, Dora, Alvin & Brittany, and the latest addition Curious George! Hey, hey...the gang's all here!

Joyanna Elizabeth at 6 Months

Today my baby turned 6 months! Hard to believe. Joyanna is true to her name. She is full of life, smiles, and pure joy! She is definitely a "momma's girl", and loves to be with me. Joyanna is becoming aware of her surroundings, rolling over and getting stranger anxiety. Her newest accomplishment is making zurberts. Especially as a sign of frustration when she has poopied and you are not moving fast enough to change her! She loves pulling Mommy's hair and watching her two big sisters. Her comfort items are her taggie, and sucking her two middle fingers, instead of a Binky. We call her "Little Hans" because she looks more like her Daddy everyday. When I gaze into her sweet little face, I am reminded of her handsome father. I am thankful for this precious gift from the LORD at this time in my life. Happy Birthday Sweetpea!

Missing him...

Do you ever feel like you are are on the verge of tears.....and not wanting to release? That is how I feel today. I suppose it doesn't help that it is raining either. I am so sad and miss my Honey so much that it hurts. Just when you think you are doing o.k. and your goal is do-able and within reach, you realize how much you still have left to go. Although I have 5 months of this deployment "under my belt", I still have more than that to finish. I am sad that my best friend is not here. I am sad that he is missing so much of the girls' lives. Sammy is talking now....Joyanna started eating baby food yesterday (yes...I started 2 days earlier than the suggested 6 months date), and Hannah is mastering addition. So many milestones, and wishing he were here to share them with us. I can only pray that the LORD will do "more than I can ask or imagine" and make up for lost time when Hans returns. That the LORD will "restore unto us, the years the locusts have eaten away"(Joel 2:25). I am counting on it! I will keep waiting, serving and worshipping until Honey returns or Jesus does. Whichever comes first. My song for this deployment is "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller. Here are the words.

I'm waiting

I'm waiting on You, Lord

And I am hopeful

I'm waiting on You,

LordThough it is painful

But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident

Takeing every step in obedience

While I'm waiting

I will serve You

While I'm waiting

I will worship

While I'm waiting

I will not faint

I'll be running the race

Even while I wait

I'm waiting

I'm waiting on You, Lord

And I am peaceful

I'm waiting on You, Lord

Though it's not easy

But faithfully, I will wait

Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I'm waiting

I will worship while I'm waiting

I will serve You while I'm waiting

I will worship while I'm waiting

I will serve you while I'm waiting

I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Sunday Mornings....

Sunday mornings are some of my favorite days....because we have the privilege of going to church and worshipping our Creator and Savior. Because we meet with the body of Christ and fellowship. Because we get to go out and eat, and I don't have to cook. I also like them because I get to dress my little ladies up! I love seeing them wear matching dresses. I love that they want to wear matching dresses. I know these days won't last forever, but I am cherishing them now. Every moment! Are they not the cutest little darlings?

Spiritual Warfare

Honey called yesterday. It was his "today". He is so discouraged. I am sad. I want to be there to help him...to encourage him...to hug him. Even though he is tough, solid as a rock, and strong in his faith, even though he is a soldier and 'Army Strong!", he is still human. And weak. And a target of the enemy. Honey is not really a talker....and rarely gets mad. But he has had his fill, that is for sure. I could tell because he talked today. A lot. And he was mad. He is very patient, and almost always gives others the benefit of the doubt. Not so this time. He realizes that not everyone is going to love God, and not everyone is in a good mood all the time. Especially in the desert, where it is HOT and where it is a war zone. He also knows Army protocol and when enough is enough and mistreatment is an injustice. Honey is dealing with a war of his own right now. It is not a war against flesh and blood, although it may appear that way. It is an attack straight from Hell and the enemy. So, as I listened I prayed. I can't do much from my side of the world except pray. And that is what I did. God knows the hearts of men. He knows what Honey is facing and the outcome and future. He also loves HIS children and will defend them. That is a promise! I am claiming it for Honey. Here is my prayer for you, incredible Warrior of mine....
Psalm 91
1 Hans dwells in the shelter of the Most High. Hans will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]
2 Hans will say [b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely HE will save Hans from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover Hans with HIS feathers, and under HIS wings Hans will find refuge; HIS faithfulness will be Hans' shield and rampart.
5 Hans will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at Hans' side, ten thousand at Hans' right hand, but it will not come near him.
8 Hans will only observe with his eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If Hans makes the Most High his dwelling—even the LORD, who is his refuge-
10 then no harm will befall him, no disaster will come near Hans' tent.
11 For HE will command his angels concerning Hans to guard him in all his ways;
12 they will lift Hans up in their hands, so that Hans will not strike his foot against a stone.
13 Hans will tread upon the lion and the cobra; Hans will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue Hans; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 Hans will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with Hans in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy Hans and show him my salvation."

Thankful Thursdays.....

After reading another friend's blog, I have decided that I am going to adopt her idea. Thursdays here at The Ruska Report will now be 'Thankful Thursdays". I will only blog about things we are thankful for and appreciate. So, without any further ado....

1. For a husband who works so hard to provide for his family.
2. For A/C...it is getting hot here in GA quick!
3. For arms and legs that work and move and accomplish.
4. For all of the laundry that I have....it means I have clothes.
5. For all of the dishes that need to be done...it means we have eaten!
6. For Alexander G. Bell who created the phone.
7. For the phone call I got from my Prince today. It was sooooooo good!
8. For life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...
9. For the fact that this deployment is now, as of today, 5/12 of the way over!
10. For the three precious, loving, miracles that look like their Daddy and keep me busy and my mind off of this deployment!

My Little Friend

The other night we were at the ball park. Savannah usually can't sit still for very long at events like these. She and my friend Carol went for a walk to observe other games, pick flowers, throw a few balls, and so on. Well, there just happened to be a little girl about the same age, doing the same thing. Only this little girl was hispanic. She was wearing a flowery top, with some jeans, she had curly brown hair and was a picture of cuteness! Upon seeing this little girl, Savannah ran to her and cried "DORA!" The two became fast friends. Aren't they just a"dora"able?

Mother's Day

This year for Mother's Day, I took the girls to Florida to see Mom-mom and spend the day with her. Since we live so close, and we may not ever live this close again, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity. Sadly, I did not even take a single photo of us all together. What was I thinking? What I do have from that weekend, our my traditinal Mother's Day photos of my girls and me in our matching dresses. And this year we added two things: our sweet little Joyanna....and matching shoes! Fun stuff!

What A Mess! (part II)

Well....as I was trying to be productive and get some sewing done, Savannah decided she was going to be productive too. She wanted to do Joyanna's hair. Only her choice of hair product happened to be Shaklee's Organic Diaper Ointment! As I looked up from my sewing....I saw some great hair! I admit....I was not happy at first. I even administered some discipline to the bottom parts of the beloved child. Then, after much consideration and prodding from the grandmas, I decided to capture the moments in time. "Years from now, you will look back on this and laugh" they said..... it didn't even take years. Moments actually.

More Tybee Island

Couldn't resist one more picture....Honey LOVES the beach, and we love him!

Tybee Island

My friend Karen from Arkansas is visiting for a few days. Karen is a Godly woman and a prayer warrior. She mentored me while Honey was serving on staff at a church in Little Rock. We had great times together back then, and it was wonderful to have her here for great times now. While she was here, the girls and I took her to Tybee Island. It was fun! The girls had a blast, and we couldn't have asked for better weather!

Monkeys and Bananas....

Hannah asked me a question today as we were driving. "Mom...monkeys eat bananas right"? Yes, Hannah they do. 'Well, if they only eat bananas, don't they get constipated a lot"?......the mind of my 5 year old. I love it! What a smart girl!