Deployment Life~Saying good-bye

The alarm clock rang and before I could even roll over I had to wipe away the tears already filling my eyes. I lay in bed for just one more minute wishing the day hadn't come. But it had. Jake was already out of bed his heart just as heavy as mine. I walked to the bathroom and wrapped my arms around him and now the tears pour down my face. There are no words to say, they have already been said. There is nothing that can make this moment any easier.
It is still dark outside as I wake my sweet little girl. She asks me if this is the day that Daddy has to leave. Of course she knows the answer but hearing the words out loud have a way of penetrating right through. She clings to me as we make our way through the house. Daddy scoops her from my arms and snuggles her ever so close. She reaches up and brushes his cheek with her tiny hand. He swallows the lump in his throat.
The morning wore on as we said our goodbyes. The sun never quiet came up rather just turned the deep black clouds to a dreary gray. Zoe told me as we drove home that morning that the sky was sad that Daddy was leaving and I couldn't have agreed more.
The days have now turned to weeks and time continues to pass. Our lives fall into a new type of routine and we find our footing once again. Our lives are far from normal with a part of our heart half a world away but we know that the love we share will somehow forge the gap.

We have prayed this prayer far too many times before but now we will say it yet again.

Protect us Lord as we're apart, 
Be our strength and our shield.
Teach us to grow as we press on. 
Strengthen our love, increase our heart.