As we celebrated the arrival of our first grandchild I kept finding myself veering off into those thoughts of the impending pain and sadness of the moment when I’ll have to leave our little man and return home. It is easy to become so caught up in the future worry that I forget to enjoy this moment.

Gabriel Thomas Fridmann

It’s in many ways very similar to preparing for a deployment. You can be so busy preparing for the separation that you don’t appreciate the months in between. Try to catch yourself when you slip and remind yourself to soak it in so that you can pull these memories out later when you need them.

Every time I hold my Gabe, I feel the weight of him in my arms, I breathe in that new baby smell, remember the feel of skin so soft and even his cries are music to my ears.

These moments will tide me over when I am hours away. ( A million photos will help too.)