This week, I have been on vacation. Yes, you read that correctly. I, just me, am on vacation.

My mother is retiring from her job in my hometown. So for a week, I am not Mrs. Young, Mom or a volunteer. I am Sarah Bradshaw Young, daughter.

I have been able to reconnect with friends that I haven't seen in 10 or 20 years and I have spent quality time with my parents and brother whom I haven't seen in almost three years. In short, I have had a great time!

On the other side of that coin, my sweet soldier is at home with the three kids for the week, alone. Oh my.

I left some notes for him. What the kids take for lunch and snack. What time they get up and go to bed. What time the buses arrive to drop off and pick up. In short, I wrote him a field manual to our life, and according to the kids, he has done a great job!

The funny thing is that in the mornings after the kids left for school, he called to say, "I'm not doing it right. The kids are looking forward to you coming home. What time exactly will you be back?"

I am sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that my sweet soldier did an excellent job of taking care of the kids! I know they were fed. They were bathed. They made it to school on time. And they were loved. Those are the things that are important to me, not necessarily in that order. Each time I spoke with him, I tried to be encouraging without nagging. I finally asked him to consider something.

If he threw me into his job and tossed me a manual on how to do it, step by step, I should be able to get the job done. I would not do it as efficiently or as quickly as he would, but it would get done. The same is true of being a stay-at-home-mom or primary caregiver. When he stepped into that role, he did things his own way and the way that worked for him but according to their schedule and routine. He got the job done. His mission was complete.

Sweet soldier, you did a fabulous job! Thank you for making it possible for me to take a small vacation to be with my mom on a very important day. Thank you for making it so that I could relax for a week. I am almost home, and then it is back to the grind!

Strength and Courage ... sby