AMAZING!

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Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! ... 1 Chron 16:8.
So....even though I have told the story fifty times today, the house is quiet and it seems is the only time I am able to blog without having an interruption every 5 seconds; plus after 8 pm I go nuts on cleaning, working out, and spending as much time wake and alone as I can because the noise begins again early in the a.m.. (as I am sure all you Moms know about)
So I have been nothing but blessed since D left, and had nothing but love from our gracious God and from others, but the unsurmountable grace and blessings that I have continued to receive over the last weeks has made me stand in awe of our HIM even more. I don't think I have ever experienced such love from my communion of saints, family friends and such mercy and such compassion from God and others as I have in the last while. Who knew Darryl going away would bring on such thanksgiving and such richness to our lives.
So, last Tuesday I was driving home around 7 p.m from my sisters after work, a per usual and was deep thinking. (This is why I get pulled over and made to take breathalyser tests and cops thinking I am a mental case.) Anyways, I was really missing Darryl and thinking I had done 5 weeks since thanksgiving but  6.5 weeks yet was going to be longer than I had imagined it to be. Suddenly it popped into my head that maybe I should just go see Darryl on Thursday and stay till Sunday. I know my sister or my mom or my friends would help with taking the boys, and I could take Jude because he is still free, and Darryl would just love to see him. Earlier, about a month ago,I had asked Darryl about maybe possibly coming for this time and he had said no way as this was supposed to be hell week and there wouldn't be much of a point since he wouldn't be able to see me.
But I had talked to him already that night, and he had told me his mid-term was the next day (Wednesday) and he had some files to work on the next day. So I went home and checked out prices and was surprised to see that it was only 129 to leave on Thursday morning and 129 to come back on Sunday. But I hadn't actually talked to anyone about taking my kids, and I really wanted to phone Avion in the morning to find out if my points would cover it. I almost did the impulse thing at 11 at night and booked it, but I had decided to pray about it and see if I had some clarity about what I should do in the morning. Well sure enough the next morning prices almost doubled to 309 for Thursday and 209 for Sunday. It was crazy, so I thought no way and was moaning in regret that I hadn't just booked it the night before. Then I went to coffee break Bible study hemming and hawing about it, and our little group of ladies prayed for me to make the right decision. (which after prayer, they all told me I was to go regardless...aww)
After Coffee Break I went to my sisters while a friend took Jesse for lunch, so I could think about what to do and decide. I checked prices again, hoping they'd be down and they were higher at 309 each way. Well there was no way I could pay that, or even justify to pay that...even though in the back of my head a little birdie was saying "Who cares, you will have the memory forever and never regret it." So I phoned West Jet to try and beg them to give me a deal since I was a cadet wife (some places give discounts), but that was a total no go. Then in a last ditch effort I thought about possibly leaving Friday instead and that would save me the cost of the hotel room for a night. So I phoned avion and was surprised to find out I had 55000 points which equals 540 dollars and they had a flight leaving Friday coming back Sunday that totaled 590 dollars..so I would only have to pay 40 dollars. So I booked it, found a hotel, talked them down in price, booked a car rental and felt giddy as ever.
That evening I found out from my 'depot dolls' (wife of men at depot) FB site that troop 6 (Darryl's) was having a halfway party that Friday evening on base in the stand easy lounge, and wives were invited. Darryl never told me because he knew I couldn't come, and so I knew this would be a great weekend to go.  After talking with Darryl (I did not tell him anything) I also found out he had volunteered to play the bass drum with some other RCMP and peacekeeping officers that Sunday morning in a remembrance day ceremony that honored one of the congregations WW2 veteran. I also found out that he had 2 files to finish on Thursday that took him till 1 a.m. to finish and so was pretty much homework free for the weekend other than the 1 workout and band practice. So even if I would have gone Thursday I wouldn't have even seen him at all anyways. i could not believe all the coincidences, well I wouldn't call them that. God had totally planned it all, and I had no intention of even going at all. I was astounded at his grace.
Then I thought, I need something to wear...and a coat, so my Mom offered to watch the boys Thursday afternoon and for the first time since D left, I got to do some blissful shopping on my own. I had a 2 gift certificates for winners, one from my dear SIL and one from the school board at Christmas last year that I never spent. I also had one for Reimtans again from my SIL, and so I managed to buy a new coat from winners, top and some accessories (scarf and hat) from, Reitmans. I felt like an undeserved queen, and I was almost as giddy as the night before my wedding. I was stunned at God's grace again, and the many blessings.
I had contacted Darryl's troop-mate that he has become close with as his wife had given me his cell number. So he was going to set something up to make the surprise meeting and his whole troop got involved.
They talked to D's facilitator who said it would be easiest if I met Darryl at the RCMP heritage Center because I would not have to go through security and all that until later. Then he (the facilitator)decided to go around and asked for volunteers to sign up to move some stuff at the heritage center at 5:30 pm...knowing Darryl would sign up since he apparently has volunteered every time they have asked for other things. So here I am after a delayed plane, couldn't find the hotel thanks to my useless GPS, finally showered and ready to leave the hotel to go there. Then my phone rings and it D bemoaning the fact he didn't feel like going to this party, saying he missed Jude (me rubbing it in of course, knowing I am going to see him in 5 minutes) and trying to  text his troop mate about my possible ETA. Then D says he has to go because he is going to the Heritage Center to move some boxes and finishes by asking what is that weird noise in the background (the gps) and me having to make white lie once again. After getting a little lost, again thanks to my GPS, I pull into the driveway and there are about 8 people all in their blues (uniform, they told him they all were supposed to wear it) standing there looking at me pulling up. (It was dark so he couldn't see it was me). They of course, were Darryl's close friends in his troops that he had made, and were all in on it and wanting to see this go down.
So I pull up, jump out of the car, and I would pay money to see again the absolute shock on his face..he was stunned, had no idea. He acted confused after giving me a hug, and told me later he was thinking "oh great Leanne finds me all the way out here and now I committed to helping move this stuff". Then yes, turns around to his troop mates and realizes they were all in on it...then saw Jude in the back seat and that was it...and yes...cried.

Needless to say, the weekend went fabo. I got a tour of depot, followed by a halfway party where I got to meet all his troop mates, facilitators and more cadets. Spent most of Saturday together (and yes he is allowed off base on weekends so was able to spend 2 nighs at the hotel). He found out Saturday that the Sergeant wanted everyone dressed in reds, so got to break the rules and wear the whole get up, serge and all, (you have to earn it and can only wear it after week 23) and I think it was my proudest moment seeing him coming down the isle (Jude pointing) in church playing the huge drum strapped to him while marching in his uniform. Who could have known that this was how my weekend played out...that he wouldn't have home work, passed his mid-term with flying colors, had this party,and was involved in this ceremony.  When I returned home, the blessings had doubled from other family and I felt so undeserving of this whole weekend, my whole life really,  and I know it is pure grace alone. As of now, I feel so absolutely cloaked in rich blessings and I cannot believe how God worked everything out. It just proves he cares about even the smallest details of our lives and the only thing I can say is that I am speechless and humbled by his grace and love. To God be the glory!