Friday, November 14, 2008

The wife of a hunter

It's November. That means three things in the Higginbotham house. One, it's Tom Turkey month! Two, it's Travis' annual Canada trip with the guys. Three, shopping begins for the holidays! All this past week Travis has been scurrying around finishing things here and making sure he has all the stuff he'll need for the frigid weather in Canada. This is the third year he's gone now, and for the life of me I still can't understand why on earth anyone in their right mind would want to go sit in a little tree stand in 15 below weather?! I mean, come on, if I had to shop in those conditions I think I'd be cured!! But, he loves it, so I guess I'll just sit in a state of confusion.

Yesterday he was packing his bag, stuffing every piece of warm clothing he had into one suit case. Carter's first question, "Daddy, where you going? I'm going with you!!" I told him I didn't think his Daddy would have room for him this time, not by the looks of that bag. Travis isn't much of one to show his emotions. You never really can tell if he's overly excited, annoyed, sad, happy, it's just always pretty much the same demeanor no matter how you look at him. Now after being with him for the past eleven years of my life, I have come to realize that although he doesn't say or show much I can see the 'little' signs that he's excited. He talks a bit more, and rushes around like a little mouse. :)

He's been on numerous hunts before, but since we've had Carter each time seems to get a bit harder and harder for him to go. Again, he doesn't say much about it, but it gets harder for me to watch him leave and now that Carter is talking full speed ahead he is sure to let us know what it is he wants. Yesterday, and this morning, it was that he wanted to be with his Dad. Ten days doesn't seem like a long time, but I know by the middle of next week I'll be ready for my husband to be home and I'm sure his three year old shadow will be too!

We opted to not wake Carter this morning before Travis left. We woke up at 4 a.m. and waited patiently for the other guys to show up. Anyone that knows my husband knows he is a stickler about being on time. That is probably one of his biggest pet peeves in the world. As we sat on the porch and I watched him get more antsy while he waited, I reminded him that if he didn't leave "on time" there was a reason and a purpose, to just slow down and be calm. Last thing I want is for him speeding and rushing on roads he's unfamiliar with and driving in snow and ice scares the heebie jeebies out of me. Justin arrived first. Travis jumped up like he was going to a fire. Tell me he wasn't excited to get on the road. Once they loaded Justin's things, he came back to the porch to tell me he was going to leave and fuel up and have Thomas meet him at Papa's.

Now, I'm usually pretty strong and I don't cry when he leaves, so what happened this morning I'll blame on pregnancy hormones. They do a girl so bad sometimes, LOL! I hugged & kissed him goodbye and told him to promise he'd come home in one piece. Then I also reminded him of "the plan" in which I had come up with last night. The plan was for the three of them that are riding together, to get with the program when they get there. Tag out, get their deer and COME HOME! He agreed that he would do his best to follow "the plan". Now I know my husband, I know he's done this too many times to take the first buck that comes along, so in the back of my mind I know my plan is not going to be on his priority list. What I'm saying is, he's not just going to take the first buck he sees, he's going to wait it out. So, all in all, my husband probably won't be back until the 23rd!!

As they pulled out the driveway, my eyes welled up with tears. What was wrong with me? I never do this!! As I watched them leave, I was reminded by the words of my granny, "Jenny, worry about nothing, instead pray about everything!" I immediately started to pray for Trav and the two other men that would be with him. I prayed that God will watch over them, guide them and keep a hedge of protection around them throughout their trip. I walked back inside, headed to my room and in this new house, full of windows it was impossible not to see the truck make it's way to Papa's. As I stood at the front door watching just the taillights of the truck, I assumed I was watching, and praying as I've so many times heard of my granny say she had done for her husband and children. She's always told me that God hears our every prayer, and when we are unsure we should talk to God. I'm not against this trip by any means. I suppose I'm just getting older and that thought of "nothing will happen to me/us" is not so true anymore. I continued to pray until I watched them drive out Papa's driveway and I could no longer see the taillights.

As I made my way back to the bed, for maybe 2 more hours of sleep if Carter would allow, I looked at the clock and it said 5:02. I smiled, thinking how Trav was stressing being on the road 5:00, not a minute later. When I talked to him around 8:00 I made sure to let him know that he only left two minutes late. He laughed and said, "I know babe, I know!" I trust that God will watch over them and keep them safe. I wish them a fun trip, and a successful hunt. In the words of Carter, "Get the big one Dad!" We love you Trav & we'll miss you very much. Hurry home, and be safe!

The Hunters wife...
Jen


These are just a few pictures I snagged of T & C's first hunting adventure together last Wednesday.

1 comment:

Mrs. Bell said...

I pray that those 10 days fly by surper fast for you, and super slow for me, lol.. since the 23 is the day before my hubby leaves me.. Too bad they couldnt of left at the same time, we could of been super lazy 2gether and caught up on some good lifetime movies.. lol.

Have a good day!