I sleep with a sheep....

Odd title, I know.  This goes somewhat along with my last post, Alone For The Holidays.  As many of you dads do, I miss my children when they're not around. I miss them a lot.  I miss the laughter, the silliness, the hugs, my son's sloppy kisses, everyone huddled on the couch watching a movie, and the free-for-all-karate-pillow fights. So I've learned to cope with it in different ways.  I think we all use different methods sometimes to make it a bit easier, to make the time go by a little faster until we see them again.  I think it's important that we single parents stay grounded during those times.  Sometimes I'll pull out old birthday and Father's day cards my girls have hand made for me in many years past.  Sometimes I'll look at old pictures of us together.  Sometimes I will write them a note or a letter telling them how much they mean to me.  Nearly every day, I'll call Elisabeth and Tori. Levi is too young to talk on the phone, so I just look at some of his stuff, touch it.  Sometimes I write down things that he did or said that were cute or endearing, so that I'll remember them later.  Lately, he has this cute little white stuffed sheep that he likes to sleep with.  It comforts him at night, and it smells like him.  So sometimes I sleep with it, and it comforts me. :)  What are some ways that you all cope with missing your children when they are not with you?