Wordless Wednesday: Homecoming
Last Updated on May 16, 2016 by Writer
Archives for July 2011
Advice For Your First Deployment
Advice For Your First Deployment
My next guest post is by a friend of mine, Jess. She was the very first Army wife I met when we started this Army adventure. She was also my FRG leader. I asked her to write about advice she would give someone who was getting ready for their first deployment. Our first deployment was in 2006 and Jess was there to tell me a little bit of what to expect so I just knew this would be a great post! Thank you Jess 🙂
Stressed? Emotional? Perhaps even a bit stand-offish? Sounds like you’ve got a deployment coming up. The bad news is your Soldier is leaving. The good news is you aren’t alone!
There is no specific way to handle a deployment, especially your first deployment. Some people take it all in stride and seem to brush off the hardship. Others seem to physically break down the second their Soldier marches away. Still others seem to change entirely and don’t seem to return to normal until their Soldier is back in their arms again. No matter which category you find yourself falling into, remember this: You are STRONG. You are CAPABLE. You CAN do this!
Just as parenting a child has no actual guidebook, deployments don’t come with magic spouse field manuals. However, let’s not speak that phrase too loudly. I’ve seen some pretty crazy things put into FM’s before. The greatest way to make it through the hardships of a deployment are to simply listen to your heart, listen to other’s advice and pray. If you feel overwhelmed, talk to someone! Believe me, there are a lot of us out there who are willing to listen and lend a hand (or a shoulder) when necessary. Don’t be afraid to ask.
One of the greatest things you can do for yourself is to set personal goals.. You don’t have to get crazy with it; the point of a goal is to be able to accomplish it. Set mini-milestones throughout to ensure you stay focused and on-target. A big favorite that I’ve seen is weight-loss/healthier lifestyles. Say you set a goal to lose 25 pounds throughout the year. Remember to start off in small increments, and celebrate each 5 pounds you are able to lose. This is a great way to have something realistic to look forward to in a relatively short time! The greatest part is-IT’S ALL YOURS! It’s very easy to lose yourself in the constant stress during a deployment. Don’t forget that your Soldier still needs you just as much as you need him/her. Take care of yourself, even while supporting your deployed loved one.
If I could offer just one last bit of advice, it would be to stay busy and not forget that the world is still going round. It’s very common to feel bad about going out and having fun while your loved one is away, but remember, you need your personal time as well. It’s ok to go catch a movie with the girls, or secure a babysitter for a few hours of pampering at the salon every now and again. You are HouseHold 6. You keep the home fires burning. You can’t take care of anyone else unless you take care of yourself first. Make yourself a priority, especially while your loved one is away. Don’t lose yourself to the chaos and stress, and always reach out if you need help. You follow a long legacy of the Silent Ranks. You can do this!
Last Updated on May 16, 2016 by Writer
Paradise Springs at Gaylord Texan
I love to travel! Sadly I haven’t been able to for a while and probably have to wait a while more to be able to do it again. So I decided to look for some guest posters to talk about great places to travel. Heather from Dallas Single Mom is going to be talking about the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, TX. It looks like such a fun place to visit! Thanks so much Heather 🙂
Paradise is coming to Grapevine, TX. Grapevine, Texas is located right between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and minutes from DFW airport in the middle of North Texas. In beautiful Grapevine is a hodge podge of many family friendly resorts and activities. The Travel Channel has profiled a special resort and called it the 2011 Best Family Getaway in Texas.
Grapevine’s Gaylor Texan is an entertainment resort that has just recently opened a brand new indoor and outdoor water park called Paradise Springs! This water park opened this past Memorial Day weekend which kicked off the summer season of splashing fun for DFW families. Featuring 10 acres of outdoor pool adventures and a lazy river complex, Paradise Springs boasts pools, outdoor recreation, and and outdoor pool bar with large projection screen movies for dive in movies. This new outdoor pool is also a part of the Gaylord’s 8th annual SummerFest with pool activities, culinary programs, firework shows, live entertainment and much more for all ages.
We are extremely excited to add this new amenity to our resort property,” said John Imaizumi, Senior Vice President and General Manager. “It is a spectacular pool with great features for both our leisure and group guests.
Paradise Springs at Gaylord Texan treats resort guests to a 600-foot-long winding lazy river with entertaining water features throughout and a 6,000-square-foot family lagoon with a walk-in beach, two horseshoe-shaped hot pools, a 27-foot water slide, a designated toddler pool, and water basketball. For those craving outdoor adventure between dips in the pool, the unique game pavilion offers a large campfire pit, bocce ball, croquet, tossers, and shuffleboard. Sun bathing is available on any of the pool’s 1,270 seats including chaise loungers, beach chairs, and family-style rounds. Those wishing to upgrade their pool experience will enjoy three sets of private cabanas available to rent daily, some of which will have their own flat screen televisions and fire pits for roasting marshmallows. Yummy treats will be served up by Gaylord Texan’s executive resort chef, Ty Thoren, and his culinary team with fresh and creative menu offerings for the full-service pool bar and grill, a quick bites concession stand, and poolside menus.
SummerFest 2011 activities will feature a variety of pool events, culinary programs, firework shows, and strolling entertainment. Guests will also be delighted by the resort’s two new restaurants, Zeppole Coastal Italian and Riverwalk Cantina; live music at the Glass Cactus nightclub; the 25,000-square-foot Relache Spa; unique retail shopping; and luxury accommodations in 1,511 guestrooms.
For more information on Gaylord Texan’s Paradise Springs pool, SummerFest 2011 activities, or special room packages for those wishing to “stay & play” this summer season, please visit http://www.gaylordtexan.com or call (817) 778-1000.
The Gaylord Texan resort is located at 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX 76051-1945
*All photos are from gaylordtexan.com
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Blogger Bio – Heather Buen is the official Examiner.com writer for all culture and events activities for the Dallas-Fort Worth area. To read about more Dallas events, please visit her Examiner page! Heather also has a personal blog where she offers advice and tips for single mothers at Dallas Single Mom!
Last Updated on May 16, 2016 by Writer