Please visit my newest post on Militaryfamily.com, Saying Goodbye to Friends. I am sure most of you can relate.
When He is Away, I Miss His Jokes
When he is away…
I miss his jokes.
I miss seeing him make coffee.
I miss being able to talk to him about all the silly stuff.
I miss watching movies together after the boys go to bed.
I miss him laughing at the silly stuff our boys say.
I miss the joy I feel when I come home and see he is home from work early…especially on a Friday afternoon.
I miss hogging all the covers.
I miss being able to run to Target for an hour all by myself on a Sunday afternoon.
I miss driving through a Starbucks and getting coffee together.
I miss hearing the garage door open knowing that means he must be home.
I miss asking him what he wants for dinner.
I miss going to church all together.
I miss watching the kids play together.
Whenever he is gone there is just a part of me that is never 100% okay with it, even if each day doesn’t seem too bad. Sometimes it is the little things, the everyday things that I miss the most. The memories I get from a coffee cup or a pair of shoes. It’s the daily chit-chat that seems the hardest to do without.
This time he won’t be gone too long and I have more than enough to keep me busy but it reminds me that a deployment is coming. It reminds me that before too long I will have to get used to this for months and months. That I will have to get back into deployment mode and that makes me sad. That I will not only miss all this stuff but he will also be in a dangerous place. That he won’t just be in a different state, that he will be on the other side of the world from us.
I try not to think about that. The deployment hasn’t started yet but the pre-deployment period has started and I need to accept it. I need to prepare myself for the rest of this year.
I tell myself that 9 months isn’t too long. It seems like we just got back from our California trip and that was 6 months ago. But still, it is knowing how much I will miss that makes me sad.
On the other hand, knowing that being apart will make us stronger is comforting. Knowing that at the end of it all we will have another wonderful homecoming is a nice thought. Knowing that we have been through much worse makes me feel better.
But how does one really prepare for such a long time without the person they love the most? How do you get used to the idea that you have to say goodbye? A lot of people say that deployments don’t get any easier, and they don’t. They are all different and we are at different stages when we go through them.
I just hope and pray that this deployment isn’t too horrible. That it goes by quickly and that before we know it, he will be home with us again. Standing on this side of the deployment isn’t very fun but time moves on and no deployment lasts forever.
Are you in a pre-deployment season too?
Army Wives on Reality TV
If you haven’t heard by now there is a new reality tv show on the OWN network called, Married to the Army: Alaska. It follows the lives of seven women from Fort Richardson, Alaska, who are married to soldiers of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry. Their husbands deployed November of 2011, and are just now starting to return after almost a year in combat (from OWN)
I will admit I do like my reality TV although I don’t watch too much of it anymore now that we cancelled Directv. I enjoy watching shows about other people and yes I am even a fan of some of the “Real Housewives” shows, as full of drama as they are. It can be really interesting to get to see into a person’s life, especially if they are so different from you.
For the last few years I have even thought about how a reality show like that would work for Army wives. Would a show be able to capture the real people? Would it focus on just the drama? Would it be a good thing or a bad thing?
With the start of Married to the Army: Alaska we can see first hand how a reality show about Military wives is going to go. Now I have not seen the show yet so I am not going to say if it is good or bad. I have talked to a few people who have seen and I didn’t hear a lot of positive reviews although some people did enjoy it.
I am not sure what to think about a show like this showing America what it is like to be an Army Wife. When it comes to the show Army Wives on Lifetime I do get questions about if that is what it is really like. People are curious about how we live our lives and how we are able to make it work through deployments and everything else. I am not sure if a reality show of this nature is the way to do that. I am not sure there is even a good way to do that other than knowing people personally that are going through a deployment or involved in Military life. That way they can see first hand what it is like without any of the drama.
I don’t blame the network for making a show like this. I know they felt there is a market for it and maybe there is. But I am just not convinced it will be able to show everything or what it is really like. Another part of this is because different people have different experiences when it comes to the Military. Just in my close group of friends here in Campbell, we have all been through different types of experiences even if our husbands have been in the Army about the same amount of time.
What do you think? Do you think this show is a good way to show the public what it is like to be an Army wife? Have you seen the show? What do you think?
Too Many Years of War
On March 19th, 2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom began. My husband and I went to downtown Santa Rosa, CA where we were living and took part in a support the troops rally. My husband was not active duty Army at this time. He didn’t re-join until the end of 2005. During this rally we saw a lot of patriotic signs. I was very much for what we were doing and supported it fully. I also supported the troops and wanted them to know that people out there stood behind them and supported them. 
At the time I had no idea what the words, “War on Terror,” “Afghanistan” or “Iraq” would mean to my personal life. I had no idea how supporting the troops would go from holding up signs, to sending my own husband off to war. I really had no inkling that TEN years later we would be getting ready for a fourth deployment.
The war in Afghanistan started October 7, 2001. That is 11+ years ago. 11 years of war!
My husband has been to Afghanistan before, but just for a few months. His upcoming deployment he will be there for a lot longer. He has been to Iraq twice for a total of 26 months. I hope this next deployment is the last time he has to go to Afghanistan.
When I look at what has happened in Iraq and Afghanistan as a whole over the last few years it does look like we are winding down. When I think about the surge in Iraq and how that affected us, it makes this next deployment look easy. But then you never really know. My husband could be extended again for any amount of time. We really don’t know.
I want the American people to know that although things are not like they were in say 2006, we are still sending our Military to start new deployments in Afghanistan. We probably will for a while longer. We probably will always be sending someone there. And others are still being sent to Iraq. As time passes it might be easy for America to forget everything we have done over there. If it isn’t on the news 24/7, it sometimes is forgotten But our family can’t forget. That is what happens when a member of your family serves in the Military. You know first hand about war and what it is like to love someone fighting in it. And 11 years is a long time to be at war when you are a Military family.
I would love to think that we can enter a time of peace but I also know that there are other countries and parts of the world that might need our Military, even if everything settles down completely in Afghanistan. And I should expect that as long as my husband is in the Army. It is apart of his job. But that doesn’t stop me from praying for peace or hoping that things don’t get as bad as they have been the last 11 years. It doesn’t stop me from hoping that the next big fight America is in can be over quickly and without as much loss as we have had with Iraq and Afghanistan. I suppose only time will tell.
“The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country”
― George S. Patton Jr.
A Promise to Protect by Liz Johnson Book Review and Giveaway
I was able to read the book A Promise to Protect by Liz Johnson for a review on my blog. I just finished it last week! I had done a review for Liz a while back and was excited about reading another one of her books.
Navy SEAL Matt Waterstone knows about keeping people safe. When his best friend’s sister is attacked, Matt promises no harm will come to Ashley Sawyer–not on his watch. But Matt’s not the only protective one. Ashley will do anything to safeguard the residents of the battered women’s shelter she runs. She’s sure she can handle the threats she gets in return. What she can’t handle is the way Matt scales the walls around her heart. Yet when she falls prey to a crime web more sinister than she’d realized, trusting Matt could be the only way to survive.
One of the things I liked about this book is that it takes place in California, which is where I am from. I also liked the mystery that she puts into her books. She makes you wonder and have to guess what is going on. Another great thing about this book is that you really fall in love with the characters and you want good things to happen to them. This was also a pretty quick read so perfect to take on vacation or read in a weekend.
About the Author:
Liz Johnson graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a degree in public relations and set out to work in Christian publishing. In 2006 she got her wish when she accepted a publicity position at a major trade book publisher. While working in the industry, she decided to pursue her other dream—becoming an author. She is now a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist, and A Promise to Protect is her fourth novel with Love Inspired Suspense. Liz makes her home in Nashville, TN, where she enjoys theater, exploring the local music scene, and making frequent trips to Arizona to dote on her two nephews and three nieces. She loves stories of true love with happy endings. Keep up with Liz’s adventures in writing at www.lizjohnsonbooks.com.
Author Interview:
What’s your new book, A Promise to Protect, about?
Ashley Sawyer has been the director of a battered women’s shelter for three years, so she’s no stranger to dealing with threats. But when she helps a young woman disappear, the threats become more intense than she’s ever experienced. Navy SEAL Matt Waterstone is happy to check on his best friend’s little sister, certain he can take care of the situation. But as Matt and Ashley search for the source of the threats, they uncover a plot more sinister than they ever imagined . . . and a love they never expected.
How did you get interested in writing about Navy SEALs?
When I was in college, I picked up a novel about a SEAL, and I was hooked. Who were these men unafraid of facing down the worst in this world? Who would go through such torturous training to be called the elite? I began watching documentaries on Special Forces units and reading everything I could about the men on the teams. Lately I’ve been reading biographies of SEALs including Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell and Fearless by Eric Blehm, fascinated by the type of personality it takes to become a SEAL.
It’s been said that good writers are good readers. What do you enjoy reading?
I’ll read just about anything that I can! And I read as often as I’m able. That translates into—whenever I’m not on deadline. My favorite books cross genres and years. As a kid, I read The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and I loved it! Still do. As an adult, I’ve really The Princess Bride and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Mostly I just enjoy a rich story with a happily ever after.
What have you enjoyed reading recently?
I’ve written three books this year—met three deadlines—so I haven’t had as much time to read as I’d like. But I did catch new books by some of my favorite historical authors—Julie Klassen and Karen Witemeyer. On a recent road trip I finally listened to the audio version of Susan Meissner’s The Shape of Mercy. It was wonderful!
Liz, what’s up next for you?
Right now I’m working on the follow up to A Promise to Protect, which is due out next year. It’s about Ashley’s brother and Matt’s best friend, Tristan. Then I’m scheduled to write a third book in my SEAL series. I’ve loved writing about the men of SEAL Team FIFTEEN and the women they fall in love with, so I’ll be sad when the series wraps up. I’m also working on a contemporary romance and bouncing at least a hundred and three other ideas around my mind.
Excerpt:
“Tristan is the closest thing I have to a brother. He’s worried about you, and so am I. Let me help.”
Fear flickered through Ashley’s eyes as she whispered, “Someone almost ran me over.”
“Tristan said something about a letter,” Matt pressed.
Ashley nodded. “When I got home that day, there was an anonymous note saying that someone wanted his property back.”
His gut clenched. What kind of jerk threatened a battered women’s shelter? “Listen, I’m in town for a few days. Let me look into things.”
She smiled up at him. “Thanks, but I got the note more than a week ago. If there was any danger, something else would have happened by now.”
As they reached her car, her smile died. He didn’t have to ask if she still thought the threat had passed as she took in the smashed windshield of her coupe. Tucked under a wiper blade, the person responsible for the mess had left a clear message.
If I don’t get what’s mine, you’ll get what’s yours.
You can win your owned signed copy of A Promise to Protect! Just enter the Rafflecopter below 🙂
* Was provided a free copy of this book for review!
The Importance of OPSEC
If you are a Military family you have probably heard of OPSEC. It stands for Operations Security. It protects the operations of the Military from those that could do harm…
You can read the rest of my post on The Importance of OPSEC on Militaryfamily.com
Shindigz Party Supplies Review and Giveaway
Parties can be a lot of fun! Last week we had a little birthday party for my son Drew. He was turning six and was asking for an Angry Birds Star Wars party. I was contacted by Shindigz Party Supplies to do a review for them a few weeks before his party. Since they do not make “Angry Birds Star Wars” party supplies yet, I went with a few Angry Birds items and a few Star Wars items. It fulfilled his wish for an Angry Birds Star Wars party.
I was able to pick out some super cute plates, cups, table cover, balloons, decorations , goodie bags and a Piñata. Ordering on http://www.shindigz.com/ was pretty easy. I was able to search by theme and found what I wanted. They even have packs of items you can buy than include items such as plates, cups, balloons, silverware, personalized banner napkins, ribbon and streamers. I received my order quickly which was nice since I needed it for the party.
They always have some type of sale going on and coupons you can use. They have a coupon page to see what their current deals might be. They have also just started a 20% discount to any military personnel and their families. Sweet! They also have a “Welcome Home Party” section to help you throw a welcome home party for your soldier.
How would you like to win a $50 gift certificate to plan your party? Just enter the Rafflecopter below to win 🙂
* I was provided a Gift Certificate to http://www.shindigz.com to review items on my blog.
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Doing it Again: How to prepare for yet another deployment
Please check out my new post at Militaryfamily.com, Doing it Again: How to prepare for yet another deployment 🙂