The Beginning of the "Lasts"

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It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is Thursday. How time has flown. And yet in some aspects of my life time has moved slowly. On September 28th of 2010 I put my husband on a plane for Japan to begin his 3 year geo bachelor tour. This year begins the beginning of the end. This Thanksgiving will be the last Thanksgiving I spend without him before he is scheduled to come home from Japan. It is hard to believe. It seemed like such a long time to have him gone and it was. But the light at the end of the tunnel is visible. For those of you with loved ones near by appreciate them and let them know you love them. For those of you with loved ones far away you are in my thoughts. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

I Will Thrive: Taking Ballet

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Early on in the deployment I made a Deployment Bucket List and as I've gone through this deployment I've added a few (and removed a few) well next week I'm taking on one I've added. Ballet Classes. Now I should say I've NEVER taken ballet classes a day in my life but it has always been something I've wanted to do. So when I heard that the local dance studio was offering an adult ballet class and my friend was taking it I decided to jump and take the class. I admit I'm nervous and excited all in one. I'm excited because I've wanted to take a class like this for years but I'm nervous because I've never taken one. Also I know some of the people in the class are very experienced so that is a bit intimidating. But I think the draw of the fun outweighed the fear. So here we go...

Deployment Murphy Style

My "Guard" Dogs...

So last night was fairly typical. I went out with a girl friend of mine to see Expendables 2 and was home before 11:00 pm. My cat got out when I got home but I was able to get him back in before I went to bed. All was normal when the dogs and I went to bed. I set the alarm and we went to sleep. Around 1:00 am my alarm started going off like the system had been breached. I go downstairs to check things out because the front door hadn't made noise but the system was saying it was the front door. The sensor is off the door I clip it back on. So I call the company and tell them it is a false alarm. We go back up to bed. We get settled and about 15 minutes later it goes off again. So I go down and the sensor is off the door again. Now I'm getting paranoid that someone is messing with the door causing it to come off. So I call the non-emergency line for the police. They come out and check around the outside of the house and see nothing. So we go back to bed. The alarm goes off again. This one was my fault because I forgot to set the motion detector part right. So needless to say it was a bit of a rough night in our household. Then when I let the dogs out this morning the cat snuck out again and as off the time I had to come to work he was still out.

The second kicker...the alarm company wants to come check the system because although it's working it seems to be having issues. I need to schedule an appointment for them to come out. However, I can't because I'm not on the account so J needs to call. I explain he can't call but I have a POA. They have to have me fax it to them and it will take 7-10 business days to get me in the system and then I can schedule it. I'm going to see if there is a chance that J can call them or email them but it's looking like a long process to me.

The picture above is my dogs after we went back to bed after the third time of the alarm going off. I couldn't sleep but they had no problem. Way to guard guys, way to guard.

What a Difference a Year Makes...

My Hubby

Having your spouse gone is a challenge whether it is for a week, a month, 6 months or a year. You have to take care of the house, the bills, the pets and/or children, yourself, and much more. On July 1st we hit the one year mark of when I put J back on the plane to go to Japan. Our first part of our deployment was 7 months that was long but because of going through that I figured a year wouldn't be too bad. And maybe it wouldn't have been too bad if I had gotten him back after a year but here we are at 13 1/2 months and I still don't have him back. Thanks to some scheduling issues it looks like I won't get him back for his last R&R until the beginning of next year sometime. The only good news is that means we won't have too long until he's home for good when he goes back.

But for now it is hitting me hard. Much harder than I anticipated. I find myself emotional...sometimes grumpy...sometimes envious...and impatient. I'm trying to work on my eating and my exercise because I know both help balance me. But I feel like I may need to do something else like go to a support group or go talk to a counselor or or something. It was a little easier for the past two weeks because he was in a port so we could talk on the phone and text some. But now he is back underway so we are back to sporadic emails. I know that each day that passes puts us closer to him coming home but still it is tough. I miss him...a lot!

This too shall pass and God is with me through it all but I'm ready for it to pass and to have my husband with me through it all.

Dear Deployment

I'd like him home now.

Dear Deployment,

I'm kind of over you. Moreover I'm tired of being the mistress to you. I'm his wife dammit.

To be fair it was bound to happen if we're being honest it wasn't really a good match from the beginning. It didn't seem so bad in the beginning...on paper 3 years seems manageable but in reality you kind of suck. We made it through the first 7 months ok. Then we had a month reprieve from you...oh how sweet it was. But then you reared your ugly head and he had to return to you.

And now we're in our longest stretch of you...by the time he comes home again if you don't mess things up it will have been a year and a half that you've had him...you could share you know. I know he is an awesome and amazing man but he is mine and you are greedy and selfish. You have had him a long time and I would like him back.

I know I'm supposed to be the tough and strong Navy wife who can do it all but frankly I'm tired. I got married so I wouldn't have to do it all. And I'd like my best friend, my love, my lover, my handyman, my comedian, my cheerleader, and my husband back.

But I will say you've taught me some things along the way...I can fix a garbage disposal, a light switch, and change the high ceiling light bulbs. I can handle a hurricane, emergency surgery for my mother, emergency surgery for our fur baby Ares, my parents divorce, dealing with contractors, and in general running a household by myself. I know I can survive without him but I don't want to live without him.

And here's the kicker that I think you thrive on...as a Navy wife I'm proud as hell of my husband and what he does for our country, our family, and me! So I stand waiting for him to come home from you. I pray daily for his safety and the safety of his fellow crew members. I pray that he comes home safely and in a similar condition to when he left.

So there you have deployment...our relationship will continue out of duty and honor but know you are not on my top 10 list.

Sincerely,
A Navy Wife

I Will Thrive: Asking for Help

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Most Sundays the sermons are good this past Sunday it was a 2x4. It came from 2 Kings 4:1-7 which is the story of the widow who is in danger of losing her sons to pay her husband's debts. She took her concerns to Elisha who's response was "What shall I do for you?." He then told her to go to all of her neighbors and collect pots to put the oil in her house in. She had more than enough oil to fill the pots and when she sold the pots of oil she had more than enough money to save her sons and take care of them. The pastor confessed initially when he heard this story as a child he thought it was about a money or an oil shortage but in reality it was a story about a faith shortage. She had gotten in a rut which became a crisis. And she had not gone to her community until it was almost too late.

He went on to say that in our society today we so often do the same thing she did because we are uncomfortable asking for help. According to him asking for help is not a walk of shame but a walk of faith, with Christ we have community and we should embrace it and allow it to embrace us. He then asked us...are we ready to help our neighbors? Are we ready to ask for help?

This got me thinking about my experiences with this deployment. I read many military blogs and many tell the tales of their spouse being deployed. On many of the pages I read stories about how they rock at deployment, that deployment isn't so bad, etc sort of a I'm a military wife hear me roar kind of thing. And I admit when I first started this deployment back in September of 2010 I took sort of the same attitude. I thought I've lived on my own I can handle this I'll be great. Yeah well somewhere along the way I got slapped with reality. Yes I have lived on my own. Yes I have survived just fine without my husband before he came into my life. Yes I can do this. But I became accustomed to having my husband around the house for company, to help me with things, to do things I don't like doing, to help clean house, help take care of the dogs, for moral support, and yes for physical affection. I am not good at asking for help. 

If I'm having a rough day because I miss him I usually keep it to myself. My yard is mowed by my wonderful neighbor but I need some other yard stuff done like weeding and hedge trimming and I don't ask for help even-though there are people who would be happy to do so. Last Sunday I sat in my driveway on the verge of tears because I missed him so much and I contemplated going to my neighbors house or one of my other friends' houses but I didn't. The reality is if I had gone they would have welcomed me and supported me with open arms, a shoulder, and an ear. But they can't help if I don't ask. I'm getting better. I told my neighbor about it after the fact and she about smacked me for not coming over.

I guess what I'm saying is we are not an island and we don't have to do this alone. We are part of a community whether it is a church community, a military community, or a physical community we belong and we should call upon them. We would want them to call upon us so we need to lead by example and have faith. So ask for help! And be there when your friends and neighbors ask for help.

Putting Out Fires

Sometimes in my life I feel like I spend so much time putting out fires for my friends and my family that I don't really have time to worry about myself. Now in some ways this is good because it keeps me distracted. But sometimes it is frustrating because I'm constantly taking care of someone else's issues. And I feel like some how mine get pushed to the back burner.

For example...Friday night I went out with my friends T and S for "girls night out." I thought to myself that it would be cool to see them and to chat. Basically it was a time for T to grumble about her boyfriend's ex-wife while S and I listened. Then to break it up a bit S asked me about J and talked some about her work. But very quickly it went back to T and the ex-wife. And I don't want to monopolize the conversation or anything but I almost feel like we need a chess timer so each person gets equal time.

I've noticed that people don't really ask how you're doing unless it seems like you're struggling. I don't wear the fact that J is deployed on my sleeve. He is deployed and I miss him ALOT but I go about my day to day stuff pretty well. (most days) I've even had people comment about the fact that I don't seem to struggle with deployment. Now of course they don't see me when I'm having a bad day.

Do you ever feel like you put out other people's fires?

I Will Thrive: Deployment - Friends

There is a quote "be careful what you wish for" today I'm going to change it to say "be careful what you pray for...you might just get it."

Prior to J leaving I had 3 friends that we're close, 2 of whom were extremely close. We had regular girls nights and such. The day J left for the first time, they invited me over to spend time with them. But as time passed my friend T was much more involved in her various dating relationships and wasn't around as much. My friend S really stepped up. She went to church with me so I didn't have to go alone. We would go out to dinner often so I wasn't home alone. And she was my deployment spouse. She was truly a lifesaver. As time as gone by she has pulled away some because of her relationship with her guy D. When they broke up she was back at a high intensity level. They have started to hang out as friends again so she has disappeared some again. Her explanation for not calling is that she assumes I'm dancing at the Studio, the dogs would prevent me, I'm doing something with my Mom, or that I just have other plans. I told her to call me and see not to assume. ;-)

Because J is a Geo-Bachelor and his "deployment" is three years I realize that I'm a bit more maintenance than if he was on a standard deployment or underway. I realize this so I decided that I need to expand my friend circle so one person isn't responsible for "taking" care of me. I decided to pray about it and ask God to help me expand my circle and for me to be open to new people. Well God heard and God responded.

First my coworker N asked me to join a group on Monday nights for games and possible Bible Study. I went and had a great time so I attend that on a regular basis. A church member and friend where I work invited me to come over for dinner one night after work. I went and had good food, good friends, and a good fire. Then my friends and neighbors invited me to their house for frivolity and dinner. I needed it for a number of reasons. And I again had a great time. And my friend S who hadn't been calling me, called me twice to do something. (granted it was when her man D wasn't available but still the thought was there). Finally, my friend S and I were supposed to go to sunrise service but she wasn't feeling well. Well I almost rolled over and went back to sleep but something kept nagging me to go. So I got dressed and went. I met a delightful couple who normally attend a different service. He was retired Coast Guard so they got the military aspect. They invited me (and treated me) to breakfast on Easter morning. It was wonderful company and food.

God never ceases to amaze me. But I know now...be careful when you pray...you might just get it.

I Will Thrive: Deployment Stories - When They Come Home

No he's not home. I wish he were but he's not. And it looks like he won't be home for a long time as in not til December/January time frame. But I've been doing a lot of thinking about when he comes home. I blame the show Homecoming. Which I've stopped watching because for me it makes me miss him more and I get slightly jealous.

I've been wondering what it will be like when he comes home for R&R and more specifically for good. I miss him dreadfully but I've become accustomed to him not being here. I only have to worry about myself and the dogs right now. If I want to go out I only have to consult my calendar. As far as cooking (or not) I only have to worry about  me. If something needs to be done I do it or find someone who can. Some days it scares me how easily I've slid back into my single habits. And I know that I've changed in the time that he's been gone, some for the better, some for the worse. I assume he has too. I can tell in our phone conversations that he too has gone back to his "single" mentality. But being in the situations he has been in and going through what he's gone through changes a person.

We've been through one R & R and we'll have one more in the December/January time frame then he'll be home for good sometime next summer. I've decided the best thing we can do is just talk like we always do and lay it out there. Discuss our expectations, our concerns, our joys, etc with each other openly and honestly so that we are both on the same page. And have patience with each other. It will have it's challenges but I think it can also be a fun time when we reconnect with each other.

**as a disclaimer when I say single I mean the habits of doing things without consideration of another not in the romantic sense, both of us are very committed to our marriage and each other and distance hasn't changed that**

What are your thoughts on reconnecting?

The Voice: Faithfully

Last night on the Voice one of the battle duets was the song Faithfully by Journey. The song truly fit the two guys singing it because they were young family men trying to get a career started to take care of their families.  I admit I shed a few tears because their rendition was so moving. 


As I sat there watching I was struck by how appropriate this song is for a military couple. Just look at the words "restless hearts sleep alone tonight" or "and being apart ain't easy on this love affair, two strangers learn to fall in love again, I get the joy of rediscovering you." So today I leave you with the video and the lyrics.  


What song seems to be a perfect description of you life right now?






Highway run into the midnight sun 
Wheels go round and round 
You're on my mind 
Restless hearts sleep alone tonight 
Sending all my love along the wire 
They say that the road 
ain't no place to start a family 
Right down the line it's been you and me 
And loving a music man 
ain't always what it's supposed to be 

Girl 
you stand by me 
I'm forever yours 
faithfully 
Circus life under the big top world 
We all need the clowns to make us laugh 
Through space and time 
Always another show 
Wodering where I am lost without you 
And being apart ain't easy on this love affair 
Two strangers learn to fall in love again 
I get the joy of rediscovering you 

Oh girl 
you stand by me 
I'm forever yours 
faithfully 
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh 
oh oh oh oh oh oh 
faithfully 
I'm still yours 
I'm forever yours 
Ever yours 
faithfully 

I Will Thrive: Deployment Stories...Lost

Last night on my way home I debated between going to the store and buying the ingredients for taco salad or just stopping by Moe's on my way home to pick one up. I decided to just pick one up. Some how in the process of walking into the restaurant, being in the restaurant and walking back out to my car (a period of 15 minutes) my keys disappeared. I went back in and looked around for about an hour and a half no luck. They checked the camera, the trash can, etc no luck. I was on a college campus so I called their campus police and reported it. So far I haven't heard anything. I suspect that I set them down when getting my drink and someone else accidentally picked them up. Because I just can't see how else they disappeared.

The restaurant was mostly helpful but they kept suggesting I hadn't lost them and that they were in my car. I had locked my car on my way in so I knew this wasn't the case. Fortunately a friend of mine came and got me, took me home to get my spare set and brought me back to my car. Also equally fortunate my neighbor was home so I could get my spare key. I admit it was almost the straw that broke the camel's back. I was on the verge of tears in the parking lot when I was looking for them.

I called both the restaurant and the campus police today with no luck. I hold out one more hope that my YMCA tag will help them return. But we shall see. When I talked to J this morning he said "no one was hurt and nothing was lost that can't be replaced, look for them for a few days and then stop stressing about it." That was what I needed to hear I was so stressed about it.

I admit I'm just frustrated. Have you ever had a experience where you lost something and you were so frustrated?

Deployments Easy Huh?

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I briefly mentioned this in last Monday's random post. I have a friend T who has been dating a guy who is in the Air Force for 5 months. He is currently stationed at a local base so they see each other on weekends and week day evenings as schedule allows. Currently it isn't very different from dating a guy in a civilian job (kinda like when J was on shore duty I got spoiled) he isn't in immediate danger and has a 9-5 schedule so to speak. Well two weeks ago he got the heads up that he was deploying. T called a girl's night so we could help her work through it. During our 6 hour pow wow she kept saying "the deployment is easy, I know I can handle that because it's easy." At the time I just kind of nodded and smiled because she was on a roll. She said she was more worried about their relationship status and where they were headed. I get that. There is a lot of uncertainty in a relationship with a deployment but have a relationship that is still trying to define itself and add a deployment it is unnerving. Then less than a week later they learned he wasn't going because someone else was deploying instead.

After dwelling on mulling this over a bit because that's what I'm struggling with the fact that she repeatedly said deployments were easy. The sarcastic side of me wants to say "really they're easy huh? And you know this how because of all of your vast experience with deployments and the military?" But two things came to play on this first she's a friend and that isn't really a way to talk to a friend and second I heard Wife on the Roller Coaster in my head calling those of us who have more military experience to help educate those who are new. T has never been affiliated with the military she was born and raised in one place and no one close to her has ever been military. Having grown up as an Air Force brat I had a good idea of what I was getting into with J. T does not fully grasp the military life. She however thinks she gets it completely. And makes comments that could be taken wrong in certain crowds. So here are my words of wisdom for her.

Be aware of your audience. There will be times when you are in a circle with someone
whose spouse has been deployed many times with a short turnaround,
or someone whose spouse is in a very dangerous area or
you may be in a group with a spouse who lost her spouse during a deployment.
Do not assume you know how something is until you've gone through it.

It may be easy for you and that is great but most likely it will be harder than you think.
Just because I'm not a basketcase 24/7 doesn't mean I find deployment easy.
I just don't wear my emotions on my sleeve because that's not who I am.
How would you feel if I said being a single mom was easy. I'm not one. I don't know.
So I don't make comments because I don't live your life.
Listen to the advice of those who have been through it (military life).
We are more than happy to share, support, and encourage.

But don't tell us you know how it is and it is easy because you don't know yet and it isn't.
Show us respect and we will respect you.

I Understand the Grinch...

I'm not sure why but I'm not really in the holiday spirit. I'm hoping it will come but I won't be surprised if it doesn't. J is gone and we aren't able to talk much while he's underway. My father is spending his time with his new family so it is just Mom and I. Now don't get me wrong we have some fun things planned for my birthday (Dec. 16th) and Christmas but somehow I'm just not there excitement wise.

I'm trying to look at things in general that everything happens for a reason. I get held up at work so I don't get into the car accident because someone was in a rush. I don't get to spend Christmas with J so I appreciate my time with him more and I get closer with my mom. My father is in the life of his stepdaughter because she needs a good male role model (ok I admit I snicker slightly as I type that). But you get my point. I know God has a master plan and I just have to trust it. I know that faith doesn't always come with full understanding.

So I'm working on it but it is slow coming. And yet Christmas will be here before we know it. Now I'm off to work on a bulletin for another Christmas service. The joys of Church work!

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas

It is hard for me to think that Christmas is just around the corner. But it really shouldn't be because...

• The shopping areas are starting to decorate for Christmas
• Local stations are starting to play Christmas music
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas has been on the TV
• They are talking about Black Friday already
• I'm getting my brother and his wife's Christmas presents ready
• And in order to get them to him by Christmas...I've wrapped my husband's Christmas presents and will take them to the post office soon

So what about you are you feeling Christimasy or do you want to get through Thanksgiving first? I myself would like to be like Nordstrom and celebrate one holiday at a time. 

Hot Yoga

http://yoga-shorts.net/

I have practiced Yoga on and off since I was about 10 years old. I've always done basic poses in a class or as part of a warm up/cool-down at the gym. It has been a while since I've been in a class and on Tuesday I used my Living Social coupon to try Tidewater Hot Yoga.

I went to an hour long hot yoga class. I thought it was an interesting concept that the heat would allow you to stretch more. I was able to keep up with most of the class and really enjoyed it. I was dripping in sweat when I was done but I felt great! My favorite part was at the end when we were doing the closing she placed a cold peppermint oil cloth on our foreheads. It felt divine and it helped my sinuses greatly. Over all I loved the experience!

I have actually bought a 10 class pass at another studio to try them out. Then I may look to buy a punch card from one of them to do yoga on a regular basis. In the past when Mom did it regularly it helped in her weight loss and her emotional well being so that would be a nice bonus for me too.

I've looked at love from both sides now...

I know I've talked about this before but it has come up in conversation again recently. J and I were talking about how neither of us fully understands what the other is going through during this deployment. And the truth is each side has its pluses and minuses. This is the list we came up with.

For the deployed person...
Pluses:

• They get to go someplace different that doesn't have 200+ memories of their loved ones
• They have a job to do that usually keeps them pretty busy
• They are surrounded by people in the same boat (sometimes literally) 
• They sometimes get to have really neat and fun experiences depending on their location
• They sometimes get to go to really cool places as part of their time away (being underway is particularly good for this)

Minuses:

• They are someplace separate from their loved ones
• They have a job to do that can be life threatening
• They are constantly surrounded by people
• They can't share what they are doing or where they are going with their loved ones
• They aren't home to share in all the experiences going on while they are gone

For the spouse at home...
Pluses:

• We are in a familiar environment with our home, our family, our pets, etc.
• We are now doing the job of two people so we keep pretty occupied
• We are in some cases surrounded by fellow military spouses who are going through the same thing or who have gone through the same thing so they ask how we're doing
• We all have a list of things that we get to do when they are gone but we can't do when they are home (watch chick flicks, watch our tv shows, eat cereal for dinner, etc)
• We aren't in harms way on a daily basis 

Minuses: 

• We are in a familiar environment that reminds us of them and the fact that they aren't there
• We are now doing the job of two people
• We also have people around us who have no idea what we are going through and make insensitive comments.
• We hold our breath when the phone rings, when there is a knock at the door, when a black car drives down the street slowly, etc.
• We go for periods where we don't hear from them and we don't know what's going on. Which means we can't answer our family and friends when they as how is he doing and where is he?

What are some pluses and minuses for you and your spouse?

Today is not one of those days...

I applaud the Navy (all military) wives that can talk about how awesome deployment is and how they love it and what a great thing it is for their relationship, etc. some days I can do that too. Today is not one of those days. As some of you know my husband is on Geo Bachelor assignment to Japan so ours is a bit different. He left in September of last year and came home in June for R&R. The next time it is likely he'll be home is next fall sometime. I'm ok with this I handle it ok most days.

Today is not one of those days. We've been able to talk to each other on the phone a lot lately but now due to some changes in duty he and I are back to talking by email randomly. Now I know email is better than nothing and that some people go much longer than that without talking to their spouses so I'm grateful about email but I'm having issues today with not getting to start my day hearing his voice. And to top it off I missed a call yesterday afternoon from him which would have been the last for a while.

I know this is temporary and I know that this is not a crisis but today is not a good day for me.

Thursday Top 10

Top 10 - Things That Make Me Think About My Husband and smile...

1. His clothes...I find random pieces every once in while like a sock or a t-shirt
2. His body wash...I leave the partially used bottle in the shower
3. The Garage...it's his space and it reminds me of him
4. His Jeep...it sits in the driveway waiting for him
5. Our Kitchen...before we met he renovated our kitchen and it is his pride and joy so every time I cook I think of him and smile
6. Our basement...when he was home on R&R he reorganized our basement which has made things much easier for me
7. His cologne...ok true confession...sometimes I spray a bit on my pillow case
8. Our house in general...it is the site of our first date...our first kiss...etc...and it has a lot of memories for me
9. My wedding ring...he's given it to me twice and I never take it off...every time I see it I smile
10. Our song...we danced to "Then" by Brad Paisley at our wedding and it fits us so much...I still remember the tear on his cheek as we danced (he would kill me for sharing that)

Hello Irene!!

So Irene has made landfall in North Carolina. We've had rain/light wind on and off since 4:00 am. They are predicting the eye will hit Virginia Beach between 4:00 and 6:00 pm. Good news it's moving quickly and it is weakening. I still have electricity. Keeping my fingers crossed and saying prayers! All those on the east coast stay safe!!

Top 10 Positives of Deployment

All too often during deployments I think it is easy to focus on the negatives of deployment. I've decided to do a top 10 of the positives of deployment.

• Puppies - the dogs naturally gravitate toward J with their love and kisses. While he's gone I'm getting it. It is nice.
• TV - I get to watch what I want when I want and no running commentary on how "gay or dumb" a show is. I get to watch "Say Yes to the Dress" and "Dancing with the Stars" in peace. 
• Working on me - J has no problem with me doing stuff for myself but when he's home I love spending time with myself. This time alone is helping me focus on me and learn some balance.
• Having the bed alone - (well almost) I share it with two puppies but I get to spread out and sleep in the middle. 
• Eating what I want - sometimes I don't feel like cooking sometimes I like eating grilled cheese two nights in a row. And while he's gone it's easy. I eat what I want. And knowing when I come home everything I left in the fridge will still be there. lol
• Our Relationship - because we don't see each other everyday we have to find other ways to communicate. Thank God for technology! And so in some ways I think we are stronger in our relationship because of it.
• My friends - I have been surprised at some of the people I thought would check often and don't and some of the people I thought wouldn't care but do. It has been a learning experience.
• Work - Both J and I have observed that we are able to give work more during deployment because we aren't worried about going home to the other. 
• Hobbies - I'm getting back into some things I haven't done in a while.
• My Faith - I now have the mantra "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" I am convinced that without God I wouldn't survive this.

What are some of your favorite things from deployment?