Week 7 of Deployment – Happy Valentine’s Day to Me

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on February 14, 2012
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“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.”  Galations 6:9 ESV

About a week ago, I was asked to help with the “Date Night” my church annually hosts on Valentine’s Day where they have the youth group and leaders watch the children while couples go on a date.  It’s a great ministry and we participated last year.  It was a blast and where else can you leave your kids with their friends and trusted Sunday School teachers for $5 and go out for 3 hours?  So when I was asked to assist, my friend commented…”Now that’s just cruel” considering our deployment.  But actually, I was going to volunteer anyway.  I was delighted to give back to others’ marriages.  My kids were able to see their friends, watch movies and eat pizza.  What more could I ask for on Valentine’s Day!

Well when it rains, it pours……I also volunteered to help with my daughter’s party at school, i.e. normal stuff of organizing, preparing food, crafts, etc.  And in addition to the long process it normally takes for the actual writing of Valentine’s Day cards, I knew I had to prepare.

And lastly, a friend and I had been meaning to get together and her time to do it was this afternoon between gigs.  So in addition of all the prep work, I had to have a clean house to and have ample snacks!

So at the end of today, I’m exhausted!  But it was time well spent.  My daughter said it was the best party ever, my friend and I had a great time and I saw many couples enjoy a very well-needed time together.  But I feel that I was blessed to be a blessing….a friend watched my son while I was at my daughter’s party, another friend came by to deliver a care package for the children….all sorts of toys and games for them and I received a very needed letter from my husband.  How kind and sweet is all of that?!  I could say that my Valentine’s Day wish was to be with my husband and that would have made it a perfect day.  But all the blessings of today makes it a close second!

Today's artwork

Week 6 of Deployment – for the love of bowling!

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on February 8, 2012
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“I’ll be with you, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:20 The Message

So first of all, speaking of “day after day”, I have realized this past month that I’m not good at keeping a daily journal.  I’m kind of free spirit writer so I thought I’d put my thoughts together weekly.

Things have been busy with all of the normal activities that consume us like chauffeuring children, school and extra-curricular activities, church stuff, moms group stuff, house stuff, tax stuff and now searching our new location (Hawaii) for all that same stuff!  But I stopped in my tracks today when my daughter told me as we were driving that she wanted to pray for daddy….and she led the sweetest prayer.  Life can get overwhelming, but I’m encouraged by the thought that I’m not alone.  Even though I often feel alone for the obvious physical reason, I know I am not.

All kinds of great people have come into our life, even just a few in passing.  Like tonight, we went bowling….not something I normally do, but it’s been a new thing during this deployment.  Well, my son made a friend in the lane next to us….a nice active duty man who seemed to be semi-pro just based on his own bowling shoes and ball!  He was so kind the entire time….high-fiving, cheering, giving pointers….all that good stuff.  My son just lit up and loved the attention.  Meanwhile, my daughter who opted out during frame 5, made another friend at a table nearby.  A very elderly gentleman, who I gathered may be a retiree hanging out to eat the healthy and delicious bowling food!  Well, he and my little daughter were quite the pair.  When his food was ready at the counter, my daughter yelled to him….”Our chicken is ready!”  I don’t think he knew she had attached herself to him.  When I went up to them sitting together at the table, he laughed and said he wasn’t sure if he should be offended because she told him that she had a sister his age…….and that her sister was a 184!!!!!!!!!!  That number has been her favorite number for a long time and we had a nice laugh about it.  So she doesn’t have a sister and nor is she a Highlander!

Little do these kind strangers know that they were friends to some children who desperately missed their daddy.  God is so good to be a friend to us when we need it, to have someone share a kind word or a bowling center chicken meal!  I thank God that we are not lonely, that He is with us every day and He has sent friends!

Day 30 of Deployment

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on February 2, 2012
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“God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”  Psalm 147:3 NIV

I have always loved this scripture, but when I became a parent, it began to mean even more.  Any good parent would protect their children, try to mend them and take care of their injuries.  My first instinct is never to scold them for getting hurt, never lecture them or make them feel badly, but to love and comfort them.  Now if they need to be reminded or taught a lesson about staying safe, I will do it.  But it’s out of love, concern and protection.

I have to remind myself of those feelings when I go to God brokenhearted or wounded….He will not be the parent who says, “I told you so” or “Look what you’ve done”.  He will be the one to wrap His arms around me, love me, comfort me and help me learn a lesson.  Thank goodness!

Day 29 of Deployment – Gilligan’s Island

Posted by Sisterhood of the Traveling Military Pants on February 2, 2012
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“Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.“  Psalm 126:5 NLT

I love planting metaphors!  Maybe it’s my current rural area, maybe my new love of gardening….I’m not sure, but I am really digging it right now (pun intended).

I love that God turns our sorrow into gladness and does it when we least expect it.  For instance, I was disappointed that our desired location for our next assignment was not met and on top of only being 1 month into this deployment, it was lemon juice on my paper cut.  But then, Aloha, we received word that we are heading to Hawaii!  Wow, I was so excited and surprised!  But then, the very practical and often cynical side of me kept thinking…..3 years on an island??!!  Oh my goodness.

I had flashbacks to Gilligan’s Island and even though I consider myself a “Ginger” who is more like a “Mary Ann”…..and who am I kidding….I’m heading to the age of “Ms. Lovey”, I really have no desire to live that reality.

My husband reminds me that I won’t get “island fever” and there are 7 islands to boot.  People around me talk of swimming with sea turtles, cruises, luau parties, etc.  It hasn’t yet settled in yet.

But I have said that I never wanted to live north of the Mason-Dixon line and my wishes have been met so far so I should have no complaints, right?