Sunday, July 8, 2012

What Gets Me Through...

Is the weekend really over?
I pretty much fell off the grid for two days, and It.Was.Fabulous.



I worked on a surprise for the Messy Project on Friday, and then I went into hermit mode.
Does anyone else do that?
I was feeling a little bit guilty about turning down plans and staying home, but it felt SO GOOD.
I'm not sure how I became this person, but I am not complaining.
I like my simplified life, and it gave me time to talk to Will extra AND work on this post, which I have been wanting to share for awhile. I know that many have to endure long distance relationships, so I wanted to share a little insight into my heart, and what helps us.

This may be a bit heavy for a Monday, but humor me.
___________________________________________________________

As most of you know, the hubs is gone for NINE WHOLE MONTHS.
Thus far we have done really well with everything, but I want to keep our spirits up any way I can.
I mentioned to Will that we should play games, read a book together, and/or
find some interactive activities., and not only was he happy to comply, he found this website:

I was happy to find a lot of things that we do already on there, like send e-cards, he wrote me a poem, send pictures/make photobooks, Skype, Silly love letters, Be naughty, Make a card, etc....

He created our future children:

Photobucket

I decided to expound on "Share a Journal", with my own flair of course. I joined it with "Message In a bottle", and since sending a bottle back and forth to Afghanistan probably wouldn't work, I decorated two journals. We are now both filling them with love notes, and I love it!

Photobucket

I think I would also like to try:
Watch a concert (online). 
Play charades.
Create your dream home.
And whatever else the hubs is interested in.

I am very lucky that he is happy to participate in all this, and that it is helpful for him too.
We could be sad and focus on the negative, but instead, we are determined to make the best of our situation! This could be a year lost, or a year of growth...We chose growth.

Other things that are getting me through this deployment:

The girls at work.
Daddy calling and skyping to say goodnight.
Feel good movies.
Costco Take'n Bake meals.
Weiser.
Making Care Packages.
Fixing up the house.
And last, but most certainly not least:
Bloggers, the best support system out there!

Photobucket
My parents gave me a Deployment Bear when I was home last, and I LOVE it.

I must say, though, that this deployment is not near as hard as I thought it would be.
The thought of being separated and alone for nine months scared the ish out of me, and I really didn't know what to expect...We had been separated before, but nine months seemed SO daunting.  Now, I am pleased to say that I stressed for no reason.

Is it hard to be all alone? Sometimes.
Does it suck when I can't reach something on the high shelf? Yes.
Am I sad when I wish we were snuggling as I fall asleep? Absolutely.
 BUT...
All of that is temporary, and our love is forever.

Not only have I realized that the big picture is more important, but I have learned that as long as I have his love in my heart- I am never without him. He may not be here physically, but love transcends the physical.  I NEVER understood that until now.  I knew that my love for my family transcended, but I guess I didn't realize that could apply to someone not familially related.
Someone who has only been in my life for four years.

It reminds me of when I told Will that I never wanted to live away from my family, and he told me that we were starting our own family, so I would never truly be away from family. I took that to heart, but this deployment is allowing me to fully understand it now....

WE make up our own FAMILY.

Dennis Wagner

And I couldn't be happier.
Well, unless he was home...obviously.

So I guess what I'm trying to tell you, is that if you truly love someone, distance is only a minor detour, and that if you love someone enough to accept them as your "family", then your love will last a lifetime. True love is real <3




27 comments:

♥ ♥ Just a Girl in Love w/ a Soldier ♥ ♥ said...

This is such a beautiful post, love can conqer all things and a deployment is nothing different you two are doing a fabulous job. Soon all of this will be behind you and it will have seemed to go by so fast, when you look back on it!!! Some times you need those weekends were you really don't do anything or go any were. Its nice just to sit, relax and reflect on life and whats most important. Hope you have a great week chicka!!

Jenna said...

Okay... so you have a way of making me all teary-eyed when I read about your relationship. What a sweet post! This is what love is all about :)

Unknown said...

Janna you have no idea how MUCH I needed this post and that last paragraph. I'm going through the TOUGHEST deployment yet and most of my friends just don't understand.

Thank you for your words (I'm sure you didn't know just how much they would touch your readers) but they did.

xo

Pamela said...

Awww gahhhh, making me all mushy inside! Such a beautiful & well written post!

Katy said...

I love the idea of the journals that you send back and forth. That is something that I know you will cherish forever.

Alli @ Brooks' Blog said...

You have the best couples/love posts! Adore this

Jean said...

this makes me teary.

i remember when brady went off an hour away to college. . . so sad, but i always made it to visit him and stay a little bit. so sorry that will is so far and like you said, it's only temporary.

and you are so right, you make up your own family! we say that all the time! :) we are each other's family. :)

Samantha Reid said...

I'm not in a military relationship, but my boyfriend and I are separated right now and this post really reminded me to look at the big picture! And I love the website :)

Anne said...

Found you thru the weekend linkup...and wow. I can't imagine being separated from my husband for 9 months. This made me realize how dedicated all of the women who support their men overseas. You go girl! Your optimism is a testament to your strength!

:)

Tiffany said...

I love your perspective and your strength. With all of those activities and your optimism the time will fly by!

Leeann @ Join the Gossip said...

First off? Hello gorgeous! That pic of you two is SO cute!!

I seriously admire the military and their spouses. 9 months is a long time but you are so positive and have great ideas to get you through that time. Thank your husband AND YOU for sacrificing for our country.

And thanks for linking up with us :)

Nikki said...

I always say it talks a special person to love a solider and it is so apparent that you LOVE with out limits your solider! I do not know how you military wives do it but I totally admire you guys! It takes a strong person to make it through deployments and your girlfriend are one of the strongest women I know!

Sami said...

Well this really isn't about your weekend ;) Thanks for linking up doll!

Amanda said...

This post made me really happy! Mostly because of your positive outlook on life! I definitely needed an upbeat post to read. After being in long distance, but not of the deployment kind, I realize how grateful I am to be together. I can't wait until you two are reunited!

P!nky said...

UMMMM so sweet, thanks for sharing. You are so strong!!!

xoxo

Jamie said...

So sweet.

Megan at Megan Can said...

Your marriage is such an inspiration & great example on how it should be! Its fantastic that your hubby found that website I will definitely be checking it out! Even though my boyfriend is in the states our 18 hour distance between us is hard but we too try & find new ideas to stay connected when we can't be with one another! Thank you again for another inspiring post!

Unknown said...

Beautiful beautiful beautiful post! I love your positive attitude about all of this when you could SO easily focus on the negative. You are definitely right about everything. Thanks so much for sharing :)

Hilary said...

Yes, just remember - temporary! Your hair is gorg in that last pic!

CeCe said...

What great long distance love ideas! And yes, it does make you grow so much stronger just knowing that you can be apart for that long and still be as in love as when you started out. Hubby has been in my life for 4 years too! What month did you meet?

Unknown said...

those note books are very adorable & sound like a great idea. good luck during this time! love how confident & positive you're staying :)

Sara said...

I just found your blog and I am loving it! This post is so sweet! I love all of these ideas, especially the journals. Although I just "met" you, I'm so proud of you for your upbeat, positive attitude.
I look forward to keeping up with you!
Cheers,
Sara
www.SocialSara.net

Kelly { MessyDirtyHair } said...

Can't wait to see how everything turned out for the messy project! This is a great post & I agree w you completely regarding long distance. My bf & I did long distance for about 6 months. He was in NorCal me in SoCal. It wasn't hard for us at all because like you said if you love someone & want it to work it will. We have trust in each other & to be honest it brought us even closer! It's funny I've simplified my life too. And I love it! I use to be the type that had to go out every weekend. And I hated being alone. Now it's the complete opposite & I couldn't be happier. I cherish my alone time. Ok I'm rambling. Adorable pic of you two. I can see the love in the way you look at him! You guys are a great couple & I only see a bright future for you two! Xoxo Kelly

Andrea said...

Just found your blog through the link up. I was in your exact same position several years ago. Having the activities you have set up will help pass the time and will mean so much after he returns home. One of the favorite I did was put together care packages and writing letters. It was so fun to hear his reaction when he would open a box! You have an amazing attitude and that will help push you through - but know that it is okay for some days to be hard. It is never easy to be away from our loved one and a deployment is an especially stressful time. But I will tell you this, my husband and I could not be the amazingly strong and bonded couple we are now had we not gone through it!

Please email if you ever need to chat :)
Andrea

jeands said...

found your blog through the link up. this is a beautiful post. I was actually in the same position last 2 months ago. I was away with my husband for 5 months and it was really sad.

I like best what you said on the last part "So I guess what I'm trying to tell you, is that if you truly love someone, distance is only a minor detour, and that if you love someone enough to accept them as your "family", then your love will last a lifetime. True love is real "- I couldn't agree more!

I'm following you now. Good luck and stay strong.

Nicole said...

My sister's BF is an Army Ranger and he's in the middle of some intense training right now, where they don't get to talk to each other for 10 weeks. She keeps a journal just like you are, and is keeping track of things that happen, and telling stories from her childhood as she remembers them. This is a great way to stay connected. What an awesome hubby you have that he's willing to do all of this stuff :)

Jayme @ Her Late Night Cravings said...

This is so sweet how you guys interact while he's away. That's getting creative! Glad that this time hasn't been too too rough but we will be excited to see that blog post that you do when he is back! :-)

Jayme & Mendi @ Her Late Night Cravings

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