On Deployment

I've been meaning to write about life during deployment simply so that I can look back and remember one day, but I keep holding off because some days are hard and some days go very smoothly, so depending on the day my opinion changes. However, I tend to be rather forgetful these days, so before I forget some details I'm going to record some random aspects here...

I have a love hate relationship with nighttime.  Some days I simply feel all alone and some days I really enjoy the productive time (usually craft time) to myself.

One of the hardest parts of deployment is being responsible for everything in your home.  I am no longer just in charge of the cooking, cleaning, etc, but now I have to deal with bees, ants, squeaky doors, broken garages, car maintenance, moving furniture, etc.

During deployment, I have more consistently read (both morning and evening) the Bible, other Christian books of interest, and prayed since before Juliet was born.

The other hardest part of deployment is being with at 2 year old, and only a 2 year old, 24/7.  Granted we make an effort to be with other people too, but I do not regularly interact with any but a 2 year old on a daily basis.

My life is more simple.

When thinking about tomorrow I try and make sure there is at least one outing in on our agenda, even if just to the grocery store to buy some random not really needed item, because if we don't get out we go crazy.

I am learning to be a more patient, kind, and understanding mother.  When you spend ALL your time with a two-year-old, and usually just the two of you, your not so pleasant side comes out.  As that sinful side of me has come out more often, I am able to get to work on controlling it better.

I am SO thankful for Juliet and the sweet little girl that she is.  She is such a trooper.  She often gets dragged around, fulfilling my agenda and she just goes with it.  and I sure she gets tired of being with ME all the time ;) Today I spent an absurd amount of time cleaning carpets with a rented machine and she just went with me from room to room and "helped" me or colored in her coloring book near me.  She is my little buddy and she is so resilient and quick forgive of me of all the times I'm a bad and selfish mom.  She also regularly goes with me to help at youth group at church and she is never a distraction :)

I am so thankful for this special time with Juliet.  We very much miss Micah, but I know once baby boy is born it will never just be me and Juliet again.  So, I'm thankful for tons of quality time with her.

People in my church have been so caring.  We've been invited over for meals.  One family even has us over weekly.  We have friends that mow our grass.  Some friends watched Juliet for me during my doctor appointments.  And my friends try schedule girls' nights really early so that I can attend before Juliet has to go to bed or volunteer one of their husbands to babysit.

Though Micah and I are able to talk a lot, authentic/helpful communication has been much, much harder than I expected.

I am becoming stronger in my ability to kill bugs.  I skill needed daily to live in TX in the summer.  I have also been reminded how much I loathe bees.

Life is full of seasons.  Each season will come and go.  Each season has good and bad.  It's so important to enjoy the good of each season (instead of getting caught up in the bad) because you will never get it back again.  Also, longing for a past or future season just makes you miss out on moments of your current season.