Thank God for Skype

        "Testing one two three, testing." Dylan, Mike and I were sitting in the living room. Mike had his laptop, while Dylan and I had my notebook on the other side of the room. Time to test out Skype. We got the skype going basically wanted to make sure it worked but also to let Dylan know how we were going to be able to talk to dad for a while. Dylan thought it was cool and he was excited to be able to see dad. Of course Dylan had  fun with skype talking to dad when he was 6 steps from him but we knew this was going to be helpful.. Communication is so important while being away. Who wouldn't like to see their soldier while talking? Jackpot!
        Before deploying I made up my mind for the kids that I would keep on keeping on. So one morning I took the kids to Monkey business, a place to climb, run, paint and have lots of fun. I remembered that monkey business had WIFI so of course I brought my computer. Mike skyped me and I followed the kids around with my computer so dad could watch the boys have fun, people looked at me like I was a little crazy but the smile on my soldiers face made me feel otherwise.
        Everyday (so far) we have been able to skype. He will call me before he goes to bed which with the time difference falls on lunch time for us. Some days he watches Mason eat and try to attack the computer, or I help him study for hours for boards. To me it doesn't really make a difference I'm just beyond thankful for skype bc in a way feels like he is still with us.

You got Mail

        Preparing for deployment with a 7 year old I knew I had to come up with a way for Dylan to express himself, talk things through and leaving the communication door to his dad open. I made this "mailbox" out of a Christmas box and blue paint. I told Dylan "Whenever you want to write to dad, draw a picture, or if you want to send something to dad, you can put it in this "mailbox" and when I send out a box I will send what you put in here to daddy."

       I can't say he thought this was so cool, or he loved it. To be honest my husband thought it was a little silly and Dylan could careless. But THEN the day came where it wasn't so silly after all. The night of deployment I saw there was a letter in the box so I pulled it out and it was a letter from Dylan. I didn't even see him write it. It said "When you come home, I'm going to hug you and kiss you, love you miss you."  As the days go by the "mailbox" gets full. Some times I know he is going to put a drawing, or a letter in there and there are days I look and see a hand full of new letters. I told my husband about the mailbox getting alot of attention and it made him happy that Dylan thought of him and continues to think of him while hes away. Whose silly now?

Making Broccoli Sound Like Chocolate

      One thing I love about my soldier is he has a way of cheering me up when I am down. A way of making me KNOW everything will be okay. A way of making me smile through my tears. Always reminding me some hard times we have been through and how we always make it through. Making me feel like I could conquer the world and in some ways making me believe I already have.
      Before deployment I had my days where I said "I cant talk about deployment right now" The night before him leaving I went by myself to get us a few movies, While at blockbusters I called him and told him the movies that were out and wanted his opinion on what to watch. He says to me "Do you have a cold?" (bc I was sniffling and crying under my sunglasses, Yes at Blockbusters!) I replied with "NOOO I'm an emotional wreck and I cant talk about this to you right now I will be home soon." (bc at this point I was SICK of talking about it, thinking about it, and crying about it SICK of it! )
     We took the boys to the movies (a movie Dylan has been DYING to see) and during the previews there was a few more movies Dylan added to his list of wanting to see. After a preview a date of when the movie is coming out shows up on the screen and Dylan would tell dad. "DAAADDD in July we need to come see that movie dad." I told Dylan "Sweetie Daddy will be gone then." Mike looked at me and said "Im not GONE Stacy, we can watch it on skype together buddy." Then looks at me with a smile. Well okay then.
      We were in the car one night to get dinner and we would talk about deployment, things that I will do while he was gone..and so on. He said "After a couple weeks it will fly by." RIIIIGHT! "Its not a month Mike its 9 MONTHS! I would reply." Then he would follow up with "Stace, its only a few months." It was an ongoing joke because he was trying to sugar coat it. I would tease him about where he went to school and who taught him what a "couple" meant.
      After 2 weeks of deploying  he said "Wellllllll one month is almost over!" hahahahahahahaha no no sir! I think I need to find his math teacher, although he does make me laugh.
      Some other things he would say before leaving...
"When I'm deployed it will get easier, because we can count down the days..."
"I know I can't be there to buy stuff with you (for the house and what not) but you can show me on skype and its like I am there."
I bought a small notebook computer so I could tuck it away in my purse and bring it with me...."When you go home to see the families you can take your computer and its like I'm with you bc we can skype!"

     With his positive attitude he made me feel like everything will be okay...and through past experiences it always is!

Honey to do...

      When going on a vacation or travel back home theres always a million things to do before hand. Bags to pack for the kids, fun things for the kids to do in the car to keep them entertained, clean the house before leaving, make sure to have the oil changed, cash in my wallet, and a plan to  be prepared whether it is bringing a swim suit or dress clothes for church. Well the same goes for a deployment except its not a vacation of two weeks it is 9 months or longer! Theres alot of preparation.
SOLDIERS PACKING
 The soldiers have list of things they need to pack and make sure they have.
                        For instance(Not even close to being the complete list):
4 uniform sets
2 pair of combat boots
running shoes
8 pair of "civilian socks"
8 pair of military socks
personal hygiene (shampoo, soap, tooth brushes, tooth paste, razors...ect)
All their military gear which is a couple pages long of what they need.

So all the gear that is piled in the basement needed to be packed and accounted for which required ALOT of time, patience and helping out my soldier. We started off by bringing all the army gear and things he needed to the living room, Mike handed me papers with lists on them and a pen. I would read off what he needed and in what bag the items would go in, then marked off the list. After that part is complete then its time to pack the bags! Basically there is alot of gear and clothes and not enough room so it requires pushing, pulling, squeezing, tugging, refolding, repacking to get everything in the bag that needs to go. It takes both my soldier and I to get this accomplished. Let me tell you that is a JOB!
     At a deployment meeting we were told the soldiers schedules would be like they are here. Morning PT, Lunch, work, dinner then off unless on a mission. When my soldier is home he has kids to play with, tv to watch, games to play and a wife to hang out with. So it was a MUST to find things for him to bring to stay busy on his down time.
PERSONAL ITEMS
Magic jack
phone
bible
notebooks
computer (skype)
movies
games

HONEY TO DO: about 2 weeks before deployment things need to be done So I make a list, and hang it on the kitchen cupboard and Mike adds to what he wants to get done also before leaving...looked like this...
Daddy, Dylan date
Date night
need contact info how to get a hold of him in case of an emergency on my end
PAPERS PAPERS PAPERS (power of attorneys, wills, his unit phone contact info...ect)
Mini Vacation
Put together the boys trampoline ect...
 A few days before the deployment day I looked at the Honey to do list hanging on the cupboard except it was scribbled on and finished. If there was ever a time I wouldn't mind my soldier not getting what I asked done, that would of been the time. It was a little sad tearing it off the cupboard and throwing it away because it only meant one thing...DEPLOYMENT TIME!