I know it has been a while since I last posted but because we are still in the preparation stage not much has been happening. Sean has been gone here and there...a few days in Indiana, a few days in Maryland, now he is going back to Indiana 2 days before we leave for our early "summer" vacation. It gets a little stressful knowing that this is just the prelude to what is coming, but at the same time during these trips I know he will be home in a few days.
We decided to take our "summer" vacation early this year because of the deployment, so in 12 days we are heading down to Florida for 6 days to enjoy the sunshine and hit Universal Studios and Disney World. We went 5 years ago when the kids were smaller but time it has a whole new meaning! This time we know that this is the beginning of the countdown to his leaving. I plan to take every photo opportunity while we are all together, for the next year that is what we will have to hold onto. To remember this trip even more I had t-shirts made for all 5 of us. I know it's a little corny and I am sure the kids will role their eyes and call me "that mom" (you know the mom who always makes the kids dress the same so they don't get lost), but this is for a different reason. This is our last trip together before this deployment, and who knows (as much as I don't like to dwell on the bad) it could be our last trip together. I want to make sure that we get everything we can out of the time we spend together.
I also took the opportunity to contact Operation Love Reunited, who got me in touch with a photographer who is going to do a photo shoot with the family - FOR FREE!!! We have NEVER had a professional photo shoot done (unless you count Sears Photo Studio) it will be a wonderful thing to have for each of the kids to have some great pictures with Sean before he leaves, something they can hold onto and look at each day to remember the love he has for each of them.
It's hard to believe that we are only 3-4 months away from his deployment. It seems like just yesterday I was saying it was 7 months away. Time is flying by. I am purchasing personalized journals for each of the kids in the hopes that they will take the time to write down how they are feeling to better cope with the deployment. I have purchased one for myself also, there are some things I just can't put out there for all of you to read. I remember the last time he was deployed and how lonely I felt, I am hoping that the journal will help ease some of that loneliness.
On top of helping myself and the kids get through this deployment, I have taken on the job of Chairperson of the Family Readiness Group for Sean's unit. This means that I will be responsible for keeping up the morale of the other soldier's families as well as my own, even if it is only for a 2 hour meeting once a month. I hope that focusing on the FRG Group, the kids and work will make the year fly by.
Until the next post - May God Bless and watch over all our military serving near and far and their families. <3
We decided to take our "summer" vacation early this year because of the deployment, so in 12 days we are heading down to Florida for 6 days to enjoy the sunshine and hit Universal Studios and Disney World. We went 5 years ago when the kids were smaller but time it has a whole new meaning! This time we know that this is the beginning of the countdown to his leaving. I plan to take every photo opportunity while we are all together, for the next year that is what we will have to hold onto. To remember this trip even more I had t-shirts made for all 5 of us. I know it's a little corny and I am sure the kids will role their eyes and call me "that mom" (you know the mom who always makes the kids dress the same so they don't get lost), but this is for a different reason. This is our last trip together before this deployment, and who knows (as much as I don't like to dwell on the bad) it could be our last trip together. I want to make sure that we get everything we can out of the time we spend together.
I also took the opportunity to contact Operation Love Reunited, who got me in touch with a photographer who is going to do a photo shoot with the family - FOR FREE!!! We have NEVER had a professional photo shoot done (unless you count Sears Photo Studio) it will be a wonderful thing to have for each of the kids to have some great pictures with Sean before he leaves, something they can hold onto and look at each day to remember the love he has for each of them.
It's hard to believe that we are only 3-4 months away from his deployment. It seems like just yesterday I was saying it was 7 months away. Time is flying by. I am purchasing personalized journals for each of the kids in the hopes that they will take the time to write down how they are feeling to better cope with the deployment. I have purchased one for myself also, there are some things I just can't put out there for all of you to read. I remember the last time he was deployed and how lonely I felt, I am hoping that the journal will help ease some of that loneliness.
On top of helping myself and the kids get through this deployment, I have taken on the job of Chairperson of the Family Readiness Group for Sean's unit. This means that I will be responsible for keeping up the morale of the other soldier's families as well as my own, even if it is only for a 2 hour meeting once a month. I hope that focusing on the FRG Group, the kids and work will make the year fly by.
Until the next post - May God Bless and watch over all our military serving near and far and their families. <3
