Category Archives: Military

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Helping your child through deployment.

I can already sense the difference. I’ve been told that each deployment brings with it new challenges and no two are the same. This time… I’m pretty sure… is going to be all about the children.

Daddy left for a month. And they fell apart. We entered the world of baby talk, bed wetting, and continuous tears (a world we exited along with diapers over 2 years ago). One night our middle daughter nearly hyperventilated just desiring a hug from dad.

Needless to say, I took a short hiatus from blogging. But I’m back. And for now I’m focusing on my kids.

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Does porn and chocolate really have anything in common?

Our secret indulgences hurt no one. The things we do late at night affect only our waist line and insomnia. Pornography and Chocolate really have nothing in common, or do they.

As an Army Wife I know the struggle of loneliness, the pain of separation. There are quick fixes to sooth these aches and I would like to suggest two: Pornography and Chocolate.

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Are You Happy?

As a military wife I have struggled with spouts of depression. The topic has come up a number of times lately, especially since the uniform switch. Some of the men headed out are in new uniforms and wives have told me that it brings with it spouts of anxiety attacks and just overwhelming sadness at what lies ahead. It is a hard life that we have been called to. But depression does not have to control us. Today’s post to The Esther Project is just a chance to evaluate where we are and how to move forward.

Today’s post was written by Deb and is taken from 5 Minutes for Faith with Deb’s permission of course.

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Is it possible to find passion?

Volunteering - Part 2

 

Training Volunteers (aka Vs) is an essential part of a successful organization, outreach, or project.

As an FRG leader I love that training is built in and required before picking up a phone and officially being a key caller or before being handed a checkbook as the treasurer. As the Ministry Director of our church I struggle with the best way to train our already exhausted when they walk in the door volunteers who sometimes want nothing more then to be a “butt in the chair.” I have to say I detest filling chairs with nothing but butts. I find it a waste of everyone’s time and energy.

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Starting fresh? Don’t do it my way.

I’m staring down at a blank pad of paper with this foreign object called a pen in my hand. The past 24 hours has taught me a few things.

  1. ALWAYS back up your hard drive
  2. A piece of paper and a pencil are sometimes the safest way to write
  3. A fresh start may be frightening but brings with it new opportunities
  4. When we are passionate and called to a specific task defeat is not an option
  5. And thank goodness for my techy husband

Today he was not half a world away!

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How to find joy in marriage during a year of separation.

The Esther Project is a personal journey I set out on during John’s first deployment. Rather then complain about my circumstances and the year apart I decided to follow the lead of Esther and prepare my heart and my home “for such a time as this.” It became my goal to take a year and prepare for my husbands return, just as Esther prepared for her King Xerxes.

I drew inspiration from other military wives: present day, historical, and those recorded in the Bible. From their stories I learned how to prepare my heart and home for John’s return and struggled with the challenges of reintegration and redeployment.

As I edit and reevaluate my writings during this time I will be sharing them here, under The Esther Project. It is my desire and hope that together you and I can be battle buddies in our upcoming seasons of loneliness.

With much love,

Hope

*Even if your hubby isn’t a soldier, don’t think you can’t join us. All of us experience times of separation whether it is emotional or physical, whether it is due to employment or health.

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A little about me, a confession and a pledge to do better

As a working mom in part-time ministry (with full time hours), a military wife (who is learning some crazy flexibility), and a mom of a cancer survivor (which requires being on the road often for follow up doctor visits three states away); scheduling our home life can be challenging.

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Are You Choosing Hope?

In some of my worst nightmares, I am alone. Fear of living consumes me and I become a fat old hermit who swats at dreams like flies. Instead of reaching for my goals the worst of nightmares becomes remaining, staying. I become nothing more than who I am today.

In some of my best dreams there are ten of me. I climb the stairs to my flat in Italy where my three green-eyed children and my Doctor wait. I study, I sleep, I start dreams. In the summer we travel. Safari through the Garden of Eden—Kenya, tour castles throughout Europe, snorkel off Australia, trace ancestors in Ireland, Eskimo kiss in Alaska, dream of America in Boston… I will write, travel and never stop studying. In my best dreams I never stop evolving in to the vision of me.

I wrote that little bit, which has haunted me daily, nearly 10 years ago. Dreaming is not my only nemesis. I am a planner. When I dream I plan. Minute details plague the path from point A to point B and on and on to point Z. I am nothing like the person who wrote that little bit 10 years ago. My life has not turned out to be the dream I dreamed then. It is richer, more involved, and gritty.