Fridays

It's Friday again! You know what that means...it's my day off!

Apparently it's also special delivery day because for the second Friday in a row, I was awakened by a knock on the door. I thought it must be flowers again, knowing that my anniversary was coming up. When I looked through my peephole, however, I was surprised to find no one there. I opened the door to look down the hallway and discovered a small package on my doorstep. I opened it to find this:

...the first six seasons of One Tree Hill and a sweet card from my best friend, Sarah! She is so thoughtful--she even overnighted it to me so I wouldn't be bored at home this weekend. I am so grateful for our friendship and extremely excited to be the Matron of Honor in her wedding next May!

And now for a description of FRIENDS Friday (I told you I love pneumonics!)

Friends is, without a doubt, my favorite TV show of all time and despite his best efforts otherwise, Justin has come to love the show as well. Although I have shared with him the digital files for the entire series, I recognize that there often is not enough time to sit down and watch an entire episode. That said, there are SO many hilarious moments in Friends, several of which Justin and I quote and joke about frequently. I chose 30 of my favorite scenes and uploaded one for every Friday he is gone. Just a little comic relief to get him through the day! Here's today's clip:

Friday is also the day we read The Love Dare. Since I've already described this in a previous post, I'll hold off on a more detailed explanation. 

Fair winds and following seas!

Stephanie

Mondays

So yesterday I shared what Justin's Sundays would look like...or at least what surprises Justin could expect to find stored on his iPad on Sundays. I forgot to mention, though, that the theme for this month (what's left of it anyway) is JOY! I chose this fruit of the spirit to start deployment with because I thought it would be one of the times it was hardest for Justin to feel joyful. He just left, is still getting adjusted to this new lifestyle, and missing home. My hope is that by focusing on "joy" through sermons and scriptures that he will find it easier to tap into the joy and comfort that only the Lord can provide. 

Which leads me to Mondays...Mondays are memory verses. 
(I'm huge on pneumonics)

Here's today's verse:

"Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!" --Nehemiah 8:10

It's interesting how this project for Justin has turned into such a blessing for me as well. God has used the same verses and sermons that I selected for Justin as encouragement for me as well. I think that's why I've done so well the past 6 days. I have actually had a few really nice evenings! Last night I went to dinner and caught up with a sweet friend of mine, Arlene. Her husband, Jed, is on Justin's ship and they also used to live in our building. Arlene is not only a military spouse, she is also a naval officer! Don't be fooled though, it doesn't make separation any easier for them. They have each deployed once before and during almost the same period of time, so this a new experience for her too. Thankfully we share a love of food and cooking and plan to spend many more Sunday nights together during this deployment. I can't express how nice it is to have friends that understand and have "been there, done that." 

Jed & Arlene on deployment day

Fair winds and following seas!

Stephanie

A Brilliant Idea

I knew I wanted to do something special for Justin's deployment. I've always sent mounds of greeting cards with him during underways but I knew cards just weren't going to cut it this time around! I'm normally a very creative person, but this time I was just stuck. It was just so hard to think within the space constraints of berthing 6 (see "staterooms and seasickness" for explanation). It wasn't until I was driving my sweet friend Bethany back to the airport after she visited me in January that my plan began to take form. She planted this idea in my head that was just too good to dismiss.

"What about an iPad?" 

It was brilliant, really. So brilliant that I didn't know why I hadn't thought of it first. I wanted to share music and photos and letters but had such limited space. But this one tiny thing, this iPad, could hold all of that and more. Not to mention Justin had been drooling over them since they unveiled the first one. I made up my mind and went straight to the store from the airport and purchased a black 32G iPad. 

Me and B!

I instantly caught flack from several of my most tech-savvy friends. Why would I purchase one now when the second generation iPad was just around the corner? Good question. So I returned it. And waited. 

Meanwhile I fine-tuned my idea. After many more phone calls with Bethany, I settled on a theme for each of the seven months he would be gone, using the "fruits of the Spirit" as my guide. I also tossed in a creation of my own for good measure (and because I was lacking from doubling up on a few). Justin is a very responsible person but when it comes to being away, he has absolutely no self-control. He inevitably tears through everything the first few days he is gone. For example, during the last underway I sent his Valentine's present with him knowing he would be gone on the 14th. He opened it the second night he was gone, four weeks before Valentine's Day! While this may work for a four to five week underway, I knew it would not get him through an entire deployment. Working within the constraints of my theme, I planned something for EACH DAY he would be gone. Yes, it took a ridiculous amount of time. No, there is (almost) nothing I wouldn't do for my husband. He needed this.

A few weeks after returning the first iPad, they did indeed come out with a second generation. I'm glad I waited! Although I was number eight in line at the Navy Exchange, they were still out of the one I wanted (white 64G) so I settled for another black 32G. I loaded it up with everything and PASSWORD-PROTECTED much of the content to prevent him from ruining it the first day/week/month. I had the joy of sharing it with him last weekend as he prepared to leave. There could not have been a more rewarding feeling than the look of utter shock and delight on his face.  

My daily surprises start tomorrow. I'm so excited to finally let some of these secrets I've been harboring these last four months come to light! And to see the "fruits" of my labor. More details tomorrow.

Fair winds and following seas!

Stephanie