I wrote a couple of posts last week but I posted them over at my personal blog because I worried that they were kind of sad and well, if a reader was going through a deployment they wouldn't want to read it but I've been thinking and maybe I should have posted it here... so, if you'd like, you can read them here.

News and the kids...

I remember when my husband was on his first deployment.  He left 4 months before the war in Iraq started.  I couldn't turn off the news.  I slept with it going in my bedroom and I kept it on the living room except when the kids were up and watching it.  My oldest was in the 3rd grade.  In retrospect I probably shouldn't have kept it on like that.

The next 2 deployments, I steadily decreased the amount of the news time that the kids could see.  My son did catch it sometimes and if they mentioned which ever country my husband was in at the time (Iraq or Afghanistan) he would run for the map his daddy had got for us and would look to find where the "action" was they were talking about and see how close it was to where he knew his daddy was.  To be honest, this was actually a really good thing for us.  It helped to keep my son's worry at bay when it wasn't near his daddy and as we had just started homeschooling it often worked into our schooling with history and geography. So how do you deal with news and kids?  Do you shelter them?  Do you let them know little bits and talk with them?  What do you do?

With all that has been going in Afghanistan lately it has me thinking on the families of those in harms way.  Our military families have been heavy on my heart and in my prayers.  Please remember to keep them all, soldiers and families in your prayers. 

Leaving...

After my husband's last deployment we moved to Ft. Leavenworth where my husband's job has him traveling a lot.  It's not for long periods of time, thankfully, but it's usually for couple of weeks or so.

When we first got here he traveled ALL the time!  I hated it because I felt like he had just got home!  I eventually got used to taking him to the airport all the time.  It became kind of second nature and though I was always sad to see him leave, the tears just didn't really flow much anymore.

Recently, his travels have slowed a great deal, but this morning, I took him to the airport dark and early for his first trip of this new year and I have to tell you. As I pulled away from the airport the tears flowed.  I was kind of surprised by it.  It had been several months since his last trip and so I was no longer "used" to it.  The tears came and the memories came flooding back to all the times we've said goodbye for deployments and I was, AM grateful that this is a very short trip compared to his last major deployment.

The tears only lasted a few moments and then I turned up the radio and sang a long but today, I am thinking of all you out there whose husbands are far, far away for a lot longer than mine and are in harms way.  I think of you most everyday but today it's even more.  

Thank you to all the military families out there, especially those with a loved one in harms way and those who have lost loved ones.  You are AWESOME and I appreciate you.  Bless you and your families and please if you need anything, ask for help.  There are people out there just waiting for you ask them.  THANK YOU!

Catching up.

Happy Sunday my dear friends!  Did you get a chance to listen to the interview?  It was so much fun!  If you have a few minutes, I'd love to hear what you think!  You can listen in the post below or here. 

Did you make it through Valentine's Day?  What did you do?  Was your family together or are going through a deployment?

My darling husband is home with now and we so had a wonderful homemade dinner of Chicken Parmesan with Fettuccine Alfredo.  Yum!  It's my husband's favorite dinner.  The kids and I actually had this one Valentine's day when my husband was deployed too.  My kids love it and enjoying helping with the meal.


So what did your family do?  I'd love to hear!   

So much fun!

Oh my goodness, I had so much fun last night.  I just have to thank Wendy over at My Military Life again for having me on her Blog Talk Radio Show last night.  I really enjoyed visiting with her.  If you missed it last night you listen here.

Listen to internet radio with Navy Wife Radio on Blog Talk Radio

The whole  show was really neat.  Here is what the website says about it.

"All NEW Season of MLR! Valentine's Day Deployment Style! This special show features children's book author Sherri Williams. We are also breaking the news on our NYC trip and how you can come along! Plus, we have lots to catch up on, so grab that cup of tea or coffee and your chocolates and catch the conversation! Laugh, Learn, Relate!"

The NYC trip sound awesome! It's a really great show.  My interview is about 34 minutes into the show.  Check it out when you have time.  If you ever need something to do on Tuesday evenings at 9:30 eastern, go listen to Wendy's show.  It was a lot of fun last night.  

Internet Radio Show!

I am so excited!  I am being interviewed tonight at 9:30 pm eastern time about my book, "My Daddy is in the Army."  You can listen in at this link.  If you can't make it tonight you can listen to a recording of the show later at the same link.  I hope you'll tune in!

Tips for staying close

Deployments are hard on our kids but it is so very hard on our marriages as well.  Staying close is such a struggle.  I wrote my husband love letters and sent romantic cards several times a week.  I would dress up, put on my make up and fix my hair and put on my best smile and have my son take a photo to send to my husband. If you've read here before you know that we often sent fun care packages too.  (Check out my book in the side bar for more care package ideas.)

I was just reading another blog and they have posted some wonderful tips for staying close.  Take a few minutes to read this post.  You'll be glad you did!