Deployment tips from Janna.

Today I have the lovely Janna sharing some wonderful tips about making it through a deployment.
Having three under our belts,  I couldn't agree with these more!

Take it away, Janna!

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Hello lovely readers of My Three Bittles! I'm Janna and I blog over at Faith, Love, and Hope which is a Christian lifestyle blog. I write about everything from my children to deployments to finding Jesus daily. Currently, we are in the midst of our third deployment. Along the way, I have picked up some tips on not only surviving but thriving during a deployment.

1. Leave the house the day after he leaves and do something. It can be anything, like going to the gas station to get some gummy bears or to the park to people watch. I've learned that it's better to surround yourself with people than mope around the house thinking you're all alone. 

2. Get busy! Sign up to help with the local blood drive or take some Influence Network classes. Set weekly lunch dates with some friends or get involved with your child's school. If all else fails, find out what your community is offering and jump in.

3. Be adventurous. Now is the perfect time to try new things. Ever wanted to start your own soap business or sell baked goods at the local farmer's market? Do it! Go explore your town and neighboring towns. Go sky diving or rappelling. Go on a road trip or go to a different country if you want. Point is, don't think you can't do anything because your loved one is deployed. He wouldn't want you to sit at home being depressed eating a pint of Ben & Jerry's in pj's you haven't changed out of in 4 days. No matter how small it is, be adventurous!

4. Find out who you are. What do you like? What are your goals or dreams? How do you like your eggs? Get some books if need be to help you out or talk to a close friend. Now is a great time to discover new things about yourself and really learn what makes you tick. 

5. Don't forget to live. During Dylan's first deployment, I was completely lost. I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing and I felt so guilty for being able to normal things that we take for granted...like sleeping in a comfortable bed and eating delicious food. I would email him every second of the day just so he wouldn't feel excluded and wait before making any decisions unless he approved it. In my defense though, I was 18 and was raising our 3 month old by myself. 

However, the second deployment was different. I made friends, got out more, and still included Dylan but not in an overwhelming-I'm-so-clingy-it-hurts way. I found out how strong I was when I stood up to a drug dealer and discovered a new passion when I decided to write a romance novel. I survived the storms of 2011 that ravaged Joplin as they swept through Tennessee and explored my town to the point where I didn't need my GPS.

Having a loved one deployed sucks, plain and simple but use this time apart to your advantage. Become the person you've always wanted to be. Whether your goal is to become independent or to take that first big step with the FRG or to enroll in college, don't be afraid to grow. It'll all be worth it when you are finally reunited with your spouse!