It's Coming

So.....we 'just know' that the Big D (deployment, of course!) is coming. We don't have orders or even an alert yet - but we know it's coming. We've been through it before and we'll go through it again. This time is going to be SO different from the last one too. This will be DH's 3rd deployment - but our 2nd together. The last time he deployed, we were engaged - now we're married. His kids are both teenagers now. We own a house, have 2 puppies, and I've graduated from college and working full time now. Things are SO different. I know it's not going to be easier, but that it'll be different. I also know what I'll be doing differently this time.

First - I will take more time for me. I mean that I'm not going to let myself wallow as much. I won't complain as much. I will exercise and take care of ME. My step-kiddos don't live with us, so it'll be me and our doggies. They both need LOTS of exercise, which means I'll get lots of exercise. I plan to be even hotter than I am when my husband gets back. ;)

Second - I will save our money and not spend as much. Last time DH deployed, I did A LOT of retail therapy....... WAY TOO MUCH as a matter of fact. I put us in debt instead of getting us out. I would drink a few glasses of wine and then shop on the internet. I don't suggest this for anyone else.

Third - I won't complain to my DH as much, but rather keep encouraging him instead. Last time he deployed, I would get angry and write him lengthy emails where all I did was complain. I can't do that to him this time. I know that he doesn't need that distraction.

Fourth - I will gather my own support group of some kind with other Army wives. Last time, I surrounded myself with 1 other army wife. That didn't work out so well. This time, I have more army wife friends. I also have AWN! Woo Hoo! I did find AWN/AWTR towards the mid-end of the last deployment. It came at just the right time, because I was about to go insane.

These are just my lessons from the last deployment that I will take with me into our next one.