Preparing for Deployment

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I haven't wanted to think about it, much less prepare for it. But it's happening. Sometime in December (we think). The Deployment Ceremony, which is an official "goodbye" to the unit that normally happens a few weeks before the first plane, is toward the end of November. I got the email from his unit telling me that it was strongly advised that I attend workshops in preparation for deployment. One of the workshops will cover "Red Cross, Casualty Notification Process, and Operational Security." My stomach kind of dropped at that one. Casualty Notification Process. Of course, I need to know how that works, but it just makes the danger all the more real, when I think I've been conveniently trying to forget about that part.

We still haven't received the orders in our hands that he is leaving. Because he is still so new to the unit, I don't think they know exactly what they are going to do with him. But he's not gone yet, and so I refuse to let myself stress too much about it now. There will be plenty of time to stress after he is gone. And when that time comes, I will come up with some other excuse for why I shouldn't be stressing.

I heard on the radio a story of a woman that survived cancer. She said that chemo wasn't that hard, because she kept on telling people that Jesus was taking care of her. I mean seriously? Chemo wasn't hard? If Jesus can't make chemo not so bad, then I think He can take care of me and James during this deployment.

So for now, I'm just taking a deep breath and enjoying pumpkin spice marshmallows (yes, I know.. I just discovered them) in my chai tea latte. Jesus will take care of us.

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 18, 2011 at 11:58 AM

    Preparing for deployment, especially when you don't have anything concrete, is stressful! I didn't take any classes prior to my husband's deployment. (Perhaps it's because I don't live anywhere near his unit.) It sounds like you have the right outlook on things. Hang in there!*

    ReplyDelete
  2. AmyOctober 18, 2011 at 1:47 PM

    Thanks, Amy!

    ReplyDelete
  3. bejellyfishOctober 18, 2011 at 10:41 PM

    I lovelovelove those pumpkin spice shmellows. We used them for our smores and, nom tasty.

    I'm so happy that you can have faith in Jesus through this process! He will certainly help you through. Praise the Lord!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousOctober 18, 2011 at 11:05 PM

    Wow my husbands unit had no workshops like that when he deployed. He deployed January 2010 and we found out at Thanksgiving that he was leaving. It sucked - not having much time to prepare. The whole year sucked, to be honest. It's tough but you get through it by keeping busy and staying positive.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sarah GioveOctober 19, 2011 at 3:06 PM

    “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26).

    Check out this cool website: http://www.faithdeployed.com/

    I LOOOOOVE YOU :)

    ReplyDelete

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