8.03.2010

What Happened Now?

I want you all to make sure you show your love for the fabulous L.C. from Faith & Deployments. When she told me what she chose to write about I laughed. You'll see why. She's a saint and a trooper!



"My husband tells me that on a daily basis it seems ever since I dropped him off in a parking lot to get on a bus to start Deployment 3. Every day it feels as though I have something else to report on the house falling apart, something breaking, or just traumatic experiences. So I have a tiny theory on why everything and I mean, everything goes wrong on deployment…..Elves…. Those ones that take your matching socks that went in to the wash, but never come out of the wash…. You know exactly what I mean. So I think the Elves wait for our most vulnerable moments before springing to attack!

No in all seriousness (though I like my theory of the elves), I think it is just God making things happen to make us stronger. After all how would we learn how to fix a broken bed frame, deal with collapsed duct work, fight with USAA and HMS homeowner’s warranty not once, twice, but THREE  times over paying for the duct work, learn how to set-up a power washer with no manual and then power wash the house, call the Orkin man out and ask him a billion questions about crawl spaces, talk to three different AC guys over how AC even works in the first place, jump start a car, try to move your husband’s stick shift and not realizing cars don’t move with emergency brakes on, having a Nor ‘Easter flood out every possible road that you could escape from and wondering how you will live without an emergency kit your husband wouldn’t let you buy because “Nothing has happened in the 4 years we have lived here”, getting POA after he has left because he forgot to tell USAA you were married…. my personal list goes ON and ON of things that go wrong on deployment. But they have all helped me realize that I don’t need my big strong Airman to come to the rescue when things go wrong. Though in all honesty when he is home I will play up the damsel in distress card every chance I get. He does after all, need to feel like the “man of the house”.

As military wives we are expected to stay strong and keep up the homefront right? Yes, the answer is yes, I know all of you are probably thinking you wish it wasn’t like that all the time, but the good thing is there is support.

For example, through my spouses group, I actually met a pretty amazing key spouse (not for my squadron) who has been a life saver. Literally, she came over to kill the world’s biggest spider (not exaggerating) while I was hyperventilating on the porch. She has weed wacked my yard because neither the First Shirt, Key Spouse, or Project Green have returned my calls, helped, or in fact actually stood me up when they finally did call. So if I didn’t have this one lady, I think I would have sold the house and lived out of my car (no not really, but man did I feel like it).

So while I am sure we all have the “it only happens when he deploys” stories, I want everyone, who has ever made it through a deployment and managed to hold your house together no matter how close it came to falling in to give yourselves a HUGE round of applause. Because it really does make a special, strong person to handle everything in your home and marriage by yourself with no pick me up, no right arm, no way out. You just deal and in the end it makes us stronger."

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I totally second the little elves! Three light bulbs in the house blew out (one I have to call DPW to fix because it is on the mini landing in the middle of the stairs and it's a "high ceiling"), I have to find a way to kill these "ear wigs" things that I've never seen before in my life that are absolutely disgusting (germany doesn't sell pesticides), I'm trying to teach my son how to potty on the toilet... well a woman teaching a boy doesn't do much good LOL

Laina said...

this is SOO true! That's a great way of looking at it though :)

Jen said...

When my hubs was at Basic and AIT I had 2 computers break down on me (permanently--there was no fixing them!), our dishwasher, and our dryer...It was terrible!!! So I definetly know the feeling!

Skinnie Piggie said...

I agree, it always happens when they are gone! Besides my toilet issue... I've been snowed in with nothing but a dustpan to dig myself out with! That was an interesting weekend to say the least!

Thanks for writing! Keep your head up and your prays streaming. =)

Jessica Lynn said...

Nice post. And coincidentally, I'm guest blogging over at ACU's, Stiletto Shoes, and Pretty Pink Tutus (http://welovelucymichaela.blogspot.com) this weekend on the exact same topic.

Great minds think alike :)

Alia said...

so cute and sooo true!

Roller Coaster said...

Amen! I'm right there with you about Murphy's Law and all the crap that happens when husbands are gone. I never in a million years think I'd enjoy using a power drill, but boy is it fun! And mowing the lawn. I actually enjoy it! But I'll never tell my husband that. Once he gets home, I'll gladly hand over all yard work back to him. Great post!!!

Jenna said...

Love the Elves! I think you hit the nail on the head with that one ;) It is true that everything seems to fall apart and happen all at once after they leave.

Thanks LC for a wonderful post! I think you just inspired my next blog topic! :)

Brittney said...

True story, it never fails that things go wrong when the hubby leaves!

JG said...

Amen! Great post :)

Anonymous said...

Such a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing!

Mrs. Ma'am said...

This was a very good post, and very true!

Amber said...

I don't know how all you amazing military wives do it. There are so many things that I depend on my husband to complete around the house and I would be a mess if I had to do it all while he was deployed. You are truly inspirational!

Monica said...

OMG, this is what I have to look forward to??? Great... lol. I applaud all of you for all that you do and for what you and your men go through for our country. My husband will be signing papers next month after he loses his 10 lbs to be able to join, and then he will be off to basic training. God bless all of you for all that you do! Especially you rachelle, you are amazing. Maybe someday we will be stationed near each other, that would be fun. Tell mr. s hi for me! Love ya girly!