enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

card collecting.

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Paul will be back from training in a week and a half. We will then have about a week together before he deploys. At this point, we are expecting him to be over in Afghanistan until about mid-February.

It's very unpredictable but we are looking at around 28 weeks apart. The GMO (General Medical Officer) who is over there now (that Paul will be replacing) is quick to respond to emails which is great news. Hopefully Paul will have just as much internet access and we'll be able to communicate often.

But either way, I have started to collect cards to send him while he's gone. I'm going for one a week. I will be shopping etsy* and making a few myself, but the ones above I picked up recently at Hallmark. Turns out Hallmark has a little military and deployment section (which is better in store than online) and I found some good ones there in addition to what was in the normal miss you/thinking of you sections.

I'll warn you though, after reading a few deployment cards, it's pretty difficult to hold back the tears.

*i am a fan of these so far / one, two, three, four.

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27 responses to “card collecting.”

  1. molly Avatar
    molly

    I sent the one with the plane on it to my husband when we were states away from one another back in May. Will be thinking of you & Paul during this next season.

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  2. Taylor Groneck Avatar
    Taylor Groneck

    Hugs to you, Elise

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  3. jennie Avatar
    jennie

    if you’re looking for lighter fare, and if paul likes hp too, you could go with these…http://www.etsy.com/listing/73910874/harry-potter-card-set-of-5

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  4. Kelly Cree Avatar
    Kelly Cree

    Based on where he is in Afgan, he can pick you up some really neat things during his deployment, wool/silk floor rugs, jewelry/gen stones, “stone”/marble dishes, wooden objects. My hubby brought home some wonderful things that I just LOVE using for decorating. It’s the BRIGHT side of deployments Hope that’s a little encouraging as the separation approaches.

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  5. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    I love the Etsy cards, Elise! Sending happy thoughts your way – I’ll be thinking of you both!

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  6. Jenn Avatar
    Jenn

    Oh, Elise. I’ll be thinking of you guys over the next couple of weeks. My husband was deployed for 18 months and we still have all the cards and letters we sent. It is a sweet reminder of that chapter of our story. Though it was the hardest, it was also the best thing to happen to us – – it makes you appreciate the time you do have together. Hang in there…

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  7. Laura M Avatar
    Laura M

    i actually bought a card from tabletopmade (link 3) the other day!
    i also love this woman’s handwriting and bought a “you are my sunshine” card from her the other week
    http://www.etsy.com/listing/77544202/youre-my-very-favorite-greeting-card-in
    also when he gets home you should take a few of your favorite cards and frame them around your apartment : )

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  8. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    those are so cute!! thanks for the link!

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  9. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    so pretty! and love the frame idea!

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  10. moxiemandie Avatar
    moxiemandie

    what a sweet idea!!

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  11. Armalite Avatar
    Armalite

    I also collect Love cards (though nothing related to the military) to send my partner on the one week a month that we’re apart. Living in Europe, I have access to some very pretty ones that you probably won’t find in the US. If you ever want me to send you some, I’d be delighted to do it. Just drop me a mail. I think the one card a week is a great idea to keep in touch Paul while he’s away.

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  12. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    When my husband was deployed last year I had planned on sending one a week also. I collected cards and cute stamps, and (as much as I didn’t believe it when I others said it) writing an old school letter daily really helped. He was lucky with good internet, and we skyped nearly every day, so most of my letters were literally short notes, but just the act was helpful. He and the mail clerk became friends. lol. And seeing his collection when he got home made us both smile.

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  13. Skye Avatar
    Skye

    It’s so sweet that you’re already collecting cards so they’ll be ready to send to him! What a treasure you’ll have to look back on once he comes home again.

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  14. tara pakosta Avatar
    tara pakosta

    that’s so sad, I am so sorry you two have to be apart for so long, but thankful for people like him!
    so sweet to send him cards, I am sure that makes the distance not seem so far away for him!
    hugs to you!
    tara

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  15. serendipitychild Avatar
    serendipitychild

    Oh my, those military cards really do put a lump in my throat!
    I really hope the time passes quickly for you both.

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  16. Megan Avatar
    Megan

    A little different situation, but in our first year of marriage I left for four months to take a work assignment in Europe. In fact, my husband and I were apart for our first anniversary.
    We exchanged many cards and packages while I was away. I kept all of them and they are so precious to me.
    Time apart is hard, but it seems like you are taking steps to make the best of it…

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  17. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    so fun! thank you!

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  18. LMT Avatar
    LMT

    what a sweet sentiment this will be for the rest of your lives. Talk about good stuff to leave your children… My favorite is the alphabet one, just perfect!

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  19. Jenn Avatar
    Jenn

    I collected cards to send to my boyfriend when I was deployed! This is my favorite etsy shop for cute, sweet, and sometimes totally funny cards. I also send a lot even when we are both in the states since we currently live 8 hours apart. This is one always cracks me up http://www.etsy.com/listing/59196372/even-your-farts-are-cute-note-card

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  20. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    such a cute shop! Thanks Jenn!

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  21. sarah Avatar
    sarah

    my cousin is currently in afghanistan… two totally different situations (he’s in the army/infantry) but he gets quite a bit of computer time. he joined facebook right after bootcamp/shortly before deploying and it’s so refreshing to see him post every few days. even with the 12 1/2 hour (i think) time difference he’s able to instant message with his mom on occasion. i hope paul is able to do the same!
    i’ll be keeping you both in my prayers elise.

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  22. Jaime Martinez Avatar
    Jaime Martinez

    When I did study abroad for a year in university, a good friend sent me with a stack of cards with opening instructions on the envelopes. Open on the plane. Open on your first day of classes. Open after you meet a cute boy (ok, I made that one up!). I know that there are tons of differences between study abroad and deployment, but knowing that I had all those friendly words waiting for me at pre-designated times was a monstrous help in times of homesickness. Cards mean something. They will mean something to Paul while he is away, and they will mean something to both of you and your family when he brings them all back home.
    xoxoxo
    Jaime Evans

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  23. hulio Avatar
    hulio

    thanks

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  24. Shanon Gibson Avatar
    Shanon Gibson

    I try to send my husband cards once a week while he is deployed, too. My hunny leaves next week for 6 months (I hope it isn’t longer) to Iraq. Since we are stationed overseas I don’t get to go to Hallmark so I have to make my own (the selection at our super small Px is sad, sad, sad). I don’t mind though and I know that my husband likes to receive mail. It kinda makes him feel important 😉 I like to make cards though and now that our girls are older (4 and 3) they can make their daddy some cards, too.
    Deployments stink but keeping in touch is easier now than it was 10 years ago. Skype is awesome and free so we are able to talk nearly every day. I hope the time goes by as fast as it possibly can for you and Paul.

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  25. jlyn p. Avatar
    jlyn p.

    Elise, GOOD LUCK with the deployment–they actually are just as bad as you choose to make them. Our relationship is SO MUCH STRONGER because of it–& the reunions are pretty much bliss.
    As an FYI: favorite items sent over the course of a year:
    1) CAKE BALLS. biggest! hit! ever!
    2) letters from OTHER people. for christmas, i made an advent calendar. i sent a long ribbon & safety pins attached to fabric envelopes. inside each (#1-25) was a note from someone other than me (his mom, dad, brother, friends, etc) & a photo of him with them. it gave him something christmas-y to decorate his room with AND gave him photos of HOME to hang up.
    3) did i mention CAKE BALLS?
    4) photos of YOU. as weird as it was sending photos of myself, they really do miss YOU the most. don’t be embarassed about it 🙂
    You’ll be a champ through it all. And you’ll come out stronger in the end because of it. Find refuge in your family & friends…& get your creative juices flowing–night time is the best for productivity!

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  26. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    thank you for this. CAKE BALLS seem to be a winner. 🙂

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  27. Koko Avatar
    Koko

    These are SO cute. I try and send Q a hand written letter/card a week. The cards are great to stick photos in so they don’t bend in the mail. Try and send a cute pic of you a week, so that Paul can see them and smile 🙂

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