enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

well, hey there.

Paul
When Paul left, we figured we would be able to video chat often. But when he got there, the internet connection wasn't strong enough to support it. This morning, for some reason, it worked and we were finally able to see each other. Had I known it was coming, I might have done something about my bed head and changed out of my nightgown. But I didn't, and it was still good. There were lots of happy tears and smiles. AND OH MAN, is video so much better than the phone. Hoping for many more of these the next few months.

(And anticipating a technical question – we use gmail video chat.)

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26 responses to “well, hey there.”

  1. Stephanie Howell Avatar
    Stephanie Howell

    That’s awesome Elise!!! We have never gotten to do any sort of video chat in our deployments but I am holding out hope bc it looks like it would be heaven. Thrilled for you!!

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  2. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Ill be hoping for you too. It was very cool. If I got that emotional with a computer screen Im probably going to drown in tears when we actually reconnect. 😉

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  3. Tequila b Avatar
    Tequila b

    Happy you guys got to chat, Me and my Hubby were in the Navy so it was twice as hard, as im sailing the Med and hes in Iraq, trying to communicate with on board Satellite phones was a nightmare, putting your name on a list for one phone and trying to remember that time you booked and not sleep through it when your exhausted. Oh not to mention the times where they block emails in and out for weeks at a time, so enjoy the time you get, i know you do!

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  4. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    I am smiling so big right now! So happy for you!

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  5. Kelly Jean Avatar
    Kelly Jean

    Aw how sweet. So nice to hear!

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  6. Kate Ware Avatar
    Kate Ware

    YAY! So happy for you! 🙂

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  7. Martha Avatar
    Martha

    My boyfriend spends every weekend in the summer on the road – even though it’s only a few days, I always love it when we have a minute to call each other. So glad you guys got to see each other!

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  8. vero Avatar
    vero

    so happy to read this post!! smiling ear to ear for you both! xxo

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  9. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    Is he a marine? and in Afghanistan by any chance? My boyfriend just left on Wednesday to go there. 😦 But I’m ecstatic that I just found your blog, I’m enjoying every bit of it!

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  10. Jess Avatar
    Jess

    YAY! That is awesome! Fingers crossed you get many more chances to do video chat!

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  11. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    He is actually navy but staying with the marines with the Seabees. And yep, afghanistan. So sorry your boyfriend had to deploy too.

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  12. Krystal Avatar
    Krystal

    yay 🙂

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  13. Sandy Avatar
    Sandy

    So happy for you and Paul. This would seem to make people a little closer. I hope they can figure it out for everyone. I hope he’s doing well and you are too with him being gone. Pray for you both often.

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  14. Lisa Avatar
    Lisa

    YAY for technology 😀

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  15. Gemma Avatar
    Gemma

    So happy for you! Video chat is awesome, my Dad works in the Middle East and my Mum Skypes him everyday…makes such a difference!

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  16. Brianna Avatar
    Brianna

    So happy you and Paul got to video chat. Here’s to a lot more of that and a rapid deployment.

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  17. Libbi M. Avatar
    Libbi M.

    horray for technology! i hope you get busy cooking up lots of creative goodness with pictures you took while on vacation. you always do a fantastic job.

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  18. Mo Avatar
    Mo

    Yay! I’m so happy you got to have a video chat with your hubby! It makes all the difference in the world when you get to see your love one’s face instead of instant message chats. I hope you’re able to do another video chat soon.

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  19. Brianne Avatar
    Brianne

    Oh this made me so happy!
    When my good friend was teaching in the Middle East we tried gmail video as well, and the connection was never good enough. We found skype worked much better – but she needed to download it before she left because she couldn’t download it from where she was. Have you tried skype? Or any other video chats – might work better with a bad internet connection?
    That would mean more face-to-face chats with him!

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  20. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    The guy who he traded jobs with over there had a hard time with skype, so we havent tried it. I have heard good things about iPhone facetime though – so we are waiting to upgrade to iPhone5s! 🙂

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  21. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    I am so glad you got to connect, it is an amazing feeling when you “see” them in real time after being apart, isn’t it??? Just spent a frustrating hour this afternoon trying to get skype set up with my H (in Afghanistan as well)…the blurry 5 minutes we finally got was heaven, especially for our 3 kids! Hang in there, you seem to be doing very well so far. There are alot of emotional ups and downs with deployments, you seem up for the roller coaster!

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  22. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    p.s., I’m thinking he loved seeing you in your nightgown and was glad you hadn’t gotten dressed, Ha!

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  23. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    😉 so glad you got to see your husband too.

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  24. kristen Avatar
    kristen

    Yay! I’m so happy you guys were able to make it work – here’s hoping it happens a lot more! 🙂

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  25. Patty W Avatar
    Patty W

    Awwww your post and photo made me happy – I am so glad you and Paul finally got to see each other’s faces!!! And I agree with the other commenter that he probably loved seeing his beautiful wife with her bedhead and her nightgown 🙂
    My hubby has been overseas for several months and we use Skype but it doesn’t work well for us which is super frustrating – maybe I should try gmail video chat instead.
    Hope you and Paul are able to video-connect lots more times in the future!!!

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  26. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    Hey Elise,
    First off, love your blog. Second, been there done the deployment thing and really know what you’re going through. Love that you are still sending cards/letters even though you talk daily/email, etc. When hubby was in Somalia in 93 we had none of that so the cards/letters I sent him were his lifeline with home. He came home after his 6 month deployment with 286 cards/letters. Third, my daughter was visiting recently (her hubby had just left for deployment) and while they were here she Skyped everyday with her hubby. They didn’t seem to have any problem seeing each other daily. Just thought you might try Skype and see.

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