an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.
Paul left three months ago today. I wouldn't say it gets easier, but you do settle into the habit of being apart. Right now, the luxury of having him near seems … well, like a luxury. It's something I can't really imagine.
I think we are almost halfway through. And while I still can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, I can at least see the tunnel. That feels like great progress.
Miss you babe.
*photo by our friend Conor from 2009.
Hey Elise, I just wanted to let you know that reading your posts about Paul reminds me so much of when my husband was gone. Everything you write sounds exactly like something I would have said or felt. Especially the post about not feeling like a “military wife”.
Our situations even sound quit similar. We were married shortly before he deployed (8 months) for a year long tour to Iraq. He does have one child from a previous marriage that lives with us but we did not have any of our own. When my husband left, his son finished out the school year with me, then went to live with his mom. I was by myself for eight months. During that time I did a lot of the same stuff it sounds like your doing. Surrounded myself with friends and family. Set a lot of goals to keep myself busy and to try to keep from wallowing in the fact that I missed him so much. I also exercised alot! No marathons, but I’ll say I’ve never ran so much in my life. I think that’s mostly cause I knew it released happy endorphins 🙂
Most of the time I managed to stay positive, but on those really bad days I allowed myself to stay in bed a little a longer. I’d tell myself “okay, you have the next hour to just be ticked off, frustrated, sad, or whatever you need feel at this moment. After that you have to get up, take a shower, and do something productive. Cause even though it’s time without my husband, it’s still precious time that shouldn’t be wasted.” On those bad days I just tried to remind myself that this was probably the only opportunity that I would have to do what ever “I” wanted. Like cook meals I knew he wouldn’t like, and watch chic flics 😉
Now that he has been back for almost two years I kinda forget what it was like when he was gone until I read one of your posts, and then, it feels like it was only yesterday. I just wanted to let you know I enjoy your posts and they remind me to never take my husband for granted 😉 I hope the rest of his deployment flies by and you guys have a really great homecoming!
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goosebumps.
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I’m rooting for you tunnel to get shorter and shorter.
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hugs. you’re stonger than you think you are.
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Tunnel approaching! From there you’ll see the light!
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you are sweet to share this. thank you.
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Hugs and thinking of you. Hurry home safely, Paul.
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You are on the downhill slide. The light will be here before you know it. Hugs to you!
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Hang in there 🙂 Distance can be debilitating, but it sets us up for being able to conquer other hard things in life.
hugs!
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Oh, I just hope the days fly faster and faster as each goes by!
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hugs! You are strong, Elise!
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3 mths. went by really fast. I hope it continues to go by fast for you both and he’s home quick. Thinking about you both.
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So glad to hear this. Xo
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That’s a really nice photo. The time seems to have gone so fast…not for you of course! You’ll see the light so no doubt 😀
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I really feel for you. my boy has to spend a lot of time in india with work {he just got back from a month stint} but 6 months is a stretch. You are really strong to be doing so well with it.
Thank god for skype hey!
xx
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Hiya! I am new to your blog, finding my way here from the Minimalist Knitter I believe. I love your blog so far by the way. I also understand how hard deployments can be. I am engaged to an Army ATC and am in the Army myself (double whammy here). He was deployed in Feb of 2011 and just got home last week. Toughest part is… I deployed to Afghanistan almost three months ago, before he got home. I will be gone until September of next year. Thats a long time apart right? And trying to plan a wedding at the same time. It really sucks doesn’t it? I love your positivity though, and trying to thrive while you two are apart. I really admire that.
❤ Jenn
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enJOY it 
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