Deployment Projects

Deployment projects are a fantastic way to keep busy during your loved one's deployment.  I always like to have a project that I'm excited about.  Projects help pass the time, but they can also give you a fun, original keepsake when they're done.  

I haven't completed nearly as many projects as I'd like this year, but I am excited about the few I have worked on.  So here they are:

1. SCRAPBOOK

My scrapbook has been the hardest and most time-consuming project of this deployment.  I had close to no experience with scrapbooking prior to this deployment, but decided I would make a scrapbook documenting my entire relationship with J.  I watched youtube videos on scrapbooking techniques and spent a lot of time reading advice pages and watching tutorial videos on scrapbook.com.  I then proceeded to do exactly what all the blogs told me not to do - create an enormous scrapbook of every picture, card, letter, etc. of our entire relationship.  It was a lot of work, but it was fun.  I went to different craft stores looking for supplies.  I ordered prints of all my pictures.  I looked through my drawers for cards and notes I'd saved.  I loved that the project gave me opportunities to remember all the great times J and I have had together.  Putting together the scrapbook was a fun way to walk down memory lane.  

The finished scrapbook is a wonderful keepsake that I am so excited to have.  I can't say it's perfect -  I'm really more of an idea person - but it's fun, it's original, and it's ours.

Here's a picture of the scrapbook all put together:

  

2. DEPLOYMENT COUNTDOWN

Another project I worked on this year is a deployment countdown.

I took two sticks I found at the craft store and wrapped them in army duck tape.  I then added a hanger with braided yarn.  I sewed felt over the sticks and cut the words and numbers out of felt.  I sewed three beads on the top for the numbers to hang off of, and I cut small slits in the blue numbers so they can hang on the beads.  

There are lots of other examples of good countdowns that I have seen on Pinterest.  There are ones with blocks that you rotate every day and I have also seen ones with chalkboards.  If you decide to make a countdown, look around at all the ideas.  Once the countdown is done, it gives you something to look forward to every day.  First thing every morning I get up and change my countdown.  

3. BLOG

This blog is my next fun deployment project.  It's hard to talk about a deployment in normal conversations.  People generally ask what's new or how your day is going - essentially, conversation focuses on changes and time.  Deployment is this weird universe outside of time where there are no changes.  I have nothing new to ever report.  However, I have a lot of thoughts, ideas, and emotions surrounding the deployment.  I think those thoughts almost fit better into a blog than into conversation.

If you're looking for a way to express yourself or your views on deployment, find something that works for you.  Painting, drawing, singing, poetry, blogging, etc. could all be creative outlets.  Find what you love.

Decide for yourself whether you would like to share your thoughts or keep them private.  I have decided to share my blog publicly for two reasons.  First, there are many people in my life who have been so supportive of me this year and I know they want to continue supporting me and understand what the deployment is like.  I want to be able to share with them.  Second, I have found a great deal of comfort in deployment blogs online and blogs have given me ideas for care packages and projects to get through this deployment.  I hope to be a similar encouragement to others.  Deployments often make you feel isolated and alone.  Sharing your thoughts can give you a sense of community.

A note on privacy -  If you do share your thoughts, however, remember privacy and confidentiality.  We're not supposed to put dates a loved one is traveling or exact locations online.  You might have other confidentiality concerns as well.  Tailor your project as necessary to meet those concerns.

4. ORGANIZE

Organizing something...anything...is always a great project.  I've done two big organizational projects this year.  

First, I went through and catalogued all my cookie cutters.  I have A LOT of cookie cutters.  I love making cookies and I love finding a new, unique cutter to add to my collection.  I went through and wrote down each cookie cutter and then organized them my subject.  This was a lot of fun, and it also allowed me to realize I really "needed" more Christmas cookie cutters.  I went and bought some when I was done, another fun project.

Second, I went through all my clothes.  I got rid of the clothes I never wore and organized the rest.  I divided my closet and grouped my clothes by category.  

5. JOURNAL

I planned to write letters to J during this deployment in a journal and then give it to him when he got home.  As with every attempt I have ever made to keep a journal, however, this plan has failed miserably.  I have a few entries here and there, but I have hardly written in it at all.

Still, I think the idea itself is a great one if you can stick with it!  Set aside a time once a day, once a week, or whatever works for you.  Take the time to either write an entry as a letter to your loved one or just as a normal journal entry.  It would be a great keepsake documenting your experiences during the deployment and allowing your loved one to share your memories with you.

6. TO DO LIST

I've been writing a to do list of fun activities for when J gets home.  The items range from movies I want to see with him, to trips I want to take, activities I want to do, and festivals I want to attend.  I'd like to broaden this by researching trips and having things ready for a few weekend getaways.  Hopefully I will get started on that soon!

That's all the projects I have worked on so far.  I hope these ideas help you brainstorm your own fun projects to get you through your loved one's deployment!

Deployment Care Packages

Care packages are one of the best ways to make it through a deployment.  They're of course great for your loved one, but they are also fun for you, the person putting them together.  I always enjoy having a fun project to work on, and often spend two or three weeks collecting items, brainstorming, and putting together a good care package.  I find that assembling a care package is a great way for me to pass the time, work on something I'm excited about, and be creative.  With a deployment, I need to have something in the near future to look forward to.  Once a care package is in the mail, I get excited every day waiting for it to arrive.  I can't wait for that excited phone call or email from J letting me know he received my latest package.  I love how happy the care packages make J, and I know my care packages make the deployment a little bit better.  

So with all that in mind, the issue becomes, what to put in a care package?  I must say, 10.5 months into this deployment, and I am running out of ideas.  I've been wracking my brain for weeks and finally just thought of a good one.   I will keep that idea a secret for now (I would hate for J to hear about it before I send it), but here are some of my past care-package ideas:

1. TREATS

I sent treats a couple of times.  I love making cookies, and J loves rice krispies treats, so I have sent both of those.  I've sent his favorite candies and beef jerky as well.  Whatever your loved one particularly enjoys will certainly be appreciated.  Here is a picture of the latest cookies I sent:

J is a pilot so they are helicopter USA cookies for the Fourth of July.

2. STUFFED ANIMAL

I sent a stuffed animal I found at a dollar store.  I sent J a card naming the stuffed animal.  I expected J to throw him away, but he has kept him and even took him on a flight once.  It was just something fun.  I gave the stuffed animal a hug before I sent him over.  It made me feel like I was sending J a hug.

3. REAONS I LOVE YOU

For Valentine's Day I sent a book of all the things I love about J.  It's been a great deployment present.  I bought a small, light-weight journal.  I cut out hearts from fun paper and wrote page numbers on each heart and glued one on each page.  Then on every page I wrote down another thing I love about J.  J is still reading the book.  He reads a couple things every few days.  I love the gift because he tells me every time he reads a page.  It gives us something fun to talk about and I know we both look forward to him reading another page.  It's a fun gift to last throughout the deployment.  

4. EASTER EGG HUNT

For Easter I sent a deployment Easter egg hunt.  Here's a picture of the pieces:

I put a clue in each of the eggs, along with a lot of jelly beans.  The clues then created a word.  In one of the eggs I had a code where each letter of the alphabet equaled a number.  (a=2, b=3, etc).  The number then opened the padlock on the "treasure chest" I created.  In the treasure chest I had treats, fake pirate gold, pictures from home, some pewter x's and o's I found on Amazon, and some coupons for silly things when he gets home, like, "I'll watch an episode of The Walking Dead with you."  J likes to open gifts very slowly and savor them, so he opened about one egg a day, which drove me nuts.  It was a fun gift though.  My clues weren't nearly hard enough and he guessed the code right away, but it was still a fun way to send some holiday celebrations overseas.

5. BOOK

For our anniversary I sent him a book I wrote and published with Bookemon online.  It's a fiction story of an adventure we took together.  This has been another fun gift in that J reads a chapter every week or so.  I had two copies of the book printed and sent one copy to him and kept one copy at home. When he reads a chapter, I reread it from my book, and I feel like we're reading the book together.  It's another fun thing to talk about and I always look forward to him reading another chapter.  

6. STACK OF LETTERS

I found an idea on Pinterest, which I loved.  I sent a stack of cards and on each envelope I wrote "Open when" ... then added something like "you're having a bad day," "you're missing me," etc.  You won't always know when you're loved one is having a bad day and really needs some love from home, so this is a nice way to make sure something is on hand if they need it.  

7. RANDOM FUN ITEMS

I'm always looking for little things to add to care packages, though some of my ideas have been better than others.  I bought some packets of Kool Aid, etc., to add to water bottles, which I think he liked.  I found a random balloon animal making kit for about $2, so I sent it over, figuring it could be fun.  I sent some water balloons, but he told me his base doesn't have faucets so he can't fill them.  I would have never thought about THAT.  I've also sent deodorant, upon request, and a sudoku book.  Online blogs are full of good ideas on what to add to care packages.  I'm sure your loved one will appreciate the effort and that you're thinking about him or her, even if they don't particularly need a certain item you send.  

8. CARDS

I try to send cards often as well, though I forget, and as I'm writing this I realize I haven't sent one in a few weeks.  Remember that you can just put a normal stamp on a card and send it from your mailbox.  It's so easy and convenient, and everyone loves getting a snail mail card that's handwritten.  I bought some boxes of greeting cards on Amazon that work great.  They have fun paintings on the front and are blank inside.  It's so easy to write a little note, and it always makes J's day when he receives the card in the mail.  Here's a picture of a couple of the cards:

Well that is everything I have sent so far.  I hope these ideas help you as you put together your package.  Think of whatever your loved one enjoys, fun memories you have had together, and things you'll enjoy doing when he or she comes home.  Have fun!