Wife: Preparing for Deployment (Part 1)

So, as I am preparing to leave for Afghanistan in less than a month, there are many things that bog down my mind.  There are the regular thoughts about how life will be down-range, and wondering if the time will go by fast. But probably my biggest question is "How am I going to be a good wife when I am in Afghanistan?"  "How do I not feel like I am single when I am living on my own?" and "How do I make my husband feel like he has a wife that loves him from the other side of the world?"

The answer to this question isn't singular.  The first answer is prayer.  I am slowly learning that the best way to love my husband, is to spend time each day praying for him.  Though I will be able to call him frequently, I am already realizing that no matter how much we talk it will never be enough.  I can't talk to him about everything in the time we will have, so the best way to love him, is to pray that God will take care of him and comfort him every moment I am not there.  The joy and peace that brings unity is only going to come from God.

The second answer is to spend time each day dedicated to thinking about my husband and reveling in the man who stole my heart.  It's about taking the time to remember who my husband is and all he's done for me.  I am sure some of the moments in my life I will revisit often include the day he proposed, our wedding day, the trips we have taken and the things we have done together.  Spending time remembering the wonderful things my husband has done for me is going to help remind me not only why I fell in love with him, but also why I will always love him.

The third answer is doing a bible study or marital study together.  Hopefully it will not only strengthen our marriage, but also give us something in common.  That way not only will we always have something to talk about, but we can be connected by something even when we can't talk.

And the fourth answer I have come up with is the reason for why this blog is Part 1.  I recently was inspired to make Kevin as many meals as I could before I go. This all started on Sunday afternoon.  I had recently started canning my own salsas, which Kevin has loved.  I gave a jar to my Dad for Christmas and on Sunday, he was telling us that he didn't have tomatoes to make chili, so he added what was left of my jar of salsa and that it turned out really well.  So I started thinking that instead of just salsa, I could can a chili mix.  I added all of the spices, tomato, onion, and peppers.  So now all my husband has to do is brown a pound of hamburger, a can of beans and a can of chili mix.  He can make it in a crockpot or on the stove.  So it is really simple, and he can still have a homemade meal.  (For the record, my husband is a terrible cook :-) )  Plus, I already made a pot of chili to make sure the mix is good and it turned out great!

But of course, that got me thinking of other recipes I could do this with where Kevin just has to cook some meat and add a mix or sauce.  And the more that I thought about it, the more I realized the implications.  I could make a bunch of pre-made meals so that meals that take longer to cook won't take as long.  Or when I eventually I become pregnant, I could pre-make some of my favorite meals so I need to worry about cooking after the baby comes.  Life will only get busier, so pre-making meals just keeps sounding better and better.

So, again, there will be multiple parts to this blog that will include recipes that I try and enjoy, as well as at least one post of how you can do your own canning at home easily!