Okay. So the number one question that I am asked by people outside of the Corps is this... "How do you survive in a new town with your husband gone on a regular basis?!". My answer is simple. I survive by the grace of God. He is the one that carries me when I feel like I cannot go on and even when I am feeling strong, He is there walking along beside me guiding my steps. I couldn't do it without Him and I wouldn't even want to try. I'd be a complete and total mess. He really is where my strength comes from and I give Him full credit for my ability to survive while my husband is away. The following is what has become my "survival guide" for when I am alone.
1. Read.The. Bible. This one can be difficult because I find that it is hard to understand at times but it helps so much. Even when I don't understand it still brings me peace somehow. God's Word is amazing. My favorite verse that I have gone to over and over again throughout the past few years is Isaiah 41:10 which says, "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (NASB)
2. Go for long walks with friends. When I am able to, I love to go for long walks with my friends! It is so nice just to take some time out to slow down and look at the scenery and just chat. I always feel so encouraged afterward and as a plus, you get a pretty good workout in!
3. Learn how to do something new. For me it was learning how to crochet but it can be pretty much anything. It helps to pass the time and gives you something constructive to do while you are waiting for your husband to come home. The only downside is that if you pick something crafty like crocheting, you end up with lots of hats and blankets and slippers and you don't know what to do with them all... They're so much fun to make though!
4. Talk on the phone. With everyone that you can think of. It's nice to keep in touch with people back home and you'll feel much more in the loop as you are passing the time.
5. Don't go shopping.
6. Clean the house from top to bottom and make it as spotless as you possibly can. Sounds like fun, right? Well... maybe not but your hubby will love coming home to a sparkling clean house. That way you do not have to worry about the house as much and you can just focus on spending time together as husband and wife or as a family.
7. Go on a healthy kick. Exercise. Eat right. You'll feel better in general and it will make you even more excited for your hubby to come home!
8. Be healthy but you can still have coffee. Iced mochas anyone? I have a recipe (http://lifeasamarinewife7.blogspot.com/2014/01/homemade-iced-mochas.html). An occasional trip to Starbucks is nice too...
9. Decorate the house. Hey, why not paint a mural on the wall?! Okay. I'm just kidding about the mural. Decorating is good though!
10. Old TV shows are your friend. Nothing cheers me up like good ole' Laura Petrie from the Dick Van Dyke Show, Opie Taylor from The Andy Griffith Show, or Uncle Joe from Petticoat Junction! Not into old shows or watching things in black and white? That's okay. I just recommend staying away from anything too focused on romance or other things that may make you feel sad or depressed.
11. Bubble baths are good! Regardless of the season or the temperature outside, I find that there is nothing like having a good long soak in the tub with your favorite book. Or you could just get on Facebook on your phone...
12. Plan for when he gets home! What are you going to cook? What are you going to wear? How are you going to do your hair and make up? There is so much to do!
13. Listen to uplifting music. I pretty much listen to only Christian music anyway but especially so when my husband is gone. Steer clear of country music. You'll just bawl all day if you don't.
14. Get out in the sunshine. Does staying inside all day with the blinds pulled down make anyone else just feel sort of... icky? Sometimes I just need to go sit out on the front porch and pet the neighbor's cat while the sun warms my skin and gives my spirits an instant lift.
15. Volunteer to babysit. It'll give you something to do and you may also get some good laughs. The little girl that I watch once a week recently told me that her foot hurt because she had to go to the dentist...
Okay so maybe my survival guide is more like a list of things that you can do to help the time to pass but I think that trusting God and relying on Him while trying to keep busy is the key to surviving while you are apart from one another. Whatever you do, do not shut everybody out. While it may be tempting to lock yourself alone in your room watching sappy movies and eating ice cream, doing so will only make things worse. If you're going to do it, at least make sure that you have a friend or a relative with you. That way you won't have to cry alone. I hope this helps somebody. :)
1. Read.The. Bible. This one can be difficult because I find that it is hard to understand at times but it helps so much. Even when I don't understand it still brings me peace somehow. God's Word is amazing. My favorite verse that I have gone to over and over again throughout the past few years is Isaiah 41:10 which says, "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (NASB)
2. Go for long walks with friends. When I am able to, I love to go for long walks with my friends! It is so nice just to take some time out to slow down and look at the scenery and just chat. I always feel so encouraged afterward and as a plus, you get a pretty good workout in!
3. Learn how to do something new. For me it was learning how to crochet but it can be pretty much anything. It helps to pass the time and gives you something constructive to do while you are waiting for your husband to come home. The only downside is that if you pick something crafty like crocheting, you end up with lots of hats and blankets and slippers and you don't know what to do with them all... They're so much fun to make though!
4. Talk on the phone. With everyone that you can think of. It's nice to keep in touch with people back home and you'll feel much more in the loop as you are passing the time.
5. Don't go shopping.
6. Clean the house from top to bottom and make it as spotless as you possibly can. Sounds like fun, right? Well... maybe not but your hubby will love coming home to a sparkling clean house. That way you do not have to worry about the house as much and you can just focus on spending time together as husband and wife or as a family.
7. Go on a healthy kick. Exercise. Eat right. You'll feel better in general and it will make you even more excited for your hubby to come home!
8. Be healthy but you can still have coffee. Iced mochas anyone? I have a recipe (http://lifeasamarinewife7.blogspot.com/2014/01/homemade-iced-mochas.html). An occasional trip to Starbucks is nice too...
9. Decorate the house. Hey, why not paint a mural on the wall?! Okay. I'm just kidding about the mural. Decorating is good though!
10. Old TV shows are your friend. Nothing cheers me up like good ole' Laura Petrie from the Dick Van Dyke Show, Opie Taylor from The Andy Griffith Show, or Uncle Joe from Petticoat Junction! Not into old shows or watching things in black and white? That's okay. I just recommend staying away from anything too focused on romance or other things that may make you feel sad or depressed.
11. Bubble baths are good! Regardless of the season or the temperature outside, I find that there is nothing like having a good long soak in the tub with your favorite book. Or you could just get on Facebook on your phone...
12. Plan for when he gets home! What are you going to cook? What are you going to wear? How are you going to do your hair and make up? There is so much to do!
13. Listen to uplifting music. I pretty much listen to only Christian music anyway but especially so when my husband is gone. Steer clear of country music. You'll just bawl all day if you don't.
14. Get out in the sunshine. Does staying inside all day with the blinds pulled down make anyone else just feel sort of... icky? Sometimes I just need to go sit out on the front porch and pet the neighbor's cat while the sun warms my skin and gives my spirits an instant lift.
15. Volunteer to babysit. It'll give you something to do and you may also get some good laughs. The little girl that I watch once a week recently told me that her foot hurt because she had to go to the dentist...
Okay so maybe my survival guide is more like a list of things that you can do to help the time to pass but I think that trusting God and relying on Him while trying to keep busy is the key to surviving while you are apart from one another. Whatever you do, do not shut everybody out. While it may be tempting to lock yourself alone in your room watching sappy movies and eating ice cream, doing so will only make things worse. If you're going to do it, at least make sure that you have a friend or a relative with you. That way you won't have to cry alone. I hope this helps somebody. :)