by Julie Mayhan
Driving through pre- dawn darkness heading towards the airport we could hear the soft voice of our then three- year- old granddaughter coming from the back seat. Sweetly and innocently, she prayed “please God, keep Popie safe and let him kill da monsters.” This was my husband’s fourth military deployment, but his first as a grandfather.
Arriving at the airport, we stood near the gate saying our goodbyes, and snapping photos. Some things get easier with each deployment, but the goodbye is always hard every time.
For us the preparation for a deployment is one of those things that does get easier. It starts months before that final plane ride over the pond. And so it begins with filling out paperwork but not just any paperwork. He must get his affairs in order with a will and power of attorney. While we hope and pray for his safe return, we must accept the reality that he may not return or that he might return wounded.
These are sobering preparations of the heart and mind.
One’s mind can run wild and scared like a greased pig in the county fair, trying not to get caught. The mind and how it works is unfathomable to me, and keeping my thoughts of the “what if’s” under control when hubs is deployed is a very slippery task. However, I must devise a plan in my head and keep my emotions under control so that I can survive the “if.” Not always does a plan go as planned, and I must embrace this. Preparing the heart for me is less of a chase. My day normally starts with prayer, but when Hubs is deployed my conversation with God is continual. I know he’s there and listening as he promises in his word to never leave us nor forsake us.
And let me say, that without controlling my thoughts and staying in prayer there is great doubt in my mind that I could survive the crazy things that happen during a deployment. Things like the washing machine going to pot, the dryer dying, the AC backing up and leaking water everywhere, a daughter wrecking her dad’s truck. And other crazy things like being glued to your phone and then somehow missing his call, only later to hear through voice mail “if you heard what’s going on over here, I’m okay.”
When the crazy stuff slows down, the loneliness kicks in. That’s when the slumber parties begin, late night pizza, movies and make-over’s. Daughter, granddaughter, daughter in law and girlfriends the more the merrier! Before you know it, a year has passed and you’re headed to the airport again and while you drive you get your heart and mind prepared for the changes that come with his return.
{Please, remember all our military and their families in your thoughts and prayers always}
Living on the Arkansas/Oklahoma border succeeding at surviving military and police life, often requires the sanctuary of her patio, where Julie finds herself propped in a chaise lounge communing with God. A recovering “tantrum tootsie” she blogs about what it’s like to be on a journey of becoming stirred not shaken. She is a proud wife to Edgar aka “Hubs”, and mother to a son and daughter, mother in law and Meme to a lively little granddaughter. Join her on the patio at http://www.juliemahan.com or
What an inspiration you are to military families Thanks for sharing your story and your faith
Enjoyed this article. I work with Military Veteran’s and have a new found respect for our troops. Being a Non-Vetetan you learn they have a whole different world to contend with. Great reminder and story Julie Mahan. Thank you.