Comments for http://formissionarymoms.com Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:36:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on Surviving and Thriving while Dad is Away by Sarah http://formissionarymoms.com/2012/02/20/surviving-and-thriving-while-dad-is-away/#comment-3427 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:36:44 +0000 http://formissionarymoms.com/?p=3841#comment-3427 Oh, this comes at the PERFECT time for me! My husband is leaving this weekend leading a team in another country for nine days. He is gone a couple of times a year for 7-12 days each time, but because of being on furlough last year, this will be my first time with two little ones for this long. I’ve been working to plan ahead for the time and many of my preparations are very similar to the ideas you shared! It must work for missionary mamas all over the globe. =) It’s encouraging to me to know this at this time! Something I would add that might be more specific to me is I’m trying to guard my thoughts and not think of too many “what if?” situations of various emergencies, etc. that could happen, but to be in prayer about the time and to know that there are friends to call on if needed. That is something else I would add – to ask for help if you need it… or to accept help when it’s offered. Sometimes it’s hard to feel ok with that for some reason, isn’t it? I too love having a vital role praying for my husband and for the ministry he’s part of while he’s gone. I ask him to write up specific prayer requests for the week and it’s always fun to hear how God answered those prayers when he returns.

]]> Comment on Surviving and Thriving while Dad is Away by jolenesloan http://formissionarymoms.com/2012/02/20/surviving-and-thriving-while-dad-is-away/#comment-3425 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:04:25 +0000 http://formissionarymoms.com/?p=3841#comment-3425 Thanks again, Ashley. I am now subscribed to both. :-)

]]> Comment on Surviving and Thriving while Dad is Away by Ashley L http://formissionarymoms.com/2012/02/20/surviving-and-thriving-while-dad-is-away/#comment-3424 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:05:05 +0000 http://formissionarymoms.com/?p=3841#comment-3424 Success! I added the “follow by email” function to both blogs. =)

]]> Comment on Surviving and Thriving while Dad is Away by jolenesloan http://formissionarymoms.com/2012/02/20/surviving-and-thriving-while-dad-is-away/#comment-3423 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:30:15 +0000 http://formissionarymoms.com/?p=3841#comment-3423 Thanks, Ashley! I’ll check back soon to see if you were able to add it. Thank you!!!

]]> Comment on Surviving and Thriving while Dad is Away by Ashley L http://formissionarymoms.com/2012/02/20/surviving-and-thriving-while-dad-is-away/#comment-3422 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:28:22 +0000 http://formissionarymoms.com/?p=3841#comment-3422 Actually, I don’t think I have ever really officially mentioned our family blog here, Jolene, so you haven’t missed anything! Sadly, as you can tell, I don’t get much time to keep it very up to date (I wish I had even more time to post more on THIS blog too, but such is life!). And I’ll see about the subscribe by email option. I have no idea about this, but I’ll see if it can be added. =)

]]> Comment on Surviving and Thriving while Dad is Away by jolenesloan http://formissionarymoms.com/2012/02/20/surviving-and-thriving-while-dad-is-away/#comment-3419 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:47:31 +0000 http://formissionarymoms.com/?p=3841#comment-3419 Well, where have I been?! Thanks for sharing the address to your family blog (which I had no idea you had)! Would it be possible for you to add a “subscribe by e-mail” option to it? I don’t see one like that here on this blog, but somehow I get your posts delivered to my inbox each time you post and I love that!

]]> Comment on Surviving and Thriving while Dad is Away by Phyllis http://formissionarymoms.com/2012/02/20/surviving-and-thriving-while-dad-is-away/#comment-3418 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:35:30 +0000 http://formissionarymoms.com/?p=3841#comment-3418 Like Melissa, I also used to go have sleepovers with a friend when we were in Russia. Her husband and mine were usually gone together, so we’d put our babies to bed and spend time together. It was great Russian practice for me, because back in those days I really relied on my husband for language help. Now I have too many children to really pull that off well, and I haven’t made close enough friends. I have thought that maybe I could invite someone to stay with us sometime, but my little ones need to grow up a little more first, so that I’m not quite so much in survival mode. :)

]]> Comment on Surviving and Thriving while Dad is Away by Ashley L http://formissionarymoms.com/2012/02/20/surviving-and-thriving-while-dad-is-away/#comment-3417 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:18:48 +0000 http://formissionarymoms.com/?p=3841#comment-3417 Jolene, I’m glad you liked the pictures, even if they are such poor quality! There are some better ones on our family blog (thelatvalasinrussia.wordpress.com) if you wanted to see a bit more of our family life! =) I love all of the stuff you have on your blog and had such a blast “touring” your beautiful home!

Melissa, what a wonderful way to make such great use of your time alone! I absolutely love it and your ability to look over the challenges to see the great benefit of that special time! Your desire to really be intentional to know and love the culture/people/language more is such a wonderful inspiration!

Val, I was so inspired by your perspective and ability to see the good in even such long separations. I feel like a week is a long time, but you have by the grace of God not only survived but even thrived in far more challenging separations. Thank you for sharing how God has used those times in your relationship with your husband and with your kids too. Such great and helpful words to hear!

And Phyllis, I am sorry that things have been crazy, but I love your sense of humor about it! I’ll be looking out for a blog post about your adventures. =) I’m praying for you today!

]]> Comment on Surviving and Thriving while Dad is Away by Phyllis http://formissionarymoms.com/2012/02/20/surviving-and-thriving-while-dad-is-away/#comment-3414 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:46:23 +0000 http://formissionarymoms.com/?p=3841#comment-3414 How did you know? My husband is away right now. Only over night, but I can’t believe how crazy everything has been without him! Usually we just enjoy a little bit of a quieter and simpler time when he’s gone. This time? I don’t know what happened! (I should write up some of it, because it’s all just so hilariously crazy!)

]]> Comment on Surviving and Thriving while Dad is Away by Val http://formissionarymoms.com/2012/02/20/surviving-and-thriving-while-dad-is-away/#comment-3413 Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:10:24 +0000 http://formissionarymoms.com/?p=3841#comment-3413 This resonated with me. When my husband is away, I miss him deeply, but I can look back on our many long seasons apart, and see how my bonds with our kids grew while he was away. The load was heavy at times, but pressing into relationships with other women (thanks, Melissa!) is one of the highlights of every separation we go through. When he’s away, I look for ways to save energy so that I can be “there” emotionally for our three kids. AMEN to paper plates, home church, etc. Saying “no” is not my strong suit, but it’s necessary when you are parenting solo.

One major benefit of TM’s deployments has been a renewed commitment to love one another as husband and wife…. to create a space that is US, and not just “co-parents” or “army couple” (makes me cringe — he’s active duty — i’m his bride — we are separate people!!). When he hangs it up one day, and we move into the next season of our life together, I want the love and connection to be there… and spending time apart has actually deepened that tremendously. We spent last summer apart, but our last long separation (15 months) ended three years ago. A part of me misses that season, as wicked hard as it was. God wastes nothing.

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