When John received his orders for his year-long deployment to Afghanistan, I felt exceptionally helpless and completely powerless. I started thinking about the future and what I could do to make it easier for John.
My family is big on celebrations. We celebrate pretty much everything. And why not? Life is too short. I wanted to make sure that John had things that would make him smile and make each day a little special during what was going to be a tough year for both of us.
This was before I had a blog and before I thought anyone would be interested in our deployment journey, so I didn’t really document what I was doing. Now, I wish I had! So, while I don’t have photos for everything, I hope these ideas inspire you for whomever is going away for a bit in your life.
Deployment Gift #1: A Month’s Worth of Letters
Deployment Gift #2: Countdown Calendar
Because we had known for so long that John would be leaving for a year-long deployment, I had a long time to worry… and worry… and worry some more. Oh yeah, and cry. I did a lot of that too. To keep myself busy and feel like I was doing something, I decided that I would make 730 origami stars— enough for John to open one in the morning and then again in the evening. I wrote little messages on the inside of them and put them in a plastic, see-through paint pail from Michael’s. I used 12 x 12 scrapbook paper (like this K&Company Jubilee Designer Paper Pad, 12-Inch- by-12-Inch
Deployment Gift #3: Picture-a-Day Calendar
I haven’t seen this idea on Pinterest (but of course, that doesn’t mean it’s not there). I had a photo-a-day calendar hanging in my classroom last year, and I decided I would make one for John too. I made a 12-month one on Microsoft Publisher and typed messages or dropped photos of us and our adventures into the spaces for each day. I loved making the calendar (and honestly, it didn’t take too long at all.) I thought about taking it to Kinko’s to get it printed and bound, but I ended up printing it on my inkjet, punching holes in the top, and using ribbon to tie the pages together. (Yes, in this sample, there are some empty squares, but that’s intentional– some romantic messages need to stay just between the two of us!)
Deployment Gift #4: Pre-emptive Care Package
The materials that John had originally received said that mail may take up to a month to be delivered to his base. Taking this quite literally, I decorated and sent John’s first care package about two weeks before he left. That would mean that he’d have two weeks after he arrived in Afghanistan before he got a care package. Perfect: there’d be time for him to get moved in an situated, and he would be blindsided by getting a care package so quickly!
Whoops.
Still, I love the idea that John had a box immediately on his arrival. And I kinda, sorta love that the box was obnoxious. It at least gave John something to smile about during the first day in-country!
(Check regulations before you do this. The box just happened to get to John by dumb luck. You don’t want to get your soldier/sailor/Marine/airman/Coastie in trouble before they even show up! If you’re too nervous to send it before they leave, send it the day of or the day after they deploy. They still won’t be expecting to receive a care package so quickly!)
Deployment Gift #5: A Totem
John and I draw cartoons involving a little crab on the letters we send to each other. One of the things I sent along with John was a small, red, Beanie Baby crab. (Okay, you got me, I didn’t make the Beanie Baby. But I did write a goofy, little poem about him and tie it to one of his claws.) At first, I was a little worried about giving him a stuffed animal, but it turned out that he really liked it. The little crab sometimes makes guest appearances on Skype as he scuttles across the screen and waves. If John has to step away for a moment, the crab takes over the screen as the holding pattern until John returns.
Looking For Deployment Gift Ideas? Try These:
- 40 Ways to Save Money on Care Packages
- The Gigantic List of Free Care Packages for Deployed Service Members
- Here’s What Troops Really Want in a Care Package
7 Responses
Hey Jo!
Stumbling upon this perfect post today has given me hope. It’s exactly what I needed. So many tears have been shed this year already because of the dreaded deployment and I can’t wait to fill the time doing this awesome projects instead of crying my eyes out.
Thank you so much for providing hope and knowledge in this military life that I still can’t seem to grasp, even after a year. I love your blog so much!
Hannah
Thank you so much, Hannah! I really appreciate the kind words and am so glad that it’s giving you a bit of comfort and camaraderie! You can do this! You have people behind you who support you! :)
Hi Jo,
I am so glad I came across your site I love the Ideas and stories you share. My Hubby is in his 3rd month of deployment and I am running out of creative ways to ship things to him, the free boxes tip in one of the posts came in handy.
Thanks a Bunch!!!
Ali-
Jo, thank you! I am extremely new to military life and have literally no one around me that has dealt with it. I started dating my sailor a month before he deployed (we are almost 10% done with deployment) but I have known him for almost 30 years. We have known each other since we were kids! I have found all of your information so helpful as I try to adjust to my new and wonderful life.