I’m looking forward to speaking to my wife, Monica, on the phone today.
I call her nearly everyday. Sometimes a mission prevents me from calling, but most days I am able to call her.Â
We have a wonderful phone system here called SPAWAR. It is some type of IP phone, I think, but it allows us to make our phone calls for about five cents a minute. So, it doesn’t kill the checkbook.
I find calling home a very important part of my relationship with Monica. Over the weekend, we passed the three month mark on a 15 month deployment—giving us another year to be apart. Keeping touch is key. Sometimes we actually grow closer while we are apart, specifically because we make a priority of communicating to each other.
Some times, we don’t have much to talk about:
“Hi, honey how was your day?”
“Fine.”
“Did you do anything exciting?”
“No.”
“Neither did I.”
“My neighbor found a 20 inch camel spider in his bed.”
“That’s nice.”
Sometimes, there just isn’t enough to say to fill up a twenty minute phone call. But, I always enjoy the connection that we have. It is fun being married.
What ways do you communicate with your family during a separation?
Chaplain Andrews says
Katheen–thank you for your kind comment–and thank you for the work that you do to help Military Families. The Military Family is, of course, an important piece to the defence of this nation. They are the people that wait at home an support the individual Solider that is downrange–many times quietly and alone. Thank you for being apart of an organization that is designed to help these wonderful people.
Chaplain Andrews says
Paulette–thank you fro your words of encouragement. It is always a joy to hear the appreciation for the work my Soldiers do day in and day out. They are true American Heros. Thank you for your support!!
kathleen edick says
Dear Chaplain Andrews,
I have just discovered your website and your wifes website. Both are fabulous! As I wrote to her, you both will be a great resource for the families we are meeting in connection with our book on deployment for young children. Our oldest son will be starting his second tour of Iraq in September. Another son, now at Kansas State is considering being an Army chaplain, so you can see where I am very interested in your experiences. I love that you and your wife are a team. I feel that is lacking in the military and and so thankful for people like you who can bring the truth of Gods Word and be a model for our young military families. I told Monica that it is so needed, Christian women to mentor those wives back at home, and I want to let you know how grateful I am that God provides the mentorship of a Godly man to our troops.
I will be reading often ! Thank you!
Stephanie says
Starvation is not immenent! I have plenty of eggs. Cheese is getting a little slim, but we’ll make do. I just hope the kids like bell peppers along with their eggs ‘cuz that’s all I’ve got for fruit/veggie! Thanks for the laugh. My kids often wonder what I am reading when I read your blog because you often give me something to chuckle about, when I am not thinknig deep thoughts. 🙂
Paulette says
Hello Chaplian Andrews,
I came by the way of Laura Burton to check in and let you know I do pray for our soldiers. I know Laura and Kevin Burton personally and follow there mission as Chaplian. I must tell you that it is so encouraging to come here and see it from the Chaplians perspective and I really enjoyed going back into some of your previous posts. I hope you keep blogging and I will come and keep reading and uplifting you and your wife before the Lord.
I hope you know that I believe, we as civilians do care about our soldiers and the sacrafice. Thank-you for your amazing ministry for your soldiers as they defend us.
May the Lord richly bless your ministry.
Chaplain Andrews says
Thank you for your comments–they always encourage me. I hope that you are having a great “French Independance Day” thingy–I hope you don’t starve:)
Stephanie says
Okay, I am still mulling over the whole Holy Water post. Here you are giving me 2 more things to think about – why I blog, and how I communicate with my friends and family! Interestingly enough, these same issues have been on my mind for the past week or so already. My father and my step-mother both commented recently that being able to read my blog has helped them to feel closer to us despite the fact that we are so far away. It has made phone calls easier because they know what has been going on in our lives, and ask better questions. Our conversations are not so random, thus imporving our communication and our relationships.
I recently told Monica (right after Will called me) that I am really enjoying your posts, and the fact that you are making me think. Thank you.