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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Deployment Survival Kit

Here is a photo of my BFF and her hubby...


Are they not just the cutest couple ever?!?!?  (Yes I am a little bias as you are looking at my God Baby's mama and daddy)!  Bahahaha!!!!

Well my BFF's hubby just left on Sunday for a year long deployment over sea's.  Sigh... as a military wife myself who has gone though more over sea's deployments than I care to count (that would be four in ten years of marriage), I know how crappy this week was going to be!  So to cheer her up I put together a "Deployment Survival Kit".....  Now first I probably should share with you that my love language is gifts!  I love love love to give and GET gifts!!!  And when I give gifts they tend to be very thoughtful and tailored to the person who is getting said gift.

Now having said all of that - I have to tell you  my Deployment Survival Kit turned out PRETTY DARN CUTE if I do say so myself!!!!  So for all my fellow military wives who might have a BFF going through the same thing, I thought I would share my recipe for the "Deployment Survival Kit".

First I went out and purchased all the items needs:


And then I attached printed slips of paper on each item to explain what it was for:

And then I wrapped the whole thing up and presented it to her with a card and a framed photo that I had stolen from Facebook from the send off of her hubby and the kids (I put the photo in an American Flag frame).



All in all I think it turned out really cute and it seemed to lift her spirits at least for a little while - and hey - that's what it as well about!!!  (And even my hubby thought it was pretty cool and is convinced that I should sell them on my website!! LOL)

Now for all of you that would like to do something similar, here is an alphabetical list of all the things I put in my "Kit" and what each one of them was for.....

366 One Min Devotions ~ To help you count down the days and to find comfort in each one.
Air Horn ~ To get everyone’s attention.
American Flag ~ To remind you what the sacrifice is for.  (This was the item that actually made her cry!!)
Bubble Wrap ~ To help relieve some stress!
Calgon ~ When you just need to be “Taken away”.
Diamond Paperweight ~ To remind you, you are a gem!
Disguise Kit ~ For when you just want to hide out.
Envelopes ~ To seal with a kiss.
Erasers ~ For when you just want to erase the days.
Faith Magnet ~ To remind you to keep the faith.
Flashlight ~ To remind you there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Godiva Chocolate Bar ~ ‘Cause chocolate makes everything better!
Hair bands ~ To hold your hair back when you just want to pull it out!
Hand Sanitizer ~ To clean your hands after doing all the manly dirty work.
Hersey Kisses ~ To remind you of your soldier's kisses.
Ick Stick ~ For when things just really stink!
Johnson’s Baby Wash ~ To remind you there should be “no more tears”.
Jumbo Paper Clip ~ To help you hold it all together.
Kleenex ~ To wipe away the tears.
Laffy Taffy ~ To remind you to take time to laugh.
Life Savers ~ To remind you, YOU are one!
Marbles ~ For when you have lost yours!
Mega phone ~ So you can be heard.
Monster Energy Drink ~ For when you need the energy to make it through the day.
Mounds Candy Bar ~ To remind you of the “mounds” of love and support you have from family and friends.
Nail Files ~ For when you hit a snag.
Peanuts ~ For when you feel like you are going nuts!
Pens ~ To sign all your X’s and O’s.
Pom Pom’s ~ For when you need to be cheered on!
Punch Balls ~ For when you feel like punching something.
Relaxing Music CD ~ To help you take time to relax.
Rolo’s ~ To remind you to roll with the punches.
Screwdriver Kit ~ For when you are feeling like all your screws are lose.
Silly Putty ~ For when you are being pulled in all directions.
Stationary ~ For all the letters you will be writing.
Strawberry Daiquiri (aka “Mama Juice”) ~ For when you just need a DRINK!
Sucker ~ Because deployments just SUCK!
Thank you cards ~ To thank those that are there to lend support and help.
Timer ~ For when you need some time out.
To Do List ~ To help you keep up with all the “to do’s”.
Twizzlers ~ Just because they are your favorite!  (These just happen to by my BFF's favorite candy! LOL)
Whoppers ~ For when it has been a Whooper of a day!
Wiggle eyes pen ~ For when you need that extra set of eyes.
Worry Stone ~ To take your worries away.
Yo Yo ~ To remind you there will be up and down days and it’s OK!

Most of the items I picked up at the dollar store (each item was only a $1), the basket I got at Michael's (for 40% off), and the rest of the stuff I picked up at Wally World!

I would love to hear if you use my "kit" for any of your friends going though or facing a deployment and what they thought.

Until Next Time!

Cya~


Lori McDonald, Designer

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8 comments:

Ileana August 7, 2012 at 9:20 PM  

Lori, this is amazing. You brought tears to my eyes too. Praying for your friend and her family.

Star August 8, 2012 at 6:39 AM  

This is great Lori! Thanks for sharing. You have a very lucky BFF: yes, even thiugh she's going through deployment. Godspeed and prayers for a safe and happy homecoming down the road.

Elizabeth August 17, 2012 at 4:39 PM  

That is absolutely an awesome idea Lori. I am sending prayers for a safe and quick return from the deployment. I know they can suck. Your such a great friend.

Unknown December 11, 2013 at 3:37 PM  

That is an awesome idea, I wish that someone would have done this for me. I am currently trying to navigate through my first deployment(this is my husband 3rd). Thank you for sharing.

Anonymous,  October 4, 2017 at 5:48 PM  

Obviously several years after the post but this week one of my best friends
is saying goodbye to her hubby as he deploys for 7 months. They just had twin girls a few months ago so I had already put together a basket with a handmade coupon booklet offering babysitting and household chores services as well as a few reminder gifts and just for her things. But I love the simplicity of these ideas!! Will definitely be using some

Lori McDonald October 5, 2017 at 10:27 AM  

Thank yo so much for your comment... even though it has been quite a while since this post (my husband has since retired from the Army), I still feel passionate about being an Army wife! So glad you found this idea useful! God bless you, your friend and her family.

Lori

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