Homesick

I think the excitement of headed home mixed with being homesick has made this week a tough one.  I was in port, but was unable to SKYPE because it was blocked.  I was able to email, but just seeing his face and talking to him would have been amazing!  I haven't talked to him on SKYPE since before Christmas. 

I just need to keep my head up, think positive thoughts, and remember, there IS an end in sight.  I just can't wait to hear the words, "Moored, shift colors", but in my Homeport! 

Gratitude

It is the little things to be grateful for nowadays. 

After a stressful month out at sea, I feel like I am getting into my groove again.  Working out, reading books, getting caught up with work. 

I am definitely grateful for a lot of things this month.  New friends, strengthened friendships, mail, emails, the occasional phone call, a good night's sleep, coffee (lots of coffee), planning for friends' weddings, babies, other life events, and..the most recent of these "good news" things..having a friend whose dad just went into remission!

So many things to be grateful for.  It is so easy to get caught up with the ins and out from day to day life, that sometimes we do forget about the little things. 

What are you grateful for this week?

Mail Call and Care Packages!

The best part of deployment by far has to be receiving mail and/or a care package.  I have been so blessed this deployment with love of friends and family who have sent me an incredible amount of mail.

Sometimes people ask what to send?  It can be a bit different between sending packages to troops on the ground, versus Sailors at sea.  We only receive mail about 1 time a week, or it could be as long as 6 weeks.  That was the worst part of the holidays.  We didn't get any mail until January.  None in December, total morale killer.  Although we did have a port visit, where we went out, bought a tree, decorated, etc.  It made Christmas so much better since we were so far away from home!!

When we did receive packages in January, we were Christmas central.  Candy canes and hot cocoa everywhere.  It was amazing.

Some of the best things I have received are:

• Hygiene products (Toothbrushes/toothpaste/floss/lotion/shampoo/conditioner/etc)
• Healthy snacks (Fiber One bars, Nature Valley Protein Bars, KIND bars, dried fruits, trail mixes,etc)
• Books (I always read them and pass them around on board, or even send them to other friends on deployment)
• Magazines.  We don't have TV here, so catching up via magazines is the way to go
• Fav non healthy snacks (Frango anything, Garretts popcorn, chewing gum)
• Drink mix (coffee, tea, low cal drink mixes like Crystal light singles, etc)
• Anything that reminds you of home (ND tee shirts, Chicago tees, CPD tee, etc)
• Pictures. I love getting pics of family and friends in the mail so I can add to my photo albums
• Supplements/Vitamins.  The food isn't always the freshest/healthiest, so daily vitamins are key!

I am sure I will add more to this list soon.  I just received my birthday package from the bf.  Card, snacks, and 2 Alex and Ani bracelets.  Couldn't be happier.  It is the little things that get you through the days.  Especially when every day seems like Groundhog Day.  

Off to work..until next time!