Making the Most of Being Apart

 
Let us not just endure, but let us endure well
 

 
 

Daily Essentials

v  Have a good prayer
v  Read the Book of Mormon/Bible
v  Exercise (find an exercise buddy)
v  Look for service opportunities (“small and simple”)
v  Tell your spouse/children you love and appreciate them
v  Spend quality time with your children
 

“…if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”   (13th Article of Faith)

Long-term/Short-term goals

v  Make time for the essentials.  Don’t crowd them out with non-essentials
v  Read the Book of Mormon/Bible cover to cover
v  Keep a journal
v  Work on your personal/family history
v  Work on your food storage/emergency preparedness
v  Get out of debt
v  Attend the temple regularly (monthly if possible)
v  Weight loss/health improvement goals
v  Lighten up your menus, experiment with new recipes
v  Complete an unfinished project or projects
v  Overcome a weakness
v  Plant a garden/container garden
v  Learn about car maintenance
v  Save for a nice vacation when they return
v  Set your own goals, write them down, and get to work!

Ideas for you

v  Make time for yourself regularly (getting a babysitter occasionally is okay!)
v  Read to your children, talk to them, play with them, get to know them better
v  Have a celebration every month
v  Serve as a family (for a family, the community, during the holidays, etc.)
v  Have a special Family Home Evening on deployment- view Elmo DVD, make a list of ways we can support our loved one.
v  Regular activity night with another “deployed” family
v  Organize a neighborhood BBQ/get to know your neighbors
v  Learn a new craft/hobby
v  Read your favorite books
v  Play games as a family
v  Volunteer at the school
v  Continue your education
v  Try something you’ve never tried before

 
Ideas for your deployed spouse

v  Write a nice letter to your husband telling him why you chose him/your feelings for him
v  Share your testimony in a letter
v  Make home movies or slideshows capturing the activities and events of that month
v  Send a video of your FHE lessons
v  Have him send a video of a FHE lesson
v  Send puzzles or crossword puzzles or games
v  Send appropriate movies or books
v  Hometown by mail (send postcards, newspapers, etc.)
v  Make a quilt or pillowcase for them to use
v  Record a birthday party, celebration or other special event to send to them
v  Send meaningful scriptures in your letters/emails
v  Party-in-a-box (birthday, holiday anniversary)
v  Get them a subscription to the Ensign or Church News, discuss articles
v  Read a book together and discuss
v  Send a disc of their favorite songs, and other uplifting music
 

Remember what they are facing.  Do things that are positive and uplifting