When I first heard about the Sister Party hosted about Amber at TheRunaMuck, I just knew that it was something that I had to do with my own real life “sisters”.
I love blogging and the community and friendships that it creates, but it just cannot replace real life friendships with my girlfriends, my sisters.
Those friendships were incredibly important to me through my husband’s deployment.
I think I talked to my friend, Carol, every single day. And we celebrated every special holiday together. I’ll never forget the company and companionship she gave me during those days that could have been so much harder.
My friend, Jess, had a baby over the deployment and I had the priviledge of watching her blossom into one awesome mom!
One of my best friends, Jordan, was in the states for most of the deployment. When she came back with her precious baby, Brady, we bonded almost instantly. She took pictures for me during my husband’s welcome home ceremony. I am so thankful to have that time captured for all time. I did the same when her husband returned home.
And then there are my friends from the FRG, family readiness group. The family readiness group is basically the Army’s built-in support system. There were several ladies in my FRG that I became good friends with. We experienced the deployment here in Baumholder as our husbands worked together downrange. We called, we ate dinner together on Friday nights at the Rhinelander, we had play groups, we supported and encoraged each other for fourteen long, very long months.
Ann, one of my survival sisters from the FRG and I decided to get some of the “girls” together for a Survival Sister Party last week.
Because we have such a vast array of social venues here, oh, yes…that was a ton of sarcasm, we met at the bowling alley to just hang out for the night. Actually there are practically no other venues for social time here, unless you count the downtown nightlife of the Baumholder bars, and I definitely DON’T!
We left the kids with out husbands’ capable hands. Well, all of the kids except for baby Madeline who is only six weeks old. Precious six week old baby girls are always invited!
We ordered junk food to share….mozarella sticks, cheese fries, and nachos….such bad food is best enjoyed in the company of friends who know and yet still love you!
We spent the entire night oohing and aahing over Ann’s baby Madeline and talking. We did lots and lots of talking! We talked about the deployment, life after the deployment, family, friends, blogging (two of my survival sisters are bloggers as well), motherhood, and so much more!
And just like Madeline, I felt like crying when it was time to say good-bye!
When I came home, my husband asked me what we did, if we bowled, etc. I told him that, no, all we did was talk. Talk, talk, talk. And, really, that’s all you need to do when you have a night out with your sisters, especially your Deployment Survival Sisters.
Well, talk and eat…that’s all!
Visit The Run a Muck to see stories of more sister parties from other bloggers who enjoyed time with their real life sisters!
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Ahhhh! I love it – all of it! Thank you so much for sharing this. Your pictures are wonderful.
I just don’t know what I would do without my girlfriends. They help us survive all kinds of things.
Don’t forget to link up in MckLinky on today’s post for the awesome giveaway stuff.
Thank you thank you thank you.
Amber@theRunaMuck´s last blog ..Camping with Isaac, Day 2: from Seth
Monica, I love you so much and will use all that God has taught me through you. You have blessed my life and for that I am forever grateful. We’ll see you guys again soon!
Your pictures are amazing!!
One of these days you need to teach a class or something! I LOVE that picture of Madeline crying – she looks so adorable! Thank you for being my Survival Sister, a Prayer Warrior, and a very dear Friend!!
Ann Marie´s last blog ..survival sisters
Awww, thank-you so much for posting this. I definitely consider you one of my survival sisters and do not know what I would have done without you during the deployment. The bond we shared during the deployment was undescribeable and I will never forget it. Thank-you so much for always being there for me, especially during that hard time in our lives.
Carol´s last blog ..Bloomer Style Pants with matching Onsie
Aren’t girlfriends great?
Sweet baby!
What a good reminder of how important our real life friends are. Sometimes I think it is easy in the business of life at home, to let those relationships slide and think your fine but, really, we do need each other! What a super night!
LifeAtTheCircus´s last blog ..I Saw the Sign
Your crying picture of Madeline turned out great! I caught a mean face!
Thanks for being a true friend. You’re amazing!
And I agree with Ann, we should get together and let you teach us a thing or two about our cameras before you leave!
Sidnie´s last blog ..Survival Sisters.
(Visiting from Amber)
I was ecstatic to visit your page and see that your husband is a Chaplain in the Army! (Okay, so I read more than just your sister post, I’ll admit!) It is really encouraging to read your post and see what it is like to be an Army wife. I grew up as an Army child, so it is interesting to be an adult and starting a family of my own and to see what my mom experienced when she was starting her family.
Oh, and I was born in Germany! I don’t remember it, because we moved when I was 2, but I have always wanted to go back and visit my birthplace!
PS I am very familiar with the bowling alley being the only place to gather. But the junk food always makes it worth it!
brittney´s last blog ..13 weeks (with a photo!)
I go to a monthly Girl’s Game Night and I have to say isn’t the greatest thing in the world to be able to get together with other women and just talk. I love my Game Night friends and have made great friendships that will last for a long time!
Pepper´s last blog ..Are we THAT Family?