The Deployment Wall

Y’all know I love sharing my life with you. And y’all have been so sweet and supportive through the process of Chris being deployed! When he left, I knew I wanted to do something for myself and the kids that would make the days feel like they were going by fast. Y’all CAME THROUGH with ideas! I had so many sent to me, that I decided to combine my favorite ones into one big deployment wall!

I posted a blog about the ideas that were sent to me. You can see that here, for other ideas!

Gathering Items for the Wall

I got most of these items from Hobby Lobby, and I attached everything to the wall with Command Strips so that there was no damage!

Visuals for the Wall

I wanted the kids to have visuals to go by during this deployment. Hunter is at an age where he’s starting to understand distance and time. So the first order of business was to get clocks from Amazon. One to set our time, one to set Chris’s time. In some small way, I feel like seeing the time where he is will help them feel a little closer to him.

I loved this metal sign because I think it’s really important to remind our kids that their freedom definitely isn’t free. Chris is sacrificing, I am sacrificing, and my kids are definitely sacrificing. Just like all families that have to navigate these feelings during long times apart. This letter board was also a beautiful way to wave a banner over our family. I love that I’ll be able to change the messages for encouragement. (And I can’t wait for the day that I get to spell out “DADDY’S COMING HOME!!!” Up there)

Obviously I wanted framed pictures of Chris so that they could see their daddy while they sit and write him letters at their little table. And I just love this wooden initial and “I Love You” sign, because it’s important to me that they feel connected to him. Our name and our love are things we will be clinging to while he’s away.

This wire grid is great for hanging pictures and letters that we intend to send to him. I love the way it ties in the other elements of the wall, but it’s functional, so we can hang all their special pieces of art and letters from.

I grabbed this Morse Code alphabet banner because I want my kids to know things about their daddy’s job. And it just looks so cool next to all of the pictures and other signs up there!

Adding a Countdown to the Wall

A lot of you sent me the Kiss Jar idea. And I love it! But I also didn’t want to fight the daily battle if they saw the jar sitting on a shelf. So I decided that I would hang these heart boxes with lids, and put a Hershey kiss in there every day for them. I wrote “Love, Daddy” inside of the boxes, so it would seem like the kisses came from him. It’s a great way to count down the days, without losing my sanity by having to say no to candy constantly.

The Art Table

I want to give a special shout out to these little soldiers. They’re adorable on the table, and they’re my kids’ favorite part of the whole project!

Build the Wall

I know deployments are hard for everyone. We’ve been feeling all of the big emotions that come along with being separated from him. But projects like this and countdowns are going to be one of the only things that helps bridge the distance between us. So, if you’re in the same boat as we are, make a wall! Find things that will make you and your kids happy and help get you through the day.