The holidays can be beautiful and brutal at the same time, especially when you’re stringing lights while your spouse sleeps in another time zone. We open up about years of missed anniversaries, a harrowing IED incident right before a birth, and the quiet ache that creeps into December—and we share the practices that turned survival mode into steady joy.

Grounded in Philippians 4:4–8, we unpack why rejoicing isn’t denial; it’s a deliberate habit that pushes back anxiety through prayer, gratitude, and disciplined attention to what is true and lovely. We talk about the difference between numbing with busyness and actively cultivating peace, along with the simple rituals that help: reading an Advent plan together through an app, using email threads with clear subjects to keep multiple conversations moving, and leaning on the FORD framework—Family, Occupation, Recreation, Dreams—to ask better questions when mission details are off-limits. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s okay to enjoy Christmas without your spouse, we make the case for permission and purpose: service exists so that families at home can actually live the freedom being defended.

Community is a lifeline here. When travel isn’t possible, we show how a local church and small gatherings can replace isolating nights with meaningful connection. For parents, we offer ways to keep the deployed partner present in kids’ memories through traditions, stories, photos, and care packages. And we share how trials can mature love and make reunions sweeter than any gift under the tree. Separation hurts, but it can also deepen gratitude, strengthen faith, and reframe what really matters.

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