HI EVERYONE...

what will you do to keep yourself busy for the upcoming years without your husband by your side? if you don't have children how do you make the time go by quickly? I am going to start school, work as much as i can, visit paul as many times as i can, write journals and workout. i dont know what else i can do but i hope the next 10 years fly by...

I am going to finish school and do whatever God wants me to do and stay by his side.

I'm going to spend time with my daughter, finish my degree, twiddle my thumbs, and visit PTO!

i just bought this ancient house that was built in 1918. it needs some work (that would be the understatement of the year!!! :) ) and it has an ENORMOUS yard. i have a big oak tree out front and it has a big ol' yellow ribbon tied around it! lol i joined a gym-- and i do a lot of community service work. i also got involved with the local F.A.M.M. chapter (families against minimum mandatories). he's been in for 14 months. i have managed to put together an enormous support group of people.

That is a good question! I think we all must take it one day at a time. Staying busy is the most important part cuz Lord knows when your not busy you start feeling sad.

Amen spyda!! I was sitting in class last night and I was supposed to be thinking about the writings of Poe, instead I was thinking about my man and started to get sad.

Hi Cris Pro

I would get a graduate degree. Not only will you be occupied but also sheltered by an environment that is nourishing and welcoming. Federal grants and loans will help you along to finance the whole thing. Peace.

We can do alot in 10 years...alot of positive things that will secure a stable future such as going to school, taking care of our children, and focusing on our plans since our men are away. That is what I am going to do with my time...

Amen spyda!! I was sitting in class last night and I was supposed to be thinking about the writings of Poe, instead I was thinking about my man and started to get sad.

The mind is a terrible thing to use! LOL I'm clowning! While I am suppose to be working I find myself deep in thought about some off the wall terrible scary things....which in turns makes me really sad! :(

I definitely keep busy and plan on staying busy. Here are the things I do with my time....

1. Full time mommy... this right here takes a lot of time. We do crafts together, read together, play together and write to Trav together.
2. Work full time
3. Travis - phone time, letter writing, visits a few times a month
4. Weekly pool league takes up a full evening
5. Work out at the gym 5 days a week
6. Volunteer at the elementary school for 2 hours a week reading with kids
7. Housework and errands that never seem to end.

That's pretty much my life right now and how I suspect it will be until Travis comes home. All this stuff keeps me pretty busy and the busier I stay, the less I focus on the fact that Travis can't physically be here right now. But he's always in my heart and I fill him in on all the details of my life, so it's kind of like he's doing it here with me in spirit.

Alot of praying!! :) I'm gonna spend these next years working on my photography and trying to get my business off and running. I will still work at my job now,work out, help my mom redo her house and put money away to buy land for James and I to build on once he's home. But the main thing is to see James as much as I can and let our love continue to grow and support him in everyway I can and continue to encourage him just as he does me. I will take it one day at a time. Spikeswife

Like alot of others here, I too am going to school, to further my education during this time. We BOTH plan on doing as much educational wise as we can to help things be a little easier apon his release. Going to school at 35 has been an experience, but what is life without experiences? For the next 10 years until we see the board, we are going to try our hardest to prepare for our future after prison by education, and of course saving as much as possible for a home when he is released. Also..visits, visits, and more visits..letters, letters, and more letters...

I'm going to keep working out, fixing up my house, travelling around the country for work, thinking of new ways to show my fiance how much I love him and hoping for a miracles.

Well He has 9 more years to go, I Just enrolled in cosmetology school that will Knock off one year, then I will go back to school to furture my education(this will knock out 4 more years)And hopely after this I will have my own Hair botique And Began to Purchase a Home, and My Honey should be coming Home! I hope everything go as planned, with Prayer and guidance from the Lord It Will :)

We can do so much in 10 years! During my first 10 years doing this I have focused on my career, have had many promotions, went back to school to finish my master's degree, raised our daughters, relocated and traveled. Now I am in my 12th year and I plan to complete my Ph.D., focus on getting our daughters through high school and helping them through college, getting in better physical shape, focus on my career and prepare our home for Nuro's return in a few short years, God-willing. None of this is possible though without the love of God...my love for Him and His love for me.

Continue to thank God for all He has done for my family and all that He contniues to do on a daily basis. I am going to get my supervisor's certification for addictions counselor and hopefully purchase a condo or small family home, continue to nurture and take care of my our daughter. Put some money away for Hubbie so he can have all that he needs to get a good start. At the one year stretch before Hubbie comes home I will be putting away money for Hubbie and I to have a vacation together away from home so we can set some realistic goals and start out on the right foot.

1st of all like Bunny said, i will continue to praise God for all He's done for me and all that He will continue to do, because He has truly blessed me!!!
then with His blessings i will find a better job and start trying to accomplish my goals. ill be raising my toddler in the process and that will keep me busy alone!!! ill visit my baby atleast once a week, and also spend time enjoying myself with other family and friends. hey 10 years goes by faster than we think!!!!

You are right, 10 years really does go by fast. I have been doing this for almost 12 years and I still have to wonder where did the time go?!?!?! I have done a lot during that time, our girls have grown so much and we have grown so much together as a couple. I pray the he comes home soon; but if not, hey the next 10 will also be a breeze! (I hope...)

Wow, glad to see so many positive thoughts and aspirations! I am just getting started on my wait for him. He got arrested in November 2003 and is serving 18 to 30. If he gets out in 18 he will be 51 and I will be 48. I find it hard to imagine what the next years will bring and how I will cope. If any of you that have been waiting 10 or more years has any advice for me it would be appreciated! Right now my plan is to live my life. I got laid off from my job the end of August and I plan on going to nursing school. I told him I would have a house and car waiting for him when he comes home. But sometimes it gets so hard, what am I supposed to do during those times? I've just been trying to cope and deal with it. Sorry if I got off the subject. God Bless all of us and our men :)

The best advice I can give is to continue living your life. You have to stay focused on something in order to not become too absorbed with the worrying and waiting. School, kids and career aspirations have kept me pretty occupied over the past ten years. I have been waiting for almost 12 years now and the wait is not over yet. We have had our ups and downs as most marriages do; but we stand committed to each other and our family. There are good days and not so good days. I have had to take "vacations" from this life on occassion just to keep my sanity. Open and honest communication has been our saving grace. We talk about it everything--the good, the bad and the ugly---no subject is off limits. Prayer and love does endure all.

Here is a thread that was started not too long ago that addresses some of the things you asked about.
http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72335



Wow, glad to see so many positive thoughts and aspirations! I am just getting started on my wait for him. He got arrested in November 2003 and is serving 18 to 30. If he gets out in 18 he will be 51 and I will be 48. I find it hard to imagine what the next years will bring and how I will cope. If any of you that have been waiting 10 or more years has any advice for me it would be appreciated! Right now my plan is to live my life. I got laid off from my job the end of August and I plan on going to nursing school. I told him I would have a house and car waiting for him when he comes home. But sometimes it gets so hard, what am I supposed to do during those times? I've just been trying to cope and deal with it. Sorry if I got off the subject. God Bless all of us and our men :)

I just finished with one school and am starting another school for the next year. I started a second job also just to keep my mind off the time. I am going to work real hard and save up money to by us a house in the country. Then once there a big garden!! And above all keep praying to God to carry this burden for me and to be thankful to Him for all that he has blessed me with!HI EVERYONE...

what will you do to keep yourself busy for the upcoming years without your husband by your side? if you don't have children how do you make the time go by quickly? I am going to start school, work as much as i can, visit paul as many times as i can, write journals and workout. i dont know what else i can do but i hope the next 10 years fly by...

What will I do to keep myself busy for the next 10 years or so?...hmmmmm i need to keep busy for the next 29 years or so if they dont do something about parole or the 85% rule in VA. I plan on doing what I have been doing. Visting Jason every Sat & Sun, raising our daughter, working, praying. I guess in about 15 years I wont be able to use the raising our daughter answer since she would be 21. I guess then I would be spending as much time with her as possible.Wow after reeading what I wrote, It kinda makes me sad to think that I have to keep myself busy and cant really truly have a happy life until Jason comes home:(

I would go to school and better my self. that is what I have been doing I am now a RN and I am now in Nurse Practioner school.