Breanna Griffin, formerly of Biloxi, has spent most of her days in Meridian.

She’s the wife of Joe Griffin, Jr. who serves in Air National Guard and is currently deployed in Iraq.

“At first I was in denial, I wouldn’t believe he was going, I just didn’t want to think about it. It really didn’t hit me until he got on the bus that he was leaving,” Griffin said.

Griffin said that with her husband gone, she now has an even bigger job to deal with in his absence.

“I realized I was going to have to mama and daddy for awhile,” Griffin explained. “You just have to suck it up, honestly.”

Griffin said what helps her get through the days is her family of faith at Arkadelphia Baptist Church.

“It’s been up and down, but I find it easiest when I’m in church and spending time with my church family. They’ve helped me so much,” Griffin said.

Even though Breanna’s husband has been gone, they still talk everyday.

“Facebook has been a life saver for us. We talk at least every day through messages, and Joe has a Magic Jack so we’ve been able to talk on the phone,” Griffin said.

Griffin said that it’s been very important that they keep Joe in contact with their eight month old son.

“He says the hardest part has been watching his son grow up in pictures,” she said. “He left when the baby was three months old. We keep pictures of Joe everywhere for the baby, he has a quilt with all kinds of pictures of his daddy on there. I put him on the speaker phone every day so he can hear from his daddy, and they do Web cam too.”

Griffin said she is looking forward to the reunion when Joe returns next year.

“There will be a lot of people here to celebrate, and I look forward to have some quiet time after that,” she said.