Here goes nothin'

Well hi!! I have never been much of a blogger, but I am determined to stick with it this time. Well, at least for a year until my soldier gets home : ) Please don’t expect anything super interesting or humorous. My life it quite simple, some would probably think it’s beyond BORING…but I don’t mind it all!! My main purpose for starting this blog is to document the journey of the ups and downs of Aaron’s first deployment (I have a feeling there will probably be more downs). I had mentioned to him briefly in a conversation about possibly blogging while he was away and he loved the idea. It will be great for him to be able to get on and read how things are going on this side of the world when we aren’t able to talk.  Reality is that we won’t be able to skype everyday and sometimes even days at a time while he is on missions. A few people also suggested blogging so people could get an inside look at what it is like to be a military girlfriend. I am fully aware that what I am about to experience does not come close to what wives and mothers experience while their husbands are away. I am very thankful that I get to experience a deployment first before my children do, maybe it will be a little easier when that day comes, but I doubt it!! Enough of my rambling, I guess I should give a little background story of me and my soldier and answer the infamous question everyone wants to know…

Our Story

                It all started sometime in September of 2009. It seemed as if more people wanted Aaron and me to date then Aaron and April wanted to date. My girlfriends so sweetly reminded me daily that I need to “go after” the “Greek god” as they called him! But, I wasn’t much for chasing after boys, especially not at that point in my life. I don’t really know at what point things turned around for me, I guess it was that shaggy blonde hair, big green eyes and contagious smile : ) It had to be brought to my attention that he started coming around more and seemed to show up and my football and volleyball games. Of course, I just thought it was because he liked someone else. Being the shy folks we both seemed to be it took a while for things to start rolling, but with a little help from some wonderful friends our friendship started to grow stronger and stronger and at some point I started falling for the boy. On October 21^st he finally worked up the nerve to ask me out. I’m convinced there is no non-corny way for a boy to ask a girl to be his girlfriend, but it was cute and I couldn’t resist. Things were going great……until I got a call saying “hey, I joined the Army. I’m going to MEPS in two weeks!” WHAT? I knew from the beginning that the Army was a possibility; I just didn’t expect it to happen four months after we started dating. Right in the midst of one of the most important times of a growing relationship, he made one of the biggest commitments of his life, one that I had to decide to make with him or go on with my life. The next few months were the hardest of our relationship and by the time he left for boot camp we were hanging on by a thread. Boy, I am more thankful for boot camp a little more every day. One of the joys of the military and boot camp is letters! I wish people wrote letters more. Letters forced us to communicate, something we had become terrible at. I got to know Aaron in a completely different way in three months than I did in the 10 months we were together before he left. I think every couple, whether dating or married, should write and send letters to each other!! During that time God helped me realize that even though I had no idea what the future had in store for Aaron and me, I was ready to take this journey with him. I would be lying if I said it has been perfect since that point, but it has been a little easier. It’s hard having to share him with the Army, most of the time the Army wins!! But, one of the things that made me fall in love with him was his selflessness. No one forced him to sign up to serve in the Army, he knows full well what could happen to him, yet he still did it. That’s a man! Don’t get me wrong, not everyone is called to be in the military, and that makes them no less of a man or woman in my eyes. And not everyone is meant to be a military girlfriend or wife, trust me it isn’t the easiest thing I have ever done; to love a man who leaves for a months at a time! Our relationship is not perfect, we argue over the stupidest stuff and drive each other up the wall most of the time, but I would not trade Aaron for anyone in the world, even if it meant no more long distance relationship and no more Army. Through the loving grace of God and his perfect example of love, I have fallen completely in love with this boy!!

The Infamous Question

                Some people sweetly ask “When are you two love birds going to get married?” Others ask “Why don’t you have a ring on your finger?” like it is a bad thing we aren’t engaged or married yet. Yes, I know we have been together for over two and a half years and I do appreciate everyone’s opinions on when they think we should get engaged or married, but the only opinions that matter are ours :) I wish I could say this has always been my mindset and that I haven’t caused Aaron a little grief about the subject, but he has successful drawn me to be on the same page as him. Yes, we love each other. Yes, we talk about getting married and our future family. Yes, we plan on spending the rest of our lives with each other, Lord willing. No, neither will happen before he leaves. Sorry to disappoint you : ) There is so much more that goes into a marriage than just loving each other and being together for a long time. I am so thankful that I have been blessed with an amazing man that uses his head and will not marry me until he knows he can take care of me financially and emotionally. Girls, we are usually ready before they are, so give them time and be patient, they have a much bigger responsibility on their hands. to take care of us. than we realize.

                I have one simple request from all who would like to join us in our journey. PLEASE, please, please keep us in your prayers, Aaron more specifically. My biggest fear that I constantly have to surrender to the Lord is that I may never get to see his face again, feel his arms wrap around me or laugh at his stupid jokes…things I constantly take for granted. Pray for his safety and the safety of his unit. For peace of mind and solid, never faltering strength in his faith in Christ. For his family’s peace of mind.  And, for me. I’m scared, there seems to be nothingwe can do to prepare ourselves for this. But, I know we both have the most important and only thing that will get us through this…God!!