"Two weeks...that's all it took"

The last year of my life, have I mentioned just how crazy but amazing - well, actually crazily amazing it has been? If I haven't I'm saying it again, because that's exactly what it has been. So much has happened, so many many memories I wouldn't trade for all the riches in the world.

I will try and condense everything down into the shortest form possible - then I will most likely go back eventually and revisit certain events, more in depth AND I bet you could guess, with lots more pictures!! <---My favorite!

It all began once I finally worked up the courage to "make a move" (through Facebook no doubt, embarrassing) on this man I had never actually met but knew of through family friends - this man I had the strangest feeling would be a big part of my life, as long as he accepted his fate.

Luckily, he did. We agreed to meet, but not for a few months and on a first "date" which couldn't really have a specific date until, well, about two days before. Probably for the better or I would have spent so much time a nervous, silly mess.

One fine day, after I was convinced he had forgotten all about me, or just lied to make me go away, he messaged me to say he would be home the next day. Ahhhhhhh!!

Did I mention he was stationed in Afghanistan? That's probably important.

See, there he is. Looking all sorts of awesome and handsome in his uniform, making me all sorts of anxious to meet him.

Right from the start we argued. It was real. It was refreshing. It was just enough to leave us both wanting to learn more about the other.

Needless to say, we spent as much time as we could spending time together during the two short weeks he was home.

And then he went.
He left.
He took my heart all the way back to Afghanistan with him.

This picture pretty much sums up the next three months of my life. Phone calls, Facebook and lots of time spent sitting in from on my computer screen communicating through Skype.

The time didn't go fast, obviously. And the last few weeks dragged on forever. But I knew it would all be worth the wait.

FINALLY!
We found ourselves sitting in a gym, waiting. For hours. Such torture, because the entire time we knew they weren't far from us at all but all we could do...wait. That should be easy for someone who has waited for months (and I commend all the women and families who are with their spouses for entire deployments, I can only imagine) but I think this waiting was even worse than the few months of waiting, call me crazy.

His sister and I got super excited when we watched them all walking in single file from the busses. Only to be super disappointed when we realized they were walking into a totally different gym, after which we learned we would sit and watch them sit and fill out paper work and whatever else they did during those excruciating hours.

We got a 20 minute warning - longest time of my life!

It was one of those situations where emotions are so high you will never forget the way you felt. After that 20-minute long decade, they started filing into the gym we were in.

There they are!

I snapped this picture really quick, right after he took his place in this huge group. Then I put my phone away and got ready to throw elbows or kick shins, whatever it took.

Dismiss!

Off we went (his sister and I) to try and manage the crowd and get ahold of him. Of course once I got close he had no idea where we were and was walking off in the wrong direction. I grabbed him as soon as I got close enough. Then, FINALLY, I got that kiss I had been waiting so long to get.

Ahhh-mazing!!

The entire time I had no idea his sister was behind me snapping pictures - something I am so grateful to have. Every time I look back on the photos, or even just think back to that day, I can recall every ounce of excitement, nervousness, anxiousness, and about a million other emotions I can't even begin to describe.

I am so grateful for the time we spent apart for many reasons. For one, we got a chance to know each other in a way I doubt we would have without the separation. Every thing you wanted to say, every thing that you felt, you just put it out there. Also, the biggest reason is because now I know what life is like without him. I know what it is like to be separated and have no choice but to live half way across the world and this is a constant reminder to be thankful for each and every moment that I get to have with him in my life.

It seems a little cliche and way too much like a Nicholas Sparks book...

"Two weeks together, that's all it took. Two weeks for me to fall in love with you."

So lame, but so true. And thankfully the quick sparked love from the short time spent while he was home has continued to grow as time goes on.

Every day I am grateful that I get to spend by his side.
Every day I love him more.
Every day I know I have been so very, incredibly blessed.