Reunion at last!

It had been the LONGEST 8 1/2 weeks of my life!  

I was a mess the whole 10 hrs we were in the car on the way to Zac's Graduation.  I had spend the last 2 months dreaming about this upcoming weekend and I could hardly believe it was finally here.  I was so excited that I only napped for maybe 2 hrs the whole drive down and was almost bouncing in my seat the final stretch of the trip.  I'm sure I was driving my In-Laws crazy with the amount of energy I had.  I just couldn't wait for the next morning.

Thursday (Airman's Run and Coin Ceremony) dawned cool and drizzly.  The gloomy weather did nothing to affect my mood however.  I was still extremely excited to see my husband. 

We got to the base and walked to the stretch of road where all the graduates were going to run in formation past all the families.  Did our best to stretch out our banner where he could see it and anxiously awaited our my first, in person, glimpse of my wonderful husband!

Finally, after what seemed like hours, they started their run. 

 I stood and watched as my husband ran by with his flight and felt nothing but pride for what he had accomplished so far.

After the run we went to the Retreat Pad where we would watch the Retreat Ceremony (where they lower the flag) then the Coin Ceremony where they trainees officially became Airmen. 

We watched as they marched in, stood in formation and then received their coins.  As soon as the ceremony was over the families were allowed to go find their airman.  

I practically ran from my seat to where his flight was and after a minute of searching I finally found him!  I was so excited that I simply threw my arms around him, I didn't want to ever let go!

We spent the rest of the day on base simply spending time together, and with our families.  After the long weeks of waiting I couldn't believe that I finally got to spend time with him, talk with him for more that 15 minutes, and actually get to hug and kiss him.

The reunion was very sweet, greatly anticipated and made us both so very happy!

Back to Basic

We had not been apart more than 6 weeks before.... and that was the summer I went home to visit family right after we started dating.  Even then, we Skyped as much as possible and IM'd each other every chance we had.

This was a whole new experience for me.  I heard from him for less than 2 minutes the night that he left, this was when he told me that he made it safe, gave me his address, and told me he loved me.

I didn't hear from him again for about two weeks.  Thankfully at that point it was a 15 minute conversation.  I got to hear how he was doing, whether or not he liked it there and more.  The best part about it was just getting to hear his voice for that long.  I was grinning from ear to ear the rest of the week!

I had liked the Air Force Basic Training page on Facebook because I knew that they posted pictures of the trainees on occasion.  It was about week four when I found one single picture of him.

He's the one in the middle of the picture.

I was so excited that I sent it to most of the family and even called a couple of people to tell them that I had found him.  Just seeing him, knowing he was doing ok, and the weekly calls made the separation bearable.  

I think it was about 3 weeks into his training that I got my first letter from him.  Now, I had been writing him about twice a day since the moment he left, but simply seeing a letter from him in my mailbox.... at that point nothing was better.  I kept the letters and would read them a hundred times before the next ones came in the next week.

It was really hard for me, him being away.  I cherished every minute in the phone calls, every letter he sent, even the smell of his cologne on his hoodie that he left at home.  I had my bad days where I didn't even want to get out of bed because I missed him so much.  I also had my good days when I was able to write him an encouraging letter, or send him a picture.  My baking also kept me busy while he was away and helped keep my mind off of how much I wanted him back home.

I even had a weekly countdown, as any military wife/girlfriend/fiance does I'm sure.  My consisted of Starbucks Vanilla Frappuccinos.  I would drink one every Tuesday, starting the Tuesday after he left and drinking the last one the day before I left for his Graduation.  

I kept them all in my fridge at the same time, so that I had a daily visual reminder that the days were going by.  The empty ones would go to a shelf (where they still sit) as another reminder of how far we had made it so far.  It was a pretty good countdown if I may say so myself!

The 8 1/2 weeks at basic seemed to fly by and drag by all at the same time.  There were plenty of tears, stress, smiles and even laughter.  Holidays came and went and at the end I came to the realization that I DID SURVIVE!  

It is only by the grace of God that I didn't have a meltdown while Zac was at Basic.  There were plenty of times that I thought I wouldn't be able to stand another day where I couldn't talk to or see him.  But through it all my family and friends were there for me and so was Zac, through our phone calls and letters.  Plenty of people gave me words on encouragement and prayed for me and at the end we both came out of it having grown in ways we never imagined possible.

I can't say I would want to go through that again, but I now know that I can if it is needed.  Deployment is not something I look forward to, or wish for, but I know that if I can make it through basic then I can rise to any challenge the Military throws at us!

Extreme Pride, Hugs then Tears!

Finally the day arrived.  After over a year of working towards being able to ship off to basic the day is here. Zac stayed at a nearby hotel the night before and his parents and I met him downtown at the federal building to spend a few last hours together with him and watch him swear in before he boarded a plan to leave for Basic Training.

That morning I was a wreck.  I hadn't slept much the night before because I knew what was coming the next day and I was nervous, excited and a bit scared about what the future held.

My In-Laws stopped by and picked up Starbucks before we headed out.  Once we met up with Zac we sat and talked/hung out with brief interruptions when he had short meetings.  I could practically feel the minutes ticking away.

Finally, the time came when we were ushered into a small, private room where a group of recruits were officially sworn in to the United States Military.

I was so proud of my husband at that point that all the worry faded for a few, brief moments.

Shortly after he swore in my In-Laws headed for home.  Zac and I went to the waiting area to spend a few last minutes together.

They were the longest, and shortest, minutes of my life.  We talked about random, totally irrelevant things until the time came where we decided that me being there was too hard for both of us and I should head home.

He walked me out as far as he could and we hugged for the last time for 2 months.  I never wanted to let go!  After our hug we both turned and walked away.  I couldn't turn back to even to look at him one last time because I didn't want him to see the tears streaming down my face.

I made it outside and to my car and had to sit there for almost 15 minutes before I could head for home.  I had only just left him and already I missed him so much.

Thankfully that evening I went out to see a movie and have dinner with friends so that helped take my mind off the fact that the love of my life was going 500 miles away and I didn't know when/if I would hear from him anytime soon.

The night was difficult and adjusting took time, but I have survived and am now counting down the days until he can come home again!

The Journey Begins

Getting married is the most wonderful thing that has happened to me yet (Second to my Salvation).  

I still remember how our story began.... Our first kiss, first holding hands, walks in the park, even flying pigs!!!  

I remember how it continued.  Trips to the Zoo, walks around the African animals, my man on his knee, a ring in his hand..... It was one of the best days of my life.  I felt so blessed that he had decided that I was the woman that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

Next came a year and a half of planning, shopping, more planning, a bit of stressing, and even more planning.  The day was going to be perfect.  We chose a beautiful sunny day in the middle of June to be our special day.  We bought the decorations, rented the tuxedos, bought a dress, decorated the church and chose the rings.   I even caved in and got a manicure and pedicure, even though it tickled like crazy.

That day, as I walked down the aisle, looking at the smiling face of the love of my life I couldn't imagine anything better than having the privilege of getting to spend the rest of my life learning more about this man and loving him with my whole heart.  

We finished school a year later and moved to help in a small Church in Oklahoma.  Zac was the youth Pastor and I taught the children's church.  Things were going very well for us.

One day my husband tells me that he's been thinking about joining the Military.  When he first told me I thought he was joking.  Then we talked about it more and I realized he was very serious.  That's when I started doing some serious praying.  I was scared to death of my best friend going to war, being gone for undetermined amounts of time and never knowing when/if he would come home.  I knew that in order for me to be OK with this God was going to have to give me some of His Amazing Peace.


A couple of months later, with an unexplained amount of peace about the situation, we decided that this was the path God has chosen for us.  The next week he walked into the recruiters office and began the journey that has brought him into the United States Air Force.

It has been a long journey so far, and yet it has only begun.  If it weren't for the amazing God that we serve I would have never survived this far. 

At this point, I could not be more proud of the man I married almost 4 years ago.  He is determined, hard working and won't give up even when things get tough.  He has made a fantastic Airman so far and will only be more so with time!

Thank you Lord for the man you brought into my life to share it with!  I am more blessed that I ever imagined!

The Life of a Military Wife

In the last year I have become something I never imagined.  The wife of a Military Man.  Growing up, if you had asked me who my Prince Charming would be, he would not have been wearing a uniform.  However, through the direction of my all knowing, all loving, all powerful God that has changed.  
I have decided to use this as a sort of journal to document my life as the wife of a United States Airman.
I am extremely proud of my husband and look forward to sharing my adventures, funny stories and even my fears and trials with you all.