Love and Other Stuff

So, I've been waiting all day to sit down and write - I mean, I had the WHOLE thing planned out from beginning to end. Just as I was sitting down to open up the computer, I just so happened to look at my phone. Want to know what true disappointment and heartbreak looks like? Just look at the face of a military wife who missed an opportunity to talk to their husband. The only opportunity they've had for a week... ON VALENTINES DAY. 

Yeah. That's my life.

So please excuse me while I type the rest of my post through tears. Because as it is in life - particularly Marine Corps life I've learned - it goes on. So, even though at 10:45 my heart dropped to my toes, and it still hasn't quite recovered yet, let's do this thing.

---

Today is Valentines Day, and unlike the 95% of the female population who pretend to hate it, I personally love it. Life is hard, and everyone is so busy all of the time. I feel like the world pushes everyone to move a million miles a minute. And yes, while we all love our significant others and all of the other people who make up our lives, sometimes life passes us by and we don't have a chance to say so.

I think Valentines Day is an important day, because it's one day out of the calendar year where you stop what you're doing and say, "Thank you for being in my life. I love you, and all that you bring to the table." Yes, we should say it every day. Do we? No.

What is there to hate about a day that is dedicated to love and cherishing the people in our lives? Nothing. 

Oh, and if you're lucky enough to spend today with your spouse/significant other and you're still going to sit there and pout - shame on you. Do you know what I would give to be able to be mushy and sentimental with my husband today? Don't take things for granted. People would kill to have what you have.

And if you still hate Valentines Day for reasons x, y, and z then fine - go ahead and be bitter and sullen. I'm going to sit here and eat my chocolates and cuddle my dog while looking through my wedding pictures, and staring at my flowers sitting in the corner. I'm going to be as mushy and sentimental as I can today, and I'll love every second of it. 

So today girls, do everyone a favor, and just admit that you love flowers, chocolates, and attention and let's all join in on this day long celebration of love <3

---


























I went on a walk with Maggie Girl today :)

Whenever I got back to my house. This is what I found: 

Hubs has been in the field all week, and I haven't been able to even talk to him. So I honestly just expected this holiday would pass by just like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years did - yes, cue the pity party for myself.

So whenever I saw this I seriously just melted. No words for what this boy does to my heart. He knows how to spoil me and let me know how much he loves me, even in his absence. I am the most blessed girl in the entire world - and I thank God for this every single day.

What a man, what a man, what a man - what a mighty good man <3

Beautiful Sadness

We celebrated my uncle's 50th birthday this past week. His wife and kids threw together a little surprise party for him - including a video of his life. I stood up at the front of the church waiting for him to come in (mostly because I wanted to play with my new camera). While up there I started looking around at all of the people who had come to celebrate a life well lived. Different faces all representing stages of life that my uncle had lived, and lives that he had touched. When he walked in and registered what was going on the shock on his face was priceless - because how often do you get to see what an impact you had on people? How often in our lives do we stop and take stock of our lives and what we're leaving behind us as we walk our daily life?

The video started and the pictures started flying across the wall. I watched as I saw my uncle go from a young boy, to a teenager, continuing into a husband, father, and grandfather. While others laughed at the funny pictures, and some cried as the memories came flooding into view, I simply sat - lost in the story of a life. A life of ups and downs - a life full of living. And while I was sitting there, all I could think about was how badly I want that.

I want to live my life. I want to have memories that will keep me warm at night. Memories that will make me leave teardrops on my pillow - not out of sadness, but out of sheer thankfulness. I want to live a blessed life, that is a testament to my children and grandchildren. I want to live a humble life that inspires my neighbors and friends. I want to live a life full of an indescribably once in a lifetime love, that my husband will always know how important he is. I want to live a life where when I look back in 50 years, I know that I did it right. And when I go home at night there will be teardrops on my pillow from a beautiful sadness.

Because I know that some people don't get this chance. And I know that whenever you are given a chance to live that kind of life that it is overwhelming beautiful and sad all at the same time.

So tonight while I peruse through Pinterest, pinning things about my future children and future home, while I imagine what my life will be one day, and what our children will look like - I pray that I start to take time and be thankful for where I am now.

Because I can't get there, without being here first.

And I'm okay with that. 

Our lives are going to be amazing. And when I'm 50 I can't wait to be holding Sam's hand while our children sit in front of us, and take stock of this life that we created. "Look at what we did," I'll say. And he'll squeeze my hand like he always does. Words won't be necessary, because we'll just know. And we'll just sit and absorb the most beautiful sadness that this life has to offer. We'll be thankful for our lives and sad for those who aren't as fortunate.

Then we'll get up, and the moment will pass, and we'll go on.

"Grow old with me, the best is yet to be"

- Robert Browning