The world of an Army /military girlfriend

Something I've stolen from a friends facebook page. It definitely applies to me. As I was reading this, I was saying yes to myself because I am/do almost every single thing on here. 

The average age of the military wife/girlfriend is 20 years old. She isn’t old enough to buy a beer, but is old enough to manage the entire household. She probably never saw herself loving a man who was in the military, but she loves him regardless. Her penmanship has improved over the last few months, due to excessive letter writing. She cries a lot, because she misses the man she swore to love.

Her life isn’t complete without him. She looks tired because of her many sleepless nights either waiting for a call that never came or one that did and just because she heard his voice she is too overjoyed to sleep. As a wife/girlfriend she is classified as dependent, but she is completely independent. She tends to her household, her kids, her school work and her job all without her husband/boyfriend. She manages a smile, even though inside she’s crying. She understands that the man she loves has to go far away. She understand that he can be taken from her in a moments notice.

She feels a great sense of pride and probably cries whenever she hears the National Anthem, sees a flag blowing in the breeze, or watches the news and hears about another death in Iraq, worrying that it might be him. She goes weeks without a call or a letter, but she writes him whenever she gets a free moment. She knows how to convert civilian time into military time. She knows how to iron his clothes and how to get the creases just right.

Before he left she used to complain if she didn’t see him for a day or two but now she gets annoyed when she hears someone complaining about not seeing their boyfriends. She may not have seen him for months but she remembers everything about him, every scar he has, the way he smells, the sound of him sleeping. She has every picture of him and them out and in frames, she stares at them for hours on end and has read every letter he’s written at least 40 times.

Even though her man is half a world away, she manages to go on with her life, as he would want her to. You may not know what she looks like, but as soon as you see her you’ll know that her husband/boyfriend is a world away without even having to speak to her. She’s the one who’s half frowning half smiling, she has at least one Support Our Troops pin that she wears and one displayed on her car.

Half her wardrobe is based on his military branch. She never knew that she could love the color camouflage, green, tan, navy blue, red or black so much. Next time you see her thank her for what she and the man she loves is doing. She will greatly appreciate it and she will smile the rest of the day.  

5 months

I've been with Parker for 5 months today. It really doesn't feel like it's been that long. He's been away from me for 2 of those months but we're closer than ever despite the distance. He's the best thing that's ever happened to me and I thank God every day for putting him in my life.

Can't wait to see what the next 5 months bring for the 2 of us.

Sick :P

I went to bed last night saying that I was going to get up around 7:45 and be out of the house by 8:30 to go to the gym and workout for about an hour.

The one time I actually was completely motivated to go to the gym rather than just telling myself working out is good for me and I need to do it...the ONE time I'm in the zone to workout and I wake up with a really sore throat.

UGH :P

No work out for me.

First summer I haven't been sick every other week and it's finally caught up to me. Not like it's a big deal; it's only a cold, after all. But why now? I've been so healthy. Guess that's what I get for working with snotty, runny-nosed kids all summer...it was bound to catch me eventually.

Sore throat that feels like it did when I had tonsillitis, runny nose, congested, and pain in my ears (this is one of the repercussions of hundreds of childhood ear infections, that and slight hearing loss...yay me!)

I've taken lots dayquil, moving on to some nyquil now, took vitamin C pills (I can't stand orange juice so this will have to do), tissues are by my bed, drinking lots of fluids, and relaxing comfortably in my bed doing nothing.

None of this is what I want. I would do anything to have Parker here. When I told him I had come down with a cold when we talked earlier today, right after he called me his poor baby, he said he would give anything to be here with me, just holding me and cuddling and keeping me warm until I feel better.

Little things like that make me fall a little bit more in love with him :)

I'm a military girlfriend...

Finding posts like this always help me get through the hard days. This past week has been really hard because for some reason, I've missed him more than usual. Maybe it's just knowing that I get to see him soon...

"I am a military girlfriend. I hold no formal recognition with the powers that be. I am at the bottom of the chain. I hold no Military ID card, I am not a “dependent” or a parent. The man I love may face unspeakable dangers, and I am at the mercy of those who possess this recognition for news. I understand this and accept this.

I am a military girlfriend. I have promised to be here for him upon his return, no matter how long he is away. People may say I am insane for making such a commitment with no guarantees, but I hold onto our promises and have faith that he will come home safe to me. I know full well that my love for him fuels him in the worst of times.

I am a military girlfriend, there is no ring on my finger to symbolize our commitment, though I love him no less for it. I hope every day that he will be able call because a simple 30-second phone call can bring the greatest spectrum of emotions…smiling with tears in my eyes from so much joy and pain. My relationship is based on a brief communication where “I love you and I’m okay” speaks more than volumes and gives me the strength to keep going.

I am a military girlfriend. I take no moment spent together for granted. I hold onto every touch, caress, kiss, every word. I have memorized the feel of his skin, his smell, the sound of his voice, and I play it over and over in my mind so that I will not forget. I cry myself to sleep some nights because missing him hurts so badly, but wake up the next morning, brush myself off, and start a new day.

I am a military girlfriend. The events of the next several months hold my life, my love, and my future in the balance. When you watch the news reports, you may turn away and go about your business relatively unaffected. When I watch news stories of the war I do not see nameless soldiers a half a world away. I see individuals who will be forever changed by war. News of every casualty causes me physical pain and deep sadness.

I am a military girlfriend, not a spouse or family member. When you say your prayers for the wives, mothers, and fathers, please don’t forget about me."

Getting Close

So we only have a few more weeks until R&R. I'm so excited about getting to see him again.

But what if something has changed between us? I really hope that isn't the case because I really do love him but I can't help having this feeling.

I know nothing has changed, if anything, things between us have actually gotten better since we can communicate without emotions getting the better of us (actually, getting the better of me...he doesn't get worked up or angry with me. Definitely a good thing. I do that enough for the both of us).

I'm sure everything is going to be just fine once I see him. This is just my nerves getting the best of me right now. Gotta keep my chin up and know everything is going to be ok.