What Gets Me Through...

Is the weekend really over?
I pretty much fell off the grid for two days, and It.Was.Fabulous.



I worked on a surprise for the Messy Project on Friday, and then I went into hermit mode.
Does anyone else do that?
I was feeling a little bit guilty about turning down plans and staying home, but it felt SO GOOD.
I'm not sure how I became this person, but I am not complaining.
I like my simplified life, and it gave me time to talk to Will extra AND work on this post, which I have been wanting to share for awhile. I know that many have to endure long distance relationships, so I wanted to share a little insight into my heart, and what helps us.

This may be a bit heavy for a Monday, but humor me.
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As most of you know, the hubs is gone for NINE WHOLE MONTHS.

Thus far we have done really well with everything, but I want to keep our spirits up any way I can.

I mentioned to Will that we should play games, read a book together, and/or
find some interactive activities., and not only was he happy to comply, he found this website:

I was happy to find a lot of things that we do already on there, like send e-cards, he wrote me a poem, send pictures/make photobooks, Skype, Silly love letters, Be naughty, Make a card, etc....

He created our future children:

I decided to expound on "Share a Journal", with my own flair of course. I joined it with "Message In a bottle", and since sending a bottle back and forth to Afghanistan probably wouldn't work, I decorated two journals. We are now both filling them with love notes, and I love it!

I think I would also like to try:

Watch a concert (online). 

Play charades.

Create your dream home.

And whatever else the hubs is interested in.

I am very lucky that he is happy to participate in all this, and that it is helpful for him too.

We could be sad and focus on the negative, but instead, we are determined to make the best of our situation! This could be a year lost, or a year of growth...We chose growth.

Other things that are getting me through this deployment:

The girls at work.

Daddy calling and skyping to say goodnight.

Feel good movies.

Costco Take'n Bake meals.

Weiser.

Making Care Packages.

Fixing up the house.

And last, but most certainly not least:

Bloggers, the best support system out there!

My parents gave me a Deployment Bear when I was home last, and I LOVE it.

I must say, though, that this deployment is not near as hard as I thought it would be.

The thought of being separated and alone for nine months scared the ish out of me, and I really didn't know what to expect...We had been separated before, but nine months seemed SO daunting.  Now, I am pleased to say that I stressed for no reason.

Is it hard to be all alone? Sometimes.

Does it suck when I can't reach something on the high shelf? Yes.

Am I sad when I wish we were snuggling as I fall asleep? Absolutely.

 BUT...

All of that is temporary, and our love is forever.

Not only have I realized that the big picture is more important, but I have learned that as long as I have his love in my heart- I am never without him. He may not be here physically, but love transcends the physical.  I NEVER understood that until now.  I knew that my love for my family transcended, but I guess I didn't realize that could apply to someone not familially related.

Someone who has only been in my life for four years.

It reminds me of when I told Will that I never wanted to live away from my family, and he told me that we were starting our own family, so I would never truly be away from family. I took that to heart, but this deployment is allowing me to fully understand it now....

WE make up our own FAMILY.

And I couldn't be happier.

Well, unless he was home...obviously.

So I guess what I'm trying to tell you, is that if you truly love someone, distance is only a minor detour, and that if you love someone enough to accept them as your "family", then your love will last a lifetime. True love is real <3