Wow! Haven't written in a long time. Since my last post, much has changed. Here are the highlights:


1. We did not get married in December because Jake was deployed September through February. Nope, no one saw that one comin!
2. I graduated college December 2011 with a BA in Fine Arts.
3. We got married February 18, 2012. WOOHOOOO!!! :)
4. We are now settling in here in Okinawa, and I have been here about 2 months, Jake has been here over a year. Still unpacking boxes ;)


I am a college graduate!:

Reunited after 13 months apart and a 4 month deployment:

Married <3 Thanks to Lacey Wyndham for the image:

Okay, so I remember a friend once asking me if I thought it would be easier to endure separations due to military duty once I was married. My answer now is no, it is much, much harder. Why? Because not only are we in love, but now we are one, we are a TEAM, forever! God has shown me my partner for LIFE, and we much prefer togetherness!! I know as I adjust to this new place and become more involved, separations may get easier, we will get "used to it." Hmmmm. :/ ...Yep. This is coming from a girl who endured 13 long months APART while we were engaged. But this is just very different, and HARDER. 


Jake was called to go on a mission unexpectedly, he was supposed to be gone one week. Before Jake left, I had only driven by myself here once. It is pretty difficult to adjust to the other side of the road, plus navigating a new place that happens to be a foreign country! Since he has been gone I have been venturing out a lot more and trying to get to know my surroundings better. I have been meeting new people and have been blessed by some lovely ladies from the bible study group we just joined. God is with me!! Jake got delayed on his mission and is going to be gone more like 2 weeks. I would have burst out in laughter if someone told me how difficult this separation of 2 weeks would be, because I THOUGHT I had been through it! No, I hadn't. I was not separated from my husband, but me fiance'. We now live under the same roof, under the sanctity of marriage. Thank you, Lord, for my incredible husband. May our separations be short, and our time spent together SO appreciated. Here are a few fun military tidbits from Pinterest:

The Waiting

7 months. It is the longest we have been apart so far, and it will be 11 months of separation total, just shy of one year. This is not how a couple is supposed to spend their months of engagement. Why on earth are we doing this? Jake is in the U.S. Air Force, and I wanted to graduate college before walking down the aisle. I will be wearing that cap and gown just under two weeks before putting on a white dress and marrying the man of my dreams. This way is difficult. 

 Engagement photo- January 2011 (photo by Amber Robinson Photography)

God has been preparing us for this, however, since the beginning of our relationship. I remember thinking there was no way I could survive 8 weeks of separation with him at basic training. I ought to count the crazy amount of letters I wrote during that time! They were for him, but they were for me too.

Deployment? I try not to even let my mind go there at this point. I do remind myself, however, that there are women out there whose men are on the front lines. These brave soldiers and their wives know separation far too well. May God protect these brave men and women fighting for our freedom. At present, this verse brings me great comfort and peace. Our great God is here to help us, always.

So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

-Isaiah 41:10

 

The Longer the Waiting:

This Josh Turner song warms my heart. Ready for my Airman to come home. What love is shown in these photos! May all the military families' 'waiting' be shorter than anticipated, and the next military 'surpise' be a good one. God Bless our troops!

time to blog!

I have been wanting to start blogging for some time. I thought this would be a cool way to document my fiance and I's many life changes and travels coming up in the near future. I finally joined a site thanks to Bnfunky's amazing giveaway! Right now my life is balancing wedding planning, my last semester of college, and preparing to join my military man overseas! Many more thoughts and words to come!