Young Love

Kristopher is graduating soon and not long after, we'll be moving! Even though we've been married for 11 months, he's been gone for almost all of it. So we haven't gotten the chance to live together yet and we're both extremely excited about it!

I've been anticipating his return for so long that it's almost surreal that it's finally almost over! It's been a long, hard journey that I wouldn't have wanted to share with anyone else. I love him dearly and this experience has shown me just how strong our love is. Military relationships are not for the faint-hearted. They are tough, demanding and emotionally draining. But because we loved each other so much, we were able to get through it. We both knew that we were doing this for us and in the long run, this separation would pay off.

We may be young but our love is just as strong as anyone else's, if not more. Through this experience, we've faced many hardships that most couples will never have to. And even though I've felt a bit broken since he's been gone, our love is stronger than ever. He was worth every single second that we were apart. He gets to live his dream and I get to stand by his side, as his wife, and support him as he risks his life for our country. I never knew how strong love could be until I met him and I realize just how lucky we are to have each other.

-Chelsea

"It's Mail Time!"

Does anyone actually remember that song from "Blue's Clues"? The one where the mail arrived and Steve/Joe absolutely went crazy with excitement and started singing and dancing? Well, that's a lot like what I felt like doing when I got the mail yesterday.

Now, I don't have a talking mailbox, so going to retrieve the mail isn't exactly an exciting activity. However, ever since Kris left for boot camp a month ago, I check the mail a lot more frequently (My mother used to do it.) and my heart skips a beat as I put the key in and twist it, thus opening the box. Up until yesterday, my heart sank with disappointment because there was no letter from Kris. I actually started convincing myself that I was just going to continue to write him every day and he wouldn't have time to write me back. I know that it's stupid and unhealthy but when you're upset, it's hard to be reasonable.

So yesterday when I opened the mailbox and saw his handwriting on a small, white envelope, I literally started shaking! My heart was pounding in my chest and my hands were trembling so fast and hard that it was extremely difficult to get the letter open. I ran into my house, flew up the stairs and called for my little sister, who was so excited that he wrote a small bit about her, too. Something as small as getting a letter in the mail, literally changed my entire attitude towards the situation.

When this process first began, I underestimated how hard it was going to be. For the first few days, I missed him, of course but I thought, "I can do this." Every day, without hearing from him via phone or letter, it started getting much harder and my heart got much heavier. But getting those three letters made everything worth it and gave me the boost that I so desperately needed back. He said that he is okay, that he is doing well, that it's tough and that he's looking forward to seeing me in 6 weeks. Seeing that it was only 6 more weeks definitely put it into perspective and for the first time in a month, I was truly so happy that I couldn't put it into words.

I am so proud of him, that I couldn't describe it if I tried. I can only imagine what he is going through, as he didn't go into detail about it in his letters. But those letters could not have come at a better time and knowing that he is thriving in that tough environment, makes my heart swell up with even more pride and love. Even though this is the toughest thing that we've ever had to do, I'm so happy that we're doing this and I know that it will only make us stronger as a couple. Yep, it makes us army strong.