Military Families Support Group

I hope this will help someone....

Brian and I have been married for 2 years now. We were high school sweethearts, and we dated for 3 years. We are from a small country town called Hammon Oklahoma. It'll always be home sweet home to us no matter where we live. When we got married Brian showed no signs or didn't even mention that he had thought about the military. It wouldn't have bothered me if he did, because I come from a military family. I am VERY proud of that. One month into our marriage Brian desides to quit school and work and join. I admit it shocked me because we had talked about it before but it was always about me joining not him. But I supported him 100% not only because it was my husband but because I respected his desision.

Well needless to say he joined the Army and chose Mental Health Specialist (68X) as his MOS. He left and did Basic Training in Ft. Leonardwood Mo. Yea, it was pretty hard. It was the first time in 3 years that we would be away for more than 2 weeks. I really do believe I have like a seperation anxiety to some sort, because Brian is everyting to me. I cried about then I kinda just went into my only little place and told myself that I had to "suck it up". If I break down....so will Brian. I'm his other half as he is mine. So instead of dwelling on not getting to see or talk to my best friend and husband I decided to take that time and grow as an individual. I went to college and did my own thing.

I really took a giant leap into becoming ME without him. It is sad to say that but I realized it was a good thing. I became SO independent, but I still NEED and LOVE Brian. I learned that I don't have to depend on someone else to have a good day or to make me happy. I can do that on my own, and it is an awesome feeling. But with Brian around he makes it easier for me to get happy or have a good time. Brian and I are SO happy together and we are like "peas and carrots"(to quote Forrest Gump). I try not to let Brian be my "crutch" to feeling good. I see him as a "stepping stone" to being happy. You get me? I hope so.

I do worry about things and whether or not he could get deployed. I REALLY miss my family and being so far from home. I know we are truly BLESSED though. Not many young couple our age (from back home) get to travel, meet new people, have medical insurance, have a steady paycheck, or actually have their own car. If Brian didn't join the Army, we would have waited at least 3 or 4 years before we had kids, because we didn't have the money to afford a kid much less insuracne. Since he did we had Miss Janet Sue, and now that she is here I don't know what I would do without her. You know?

So what I'm saying the military has really been a blessing to us, but I don't let the worring or the what-ifs run or dictate my/our life. The Bible says, "Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow as enough worries of its own". Whether if one agrees with reading the Bible that is a good quote. Am I right? You can't let one worry turn into 2 then 3 worries then you'll forget what you first started worring about. Life is hard but if it was any easier they would call it something else. You just have to take one thing at a time, take one step at a time, take life as it comes at you, and don't sweat the small stuff.



Laura


*I wrote this in my journal*