Part 16 "Our Honeymoon"

Feb. 3rd,2008 we boarded a plane to the beautiful island of Hawaii......

Before I get into our wonderful story of heaven on earth I have to share my family's experience travelling back home.

To start off with remember I got married in February.....one of the coldest months of the year! Snow, ice, freezing rain....you name it, it was happening!

I guess I will start with my brother and sister.....they went to the airport together and said there goodbyes. My brother if I'm not mistaken missed one flight and had to find another one.

My sister also missed her flight and found another one and had to wait a little while later. She made the next flight and it was all going pretty smooth until they reached their destination.....on the other side of the country(California) the wind was abnormally strong. Every time the pilot tried to land it shoved the plane back in the air. Everyone on the plane was starting to panic. Almost everyone got 'sick' some more than once. Some were actually puking in the back of the seat! Passengers were hyperventilating, one man in particular was sweating and almost passed out! My sister was also one of those passengers who was freaking out and loosing everything she put in her tummy that morning! Can you imagine the smell????!!!!

The pilot decided that it was going to be impossible to land so they turned around and went to Arizona. They landed in Phoenix I think and had to take a bus to LAX. Talk about a trip!!!!!! My sister has said since that trip that she will never fly again if she doesn't have to!!!!lol

On to the rest of my family.....My parents and grandparents had all the same flights back so they all figured it would be a nice trip home......Well were they wrong!

They boarded their plane that morning and everything seemed fine. The weather was tolerable and they made it to Chicago where they had a layover.

It was time to board the plane again, everyone was seated and ready to take off when over the speaker the pilot told everyone that they couldn't take off because the runway was to icy. They didn't know how long it would be til they could take off so everyone needed to be patient.

So naturally they all thought maybe another thirty minutes.....I don't exactly know how long they waited but it was a long time!! No one was allowed to get off the plane. Can you imagine being held hostage on a plane for hours! It was stuffy and people were very rude! They ended up making it home safely but it definitely was trip they will NEVER forget!!!!!

~~~~~~~

So now back to our honeymoon!

We had a long flight ahead of us but we didn't care. We were sooo excited and just married! On the plane there was a TV that had our entire flight on it so we could see where we were at and how much time was left. It was really neat.

After a 13hr. flight we made it! As we were landing it seemed like a dream that we were actually in Hawaii! We got off the plane and walked into the airport. It was an outdoor airport! It didn't even look like an airport!

We got our luggage and headed to the rental car place. Rented our car and then headed to the hotel. The lobby was outside!!!!! I had never been in such a place that everything was outdoors!

We made our way to our room....It was so nice. Everything was so 'Hawaiian'!!! We had a great view looking out to the ocean and the city of Waikiki.

After we settled into our room we decided to take a stroll in the city to take it all in. We ate at a Red Lobster since we didn't really know the area.

Day one we found a tourist agent to help plan out the things we wanted to do while we were there.

The first thing on our list was to go to a luau. It was sooo fun!!!! So much dancing and the food....OMG.....the food was out of this world good. We actually got to see them pull the pig out of the ground after it had been cooking all day in a hole. The pig was so tender and juicy. The music was great too. I can say from experience though that the famous drink in Hawaii was absolutely disgusting!!!! All the other drinks we amazing though:)

Day two I woke up and I was in excruciating pain! I ended up in the urgent care on my honeymoon! I had the worst UTI I had ever had in my life!!! The explanation of why I got that will come later:)

I got some strong antibiotics and within a few hours I was feeling better! I felt sooo bad for this happening....ON OUR HONEYMOON:( For most of the day we took it easy so I could feel better. We ate at an awesome burger place for lunch. That evening we took a ride on a submarine. We went do to the depths of ocean, about a 100ft down. We learned so much on that little tour. One thing that was really cool was that once you get down to about 60ft. the natural color red can't be seen anymore, so the red polish on my nails looked black. We saw turtles, sharks, lots of fish, reefs, all man made, but still really neat. It is an experience that I will never forget for sure!

By day three I was much better. Our agenda that day was to go to Pearl Harbor. If you ever go to Hawaii you have to go. It is the most humbling experience. We were able to meet a man that was on Pearl Harbor the day of the attack. I think he was 17 years old at the time.

It was amazing to see parts of the USS Arizona still above water and the amount of oil that still comes out of the ship. Walking onto the memorial definitely makes you thankful for what you have and for the men and women who gave their lives on that unforgettable day! All the names on the wall just broke my heart.

We also were able to tour the USS Missouri and it was an experience too. We were able to see the dent that a kamikaze left in the side of the ship. That is also the ship that the Japanese surrendered on, to end World War 2. I've never been a history person but I really did enjoy learning it. I think that if I had learned everything that way in school I would have retained it much better!lol I have always been a more visual person!;)

We toured a museum, saw the air fields that were attacked. All the hangers still have all the bullet holes and everything. We also saw the tower and stuff that has been left exactly how it was that day. It was also used in the movie "Pearl Harbor".

Day four was a day planned to learn about the Polynesian cultures. Our first stop was the Dole Plantation. On the way there the tour guide kept talking about a dole whip. So when we got there he asked a trivia question and Tom got the answer right so he won a dole whip!!! Let me tell you, IT IS AMAZING!!!!!! It has no milk in it but it has that creamy pineapple ice cream flavor but yet so light. We wish we could get our hands on one again in the worst way!


Our next stop was the Polynesian culture center. We were able to see how all the different cultures live and how they are uniquely different. We watched a guy climb a palm tree half naked and bare foot using just his hands and feet! Saw lots of dances and many different clothing styles. All in all a really neat experience.


We then went to see waterfalls and Hawaii's beauty. We saw the only palace in the USA and a smaller version of a temple that is in Japan.


Day five we had to get up extra early. We hopped on another tour bus and made our way to the airport. We got on a little plane and flew to the Big Island where all the volcanoes are. Unfortunately the sulfur was so bad that day it was hard to see stuff and there were certain areas we couldn't go because of it. It was still amazing! We went to the museum they have and learned so much about the volcanoes. We took a tour through the rain forest area and went through a tunnel called a lava tube. We went to the black sand beaches. I have to say that was probably the most awesome thing I saw.


When we got back that evening we were so exhausted but wanted to shop a little so we walked through some shops.....Oh! And had to buy both of us some new sunglasses because we think we left them on the little plane! Yeah, I had just bought him a new pair of expensive glasses for Christmas and we lost them! Luckily we were able to find the same pair in a store so we replaced them!lol After shopping we went to a restaurant and got food to go and just took it back to the room. Of course that night was the night that they had a big celebration because the Pro Bowl was that weekend so we had such a hard time going to sleep.



Day six we kept free for ourselves to just relax. We slept in and spent most of the afternoon at the beach. That evening we went to this really nice seafood restaurant and I had the best mahi mahi I had ever had and of course Tom had steak!!!hehehe



Day seven was time for us to head home:( Our flight didn't leave til that evening so we did a little last minute sight seeing. We were definitely sad to leave but look forward to going again!! Actually we can't wait!!!! We talk about it daily:)



We have so many wonderful memories that we will never forget!



Stay tuned for what came only a month later................................

Part 15 "The Wedding"

Planning a wedding can obviously be very stressful but this was my second one and it seemed soooo much easier and less hectic.


First thing we did was get the church nailed down and find a reception site.


Now just keep in mind that I was doing this from California and the wedding was going to be in Ohio......Some thought I was crazy, but I like to call it LOVE!!!!


I had been to the church a few times, considering it was Tom's home church, so I knew it was going to be nice. The reception site on the other hand i had not seen but my soon to be mom-in-law had and she said it was beautiful. I completely trusted her judgement and the price was good so I said lets take it!


I think in one day I bought like a gazillion bridal magazines!!!!! (just had to throw that in there!!!!)


I found my dress,the bride's maid's dresses, and flower girl's dress right away and started picking our my flowers.


The flowers weren't hard to decide because our colors were red, black, and white. My mil suggested the florist that they had always gone through and so of course I agreed on them.


All the little details were coming together and I was getting even more excited by the minute!


My mil went to a bridal expo and found a bakery and DJ that we could go through. She was so sweet and offered to pay for whatever kind of wedding cake we wanted. I just love her sooo much:)


So in December of 07 I went to Ohio for about a week to finalize a lot things and while I was there my mil and sil threw a shower for me. All the family came and some close friends of the family. I was able to meet more of the family and it was just great.


A couple weeks later both Tom and I flew back to Ohio for Christmas and we were able to take him to see where we were going to have our reception. He loved it just as much as I did the first time I saw it.


After Christmas it was time to work on the center pieces and get them sent off to Ohio. Thank goodness for all the special packing accessories because it is a miracle that everything made it in one piece.


January few by and before I knew it, it was the week before the wedding and I was saying goodbye to my "fiance" to get on a plane and go back to Ohio.


Tom was going to come a few days later because of work.


My parents came a few days later as well.....but without their luggage in hand....the airline LOST all of their stuff!!!!! It took two or three days for them to get everything! IT. WAS. CRAZY.


My mom, mil, and I did the all the party favors and it was really fun. It was the first thing that the three of us were able to do together in all this wedding planning.


The day before the wedding all of us girls went and got pampered. Mani's and pedi's:) It was so relaxing and fun.


That evening the rehearsal went very smoothly and dinner at Famous Dave's was awesome!


Tom and I said our last I LOVE YOU'S that night as fiance's and then we left with the anticipation of seeing each other at the altar.


Him and all the guys went to Dave and Busters and I went back to the hotel with my family.


More family came in later that night and i even had a few family members surprise me and come:)

~~~~~~~

Feb. 2, 2008 had come!!! It was finally here:)

That morning I took a nice long bath to relax and reflect on how I had got to this day that was going to change my life.

I had a hair and makeup appointment for myself and the girls scheduled that morning. The salon had set up the works....They had pastries, orange juice and champagne, coffee, and just great service!

All the girls looked beautiful and the wonderful stylists made me beautiful too.

We headed back to the house to get ready and wait for the photographer to show up. The girls helped me get dressed and do the finishing touches.

Photographer and limo driver showed up at the same time so we quickly took some pics inside the house and a few outside ones as well. We all jumped into limo and headed to the church.

In the limo was a bottle of champagne, so we thought we should open it and have a sip or two.....Well to our surprise when we picked it up...IT. WAS. EMPTY.!!!!!!!!!!!

The guys had been picked up first and taken to the church and they downed it and didn't leave any for us!! How rude!!!lol

We made it to the church and snuck me in the back so Tom couldn't see me:) I sat in the back room anxiously waiting to see my groom. The flowers showed up and they were just beautiful.

A beautiful bouquet of red roses with one white rose in the middle for me to hold, and a bouquet of white roses with one red rose in the middle for all my girls to hold.

I could here people talking, laughing, and having little reunions.

Finally the coordinator came back and told us it was time!

The music started to play and the girls walked down the aisle, then the little ring bear walked down the aisle shooting people because apparently, I asked Super Spy to be in my wedding and my cute little flower girl followed giving funny looks to people. I have found that children are really the main attraction in a wedding, not the bride or groom!!!!

Then the music stopped.......It was finally my turn.....what i had been waiting seven months for had finally come.

I walked up the stairs and came around the corner and I saw my groom dressed in his dress blues waiting for me at front....

Everyone stood to their feet and watched as I walked past with my arm wrapped around my daddy's.

Smiles and tears filled the room. It was a very bittersweet moment for both families.

For mine it was because this finalized the first chapter of my life and now I was starting a new chapter and for his it was that his father was not there in person to see his oldest son make one of the most life changing decisions he will ever make.

We stopped at the altar and the pastor said a few words and then asked who was giving me away. My daddy handed me off to my love and with vows said softly through tears and prayers recited we were made one. We sealed it with a kiss and became Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Frounfelker.

After the ceremony many pictures were taken and then we invited all of our guests to make their way to the reception and we would join them shortly.

The photographer took us to a few locations to take a few more pictures and it was so fun.

It felt so surreal that this was really happening to us.

The limo driver dropped us off at the reception and all our guests were waiting patiently for us.

When I walked into the banquet room I was just in awe. It was so beautiful. Exactly what I imagined and had put together. The room was dim with huge chandeliers with crystals on them, the tables were placed perfectly with shiny red table clothes and the chairs had white covers with black sashes on them, the center pieces were a ball of red roses raised in a black flower pot(if that even makes sense), it sat on a glass mirror with rose pedals placed delicately on/around it and then a few candles to set the mood. And of course the cute little party favors which were black boxes with red bows on them and we put m&m's with our names and wedding date on them, and a few other valentine candies inside. The coordinators did such a wonderful job.

We toasted to our life together....They brought our food out....MMM...The food was soooo good. They even made a special plate just for Tom because I knew he wouldn't like everything on the menu. He is so spoiled!!!!

I danced with my daddy and then my husband stepped in and we had our first dance as husband and wife.

Everyone danced and seemed to have a great time. We did the bouquet and garter toss and then we did the cake.

It was a three tier square cake with butter cream frosting. Red ribbon wrapped itself around every tier and at the top was a bride and her marine.

It tasted amazing but I only got ONE bite!!!!!!!

Once the party died down we family and some close friends headed to my in laws house. We opened our gifts(as quickly as we could hint hint). Everyone was so generous and gave us such nice things.

Finally we said our goodbyes and headed to the hotel. It was already past midnight and we had to get up at 4am to catch our plane!!!!! Needless to say we didn't get much sleep:)

The next day we were headed to the closest place to heaven........

Part 14

Sorry it has been a while.......

Our road trip back to California was full of scenery and lots of conversations.

Conversations about the future, about the present, about dreams and aspirations, and you know about the stupid driver driving to slow in the fast lane!!!lol

Then religion came up in conversation through the topic of Noah and the Ark. We were driving through good ole Texas.....

We started talking about the animals and such then we would start talking about something else and so on an so forth.

We both started to realize that our stories weren't matching. The difference was that i had the Bible to back me up and he didn't.

He was raised Lutheran and was taught a little different then I was.

He realized that he didn't understand a lot of what I was talking about and was really unsure of a lot things. He wanted answers and was completely open to hearing them from me.

I was able to tell him Bible verses that I knew that backed up everything I was saying.

It definitely was amazing what God was doing on our little road trip.

When we got back to Cali he decided that he wanted to talk to pastor and get some of his questions answered.

Sunday came and we talked to pastor....Tom's life was changed that day....He got the assurance of his salvation and decided he wanted to get baptized "again".
A few weeks later we was biblically baptized and his life hasn't been the same since.

~~~~~~

Once coming back home we started making it "normal" again.

I had taken a month off of school to be with him so it was time to go back, and he started back to work.

May and June went by and July was here. We went up to Big Bear, Ca. for the 4th of July with my family and stayed in an awesome cabin that a family friend let us borrow.

My mom and I thought that this would be the weekend that he would propose but it never happened.:(

We came back home and still nothing......

But....on July 9th, 2007 something was different.

When he came home from work that afternoon he had flowers for me(very out of the blue) and he told me I wasn't to make dinner or even help him in the kitchen(again very out of the blue)!!!!

He made steak, baked potatoes, and green beans and a salad. He served me and everything!!!!

We ate and talked about our days.. but something was off. He seemed really nervous, just not himself.

So me being the "talker" that I am I wouldn't shut up!!! Finally he caught me in between sentences and started telling me how much he loved me and wanted to be with me forever:) I know how romantic right?!

Then he got on one knee and put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a beautiful diamond ring. He took my hand and asked me to be his wife:) It was so exciting I was even shaking!

Of course right away we had to tell our parents so we got in the car and on our way to my parents house we called his mom to tell her the exciting news. She was thrilled for us and so excited.

We told my parents moments later and showed off my gorgeous ring:)

Everyone was so happy for us.

We immediately chose a date and started planning. We wanted to get married in Ohio and I wanted it in the winter, partly for the scenery and also because I didn't want a long engagement!!! They are so overrated!!!Lol

I can't tell how excited I was to start planning our big day!!!! I had been saving up and iI knew exactly what I wanted and I didn't care what I had to pay....well I kind of cared but I knew I could splurge a little bit:)


So a little under seven months is what I had to plan this amazing wedding............

An urgent hault!

I'm going to take a few minutes away from my story because I need to write about "today" instead of "yesterday" RIGHT NOW!!!!

Over that past five years I have learned that know matter what happens to you in life, life still goes on. It doesn't stop. Not for you, not for me, not for anyone.

Well lately I have been having a hard time dealing with that.

Lots of changes have been happening in just my life recently that I am dealing with but furthermore changes in the people around me have been having an affect on me.

Before I go on you all must know how blessed I am to have the family God has given me and that I DO know how much I am loved and how special I am.

Through my story you have all learned of things I have gone through and you have all been so gracious about it.

When I lost my husband almost five years ago there was also a family who lost their son. The pain they must have gone through and still do I hope I will never have to understand.

That family over the last five years have gone through their own set of trials and have pulled through the best way they knew how. They have moved forward in their lives and have kept on living.

Because of the distance, hurt, and pain that is still there I have not been a part of that moving forward.

Mostly my choice but not in every case.

If none of this makes sense I do apology but I am just letting my fingers go to town with whatever is going on in this brain of mine....I know scary!!!!

In the recent months my brother-in-law, who is now all grown up and is very hard for me to comprehend because the last time I saw him he was still a teenager, is now courting a young woman who he originally met because of mine and Matt's wedding.

I know this all sounds wonderful and it is....

But I don't get to be a part of it!!!

The families are meeting for the "second" time this weekend and the two people responsible for this (excluding the Lord of course, who is ultimately the one responsible) won't be there.

I'm so happy for the cute little couple but I'm also very jealous.

Jealous because I'm not included in this, jealous because Matt can't be there, jealous because I feel like my place is being taken.

I know these feeling are absurd but this is how I feel at this moment.

My husband encouraged me to write about this to help get it out of my heart because it is breaking right now.

I just want to be happy and feel happy for them too.....

They get to move forward and bring new people into the family and I get to see it happen.

I feel like a part of me is dead and only they can give it life.

Being with them though is too hard because then I will realize once again what I lost and that is to painful to bear.

I have tears streaming down my face at this very minute because I hurt so bad.

So please anyone that reads this please pray for me as I face this mountain that I am climbing.

With all of that we are in November, the hardest month of the year for me.

This is the month that Matt and I did everything together. Thanksgiving was the only holiday we shared together and I just have so many happy memories with him during this month.

Thank you all for listening as I continue to give you my heart.

Part 13

I saw HIM!!!!!!!!!





Dressed in his Cami's with a pack on his back.





Our eyes met and we literally pushed our way through the crowded field to get to each other.





I jumped into his strong arms and held onto him so tightly. The feeling i felt at that moment is one i will never forget. We held each other so close and kissed each other so gently. To feel his lips against mine made our love feel so real again.





Once i got my moment with him, he grabbed his mom and held her close. She cried such happy tears knowing her son was safe again on American soil. He also gave his brother a "brotherly" hug and then greeted my family as well with hugs and smiles.





We were all so happy to have him back.....





We packed up his things and drove back to my house. He was able to shower and put on "civilian" clothes. If you have never been in the military then you will never understand what a luxury it is to wear something other than a uniform.





Once he was ready we all went to dinner. It was so nice to sit around a table with both of our families for the first time and see how we all just fit perfectly! Our families got along great and we were just so comfortable with each other.





By the end of the night everyone was so exhausted from all the excitement. After his family went to bed we just sat on the couch and cuddled for awhile. To finally talk to him face to face after not being able to for 7 months felt like seeing each other for the first time all over again. The little things you take for granted when you have then everyday are the things that military spouses hold dear to their hearts every second they have with their beloved. Holding hands, a warm hug, and smile from across the room to let you know that your the only one they see, a sweet kiss on the cheek, the soft words spoken....I LOVE YOU, and the list goes on. Those are all the things i was holding dear that night.





*~~*





The next morning we had to take his mom and brother back to the airport. Their plane left out of San Diego so we decided since we would already be down there we would make a trip out of it. So we booked a hotel room and made some plans. We went to Seaport Village for the day, out to dinner and the next morning to a quaint little breakfast spot in Little Italy and lots of shopping too!





We came back home to reality and he had to go back to work.





After they go on a deployment they have to go through some classes and make sure they are "ok".



Once he did all of that it was time for a nice vacation for the two of us.





We bought plane tickets to Ohio and he couldn't wait to show me around where he came from.





He is a total city boy and I'm small town girl with the city stuck inside of me so i couldn't wait either!!!!





We boarded the plane and were both very anxious and excited to get to our destination.





We landed in Cleveland, Ohio with our carry-ons in hand waiting for them to allow us to get off the plane.





Little did we know that his whole family was waiting for us at the gate! Yes, the gate! We didn't even know you could do that anymore. But we found out that at certain airports they allow you to wait at the gate if you are awaiting the arrival of military personnel.





They had signs and American flags and were dressed in red, white, and blue. It was so special. People in the airport stopped just to see what was going on and when they realized there was hero standing there they shook his hand and thanked him for his service. One man came up to him in tears thanking him. It was definitely a humbling experience and just plain awesome!





Our two weeks there were great. I think i got to meet almost all of his family. He took me to all the neat neighborhoods, he took me to downtown Cleveland, we went to Cedar Point which is one of the coolest amusement parks, lots of shopping took place and eating at lots of good restaurants too. We also traded in his car for a car we both wanted so bad.





With that new car came a road trip because why would we want to leave it back in Ohio!lol





That road trip changed our life forever....

Part 12

It was the night before the "event" I was dreading.........



He would be gone for seven months to a war zone. That night we went to dinner at my parents house. My mom made a nice dinner and we had Tom's favorite dessert, angel food cake, strawberries, and ice cream. We visited for a while and had a great time.



We went back to my house and spent the rest of the evening together just the two of us. It was our last night together and we wanted to be selfish and it just be us. I had given him a little gift which was a Bible I had engraved with his name on and I could tell he just loved it.



As I told him good night I laid there and cried. I wanted to be so strong for him and for me but I was breaking inside.



I had just found love again and now I had to let go. I didn't want to....



Part of me wanted to just say goodbye so it would be easier but I loved him too much and knew that would just kill him.



To say having faith in God at that moment was a little hard is a total understatement. It. Was. Really. Hard.



I knew this situation was completely out of my control and I couldn't protect him or keep him safe and that made me that much more vulnerable. I didn't have control of the last man that was ripped away from me, and what if it happened again? Difference this time was that I was choosing to take the chance.



Most people thought I was crazy but something deep down told me everything would be ok. I held onto that like I had never held onto anything.





4:00AM came way to quick that next morning. I watched him pack the last few items in his seabag and I put some sweat pants on and one of his shirts and a USMC sweatshirt. We drove all the way to the Marine base hand in hand not wanting to ever let go. My sister and brother went with us so I wouldn't be alone and so he had some support.



He was supposed to board the bus at like 6:30 that morning but if you know the Marine Corps than you know that didn't happen!!!!!



He would leave me here and there once to get his rifle and a few times for formations. Everytime I prepared myself for that to be it.



Finally at about 8:30AM it was time to really say goodbye. The moment we both were procrastinating. He held me so tight and I sunk into his chest. I didn't want to let go of him. We stared into each others eyes trying to make a lasting memory of each others faces. We kissed and hugged some more.



Then I let go........Not knowing if I would ever be held again by that wonderful man's arms.



He boarded the bus and I watched as he sat in his seat. He waved at me til I couldn't see him anymore. The tears just streamed down my face. My heart was breaking I didn't know if he would be back to put it back together.



He called me from someone's phone on our drive home. You would have thought I hadn't talked to him in days!!!!lol



When I got home I got ready, it literally took me like an hour just to shower. I would be fine and then I would think of him or see something of his and I would fall apart all over again.



Once I finally finished getting ready my sister and I headed to school.



A month prior we started cosmetology school together. I wanted to go so bad and figured this would be a perfect time to go since he was going to be gone. I needed something to keep me busy and preoccupied.



He called me again later that day. I think he was Hungary. His plane had caught on fire so they were stuck there for a day or so. The next day I received a dozen beautiful red roses. I think someone loved me or something.



Once he made it to Iraq I got a phone call. In the beginning the phone calls were spuratic. when he finally got settled I received a phone call almost everyday.



He and I are quite old-fashioned and wanted to do the whole snail mail thing. I wrote him a letter everyday and he wrote as often as he could. I didn't just write a letter I actually put stickers all over it and did special ones for every holiday, I sprayed it with my perfume that was his favorite, I put a kiss at the end and just tried to make it as special as possible.



It's kind of funny.....Everyone always knew when the mail arrived cause they could all smell it. Even their letters smelled good because of his.



That seven months were long yet short. He called almost everyday unless he was on a mission, then I wouldn't hear from anywhere from 3 to 7 days. Yes I know I was very lucky!!!!!



I talked to his mom once a week to stay in touch and keep each other updated on him. I actually met his family for the first time while he was deployed. I flew out there all alone for a few days. We hit it off right away and we all got along wonderfully. They were all so sweet and accepting.



I never got used to him being gone but life did form a new routine. It didn't make it any easier but I was living.



He missed thanksgiving, the one year anniversary of Matt's death, christmas, new year's, my birthday, valentine's day, and easter. All of those days were exceptionally hard but my family and the Lord got me through them.



The last month before he came home felt like a turtle moving across the street. I thought the day would never come.

The few weeks before his homecoming date changed a zillion and one times....His poor mom had to change planes tickets so many times and had to PAY for it!!!!!

The house was in tip top shape everything in its place and sparkly clean. I picked up his family from the airport and they stayed with me for a few days before he came home.

On that Sunday, his homecoming, we went to church and had a great lunch at my parents. That afternoon just dragged along. I finally got the phone call i had been anticipating for forever. He called and said they had just landed at March Airforce Base and would be boarding the buses soon and be making there way to 29 Palms Marine Base. That was at about 4PM. So we packed ourselves up in the cars and headed out for our 30 min. drive to the base.

We pulled up to victory field and there were already lots of families there awaiting the arrival of their loved ones. I had the biggest not in my stomach because I was so excited/nervous to see my prince charming in combat boots.

Thinking it wasn't going to be that long before he got there we didn't bring chairs or anything so we either had to stand the whole time or sit in dirt that was supposed to be a grassy field!!!!

I got another phone call when they were just entering the base so we all started to get really excited. Then we found out they had to drop of their rifles so it would be yet another hour! We actually saw there bus go right past us and it was like a child seeing disneyland but not being able to go.

Finally they DJ that was keeping everyone informed said they were on their way over to the field.

It was time.....Time to see the man of my dreams........

The buses pulled up, all three of them. Hundreds of people waiting. The doors opened to the buses and they started to poor out.

Lots of men wearing camis with their covers on and backpacks on their backs.......How was I ever going to find him????!!!!!!

Then........I.........Saw............stayed tuned...........

Part 11

Sorry I've been gone for soooo long!!! Life has been happening right in front of my eyes lately!







So.....Where were we????







That's right!







I was about to get into the special part of my story........





He left that evening with the guys to get ready for the start of a new week. The next day I couldn't stop thinking about him. I still had my concerns but I something kept drawing me towards him. I decided to text him to see how his day was going and to see if he was bored. He was a marine stuck in the barracks.....of course he was bored!lol





So I left it open for him to ask me out if he wanted to. He did and Aug. 25, 2006 was our very first date. He took me to a little Italian restaurant in town and it was great! We talked about everything. All of the things I was unsure of we figured out expect one! He decided to confuse me with feelings he might have still had for his ex-girlfriend. He told me that he would have to figure them out when he went home on leave. So now he wanted to play hard to get!! Game on! I know all about that game so it was on.





The week went on and we talked almost everyday and hung out a couple more times. That Friday he left for pre-deployment leave and I had no clue where that left us. I figured we would go back to being friends and I find someone else.





I promised I would call him every hour to keep him from falling asleep and every conversation he would bring up the "ex". It really started to bother me and by that night I was in tears with our best friend Matt over it. He finally told me I needed to just tell him how I felt and be completely honest with him.





So the next hour came around and I called him. He could tell something was bothering me and I told him that I was worried he was going to get back together with his ex-girlfriend. He reassured me that wasn't going to happen because he liked me sooo much and wanted to be with me and only me! I was so thrilled I couldn't bare it. I had the biggest smile on my face and I could hear it in his voice that he had one too.



He was going to be home for about two weeks......He told his mom all about me.....We talked every day and were just in our own little world..........I think we totally forgot that we was going to be leaving to go the sand box.



At just about our two week point we were on the phone saying sweet nothings to each when he kind of paused.....I could tell he wanted to say something but he was holding back. He said he really didn't want to do this over the phone but he couldn't hold back any longer.



I swallowed really hard and my heart started to race.....



"I love you"......Were the words I heard on the other end of phone!!!!!



"I love you too".....I was so thrilled he finally said them because I was dying to say the same thing but I promised myself I would never say it first.



He came back a few days later and I picked him up at the airport where he greeted me with our first kiss. It was so sweet. Very gentle.



Now the timer was started. We had about three weeks together before he left me for 7 months.



Those weeks were so special and we took advantage of every moment we had together. We spent our evenings watching movies and talking for hours and our weekends were spent going to the mall or at the beach. I couldn't believe I was actually "in love" again! It was so amazing.



I tried not to think about the upcoming event because my heart literally would stop. I couldn't imagine losing another man.



His date had changed two or three times in the last week before he left. On one hand it was relieving because I knew that meant I had more time but on the other hand it just meant I had to completely prepare myself all over again.



You would think only being together for one month it would be no biggie but for us we had already talked about "our" wedding and a life together after this "event". We had already committed ourselves to each other for life.



It was the night before and I just didn't know if I could do it.............