I want to write about so many things that I just do not know where to begin! So, I did a tag. It’s sort of mindless, but they are fun, and you do get to know a little bit about me (and my husband too)! I swear the thoughts and words are there, and I will get them hopefully sooner than later.
1. How did you and your spouse meet?
We met through a mutual friend. I became friends with her in high school, and he met her at university. One evening Steven was having a small get together and happened to invite our friend Michelle, and I tagged along. We immediately hit it off. We were totally Myspace friends the next day (soooo we’re old).
We met through a mutual friend. I became friends with her in high school, and he met her at university. One evening Steven was having a small get together and happened to invite our friend Michelle, and I tagged along. We immediately hit it off. We were totally Myspace friends the next day (soooo we’re old).
2. How old were you when you two met?
I was 20, he was 23.
I was 20, he was 23.
3. How long have you been together?
We started dating at the end of March in 2007 – so, almost 7 years!
We started dating at the end of March in 2007 – so, almost 7 years!
4. Where are you and your spouse originally from?
The Sacramento area of California (Northern/Central)
The Sacramento area of California (Northern/Central)
5. How did you feel about him joining the military?
I think I was every emotion at first. I was scared that he would change. I was mad that the Army kept changing dates and time frames and we were apart longer than expected. I was happy that it was a whole new chapter for us. I was excited for the doors it would open for him and for us. I was… a little bit of everything. I still am, to be honest.
I think I was every emotion at first. I was scared that he would change. I was mad that the Army kept changing dates and time frames and we were apart longer than expected. I was happy that it was a whole new chapter for us. I was excited for the doors it would open for him and for us. I was… a little bit of everything. I still am, to be honest.
6. Where did your spouse go to Basic Training?
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
7. Has your spouse ever been deployed?
Yes. He was deployed from August to November of last year in Afghanistan. We got extremely lucky that it was so short. He was not in a safe place.
Yes. He was deployed from August to November of last year in Afghanistan. We got extremely lucky that it was so short. He was not in a safe place.
8. Ever been to his promotion ceremony?
No, but hopefully soon! He joined as a Specialist (E4) because he has a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology.
No, but hopefully soon! He joined as a Specialist (E4) because he has a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology.
9. How long have you been a military wife?
I’ve been Steven’s Wife since October 1st, 2011. Steven swore into the Army in August of 2012.
I’ve been Steven’s Wife since October 1st, 2011. Steven swore into the Army in August of 2012.
10. Did you marry him before or after he joined?
Before! The idea had not even crossed our minds yet.
Before! The idea had not even crossed our minds yet.
11. How did your husband propose?
Romantically! Steven took us for a few days away to our very favorite place in the world: Monterey, California. We had been there a day or two. THAT particular day we had spent at Old Fisherman’s Warf, Cannery Row, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and topped it off with dinner at Bubba Gump’s. We got back to our hotel and decided to take a walk on the beach. It was January, and it was California cold. He teasingly told me to go touch the water, and after some convincing, I finally did. I turned around and Steven was quite a ways away down the beach, running at me with a corked wine bottle in hand. He claimed to have found it and of course my immediate response was: is there a message in it?! AND luck would have it, it did! My sweet Steven had written a letter (had soaked it in tea and burnt it around the edges to make it look like it had indeed been lost at sea) explaining how much he loved me and how he could not imagine his life without me. When I got done reading it, he got down on one knee, and asked me to be his wife. YES! YES! YES!
Romantically! Steven took us for a few days away to our very favorite place in the world: Monterey, California. We had been there a day or two. THAT particular day we had spent at Old Fisherman’s Warf, Cannery Row, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and topped it off with dinner at Bubba Gump’s. We got back to our hotel and decided to take a walk on the beach. It was January, and it was California cold. He teasingly told me to go touch the water, and after some convincing, I finally did. I turned around and Steven was quite a ways away down the beach, running at me with a corked wine bottle in hand. He claimed to have found it and of course my immediate response was: is there a message in it?! AND luck would have it, it did! My sweet Steven had written a letter (had soaked it in tea and burnt it around the edges to make it look like it had indeed been lost at sea) explaining how much he loved me and how he could not imagine his life without me. When I got done reading it, he got down on one knee, and asked me to be his wife. YES! YES! YES!
12. Where did you get married?
Wilson Vineyards in Clarksburg, California. It’s BEAUTIFUL, it’s in the country, and it was AMAZING!
Wilson Vineyards in Clarksburg, California. It’s BEAUTIFUL, it’s in the country, and it was AMAZING!
13. How old were you two when you got married?
I was 25, he was 28.
I was 25, he was 28.
14. Did he wear his uniform on his wedding day?
Again, the Army was not even in our plan at that time.
Again, the Army was not even in our plan at that time.
15. Where is your spouse currently stationed?
Fort Riley, Kansas
Fort Riley, Kansas
16. Do you live on base?
Not currently!
Not currently!
17. How long were you married when you had to go through your first separation?
We had been married about ten months when he left for basic training. Seven months later he returned home for a few weeks before we moved to his first duty station.
We had been married about ten months when he left for basic training. Seven months later he returned home for a few weeks before we moved to his first duty station.
18. What is your favorite base so far?
Fort Sam Houston, Texas! That’s where Steven went to his MOS (job) training.
Fort Sam Houston, Texas! That’s where Steven went to his MOS (job) training.
19. Do you think your spouse looks good in his uniform?
Duh!
Duh!
20. Do you think military life is more advanced than civilian life?
I’m not entirely sure what this question is asking. Military life is like…. You have to live it to fully understand it, in my opinion. Before Steven joined I had a lot of opinions about it, and most of them were wrong. It’s NOT easy though. Yes, it’s guaranteed income for him, it means money for housing. It also means being separated A LOT (and a lot of that time you do not have any form of contact), not knowing if he is safe, living across the country (or in some cases, the world) from your friends and family, and living in a completely different place than you are used to (maybe not for all, but probably for most). It also comes with dealing with a lot of misunderstanding from the outside world. We are at war folks. The media only tells you what it thinks you should know.
I’m not entirely sure what this question is asking. Military life is like…. You have to live it to fully understand it, in my opinion. Before Steven joined I had a lot of opinions about it, and most of them were wrong. It’s NOT easy though. Yes, it’s guaranteed income for him, it means money for housing. It also means being separated A LOT (and a lot of that time you do not have any form of contact), not knowing if he is safe, living across the country (or in some cases, the world) from your friends and family, and living in a completely different place than you are used to (maybe not for all, but probably for most). It also comes with dealing with a lot of misunderstanding from the outside world. We are at war folks. The media only tells you what it thinks you should know.
21. Do you like the benefits you receive as a military dependent?
Yes. We have relatively good healthcare, we can live off post if we want (and we are), going on post to the commissary and exchange is nice.
Yes. We have relatively good healthcare, we can live off post if we want (and we are), going on post to the commissary and exchange is nice.
22. Do you have a lot of military wife friends?
Yes! Most of which I have never met in person.
Yes! Most of which I have never met in person.
23. What is the hardest part of the military life?
Being away from the ones you love, whether it is Steven who is away or us both being away from friends and family back home. Thank goodness for technology.
Being away from the ones you love, whether it is Steven who is away or us both being away from friends and family back home. Thank goodness for technology.
24. Do you own military wife stuff?
One of my very first and greatest milso friends, Julianne, bought me an Army Wife keychain when our husbands graduated from basic together (I love it and it has been on my keys ever since). I have three Army sweatshirts (none of which title me as wife). I bought a 3x T-shirt that says Army Wife & Fort Riley on it for $3, so it’s a pajamma shirt. I think that’s all… actually.
One of my very first and greatest milso friends, Julianne, bought me an Army Wife keychain when our husbands graduated from basic together (I love it and it has been on my keys ever since). I have three Army sweatshirts (none of which title me as wife). I bought a 3x T-shirt that says Army Wife & Fort Riley on it for $3, so it’s a pajamma shirt. I think that’s all… actually.
25. Do you support your spouse as a member of the military?
VERY much so. I would support Steven no matter what he did, though. He went to school for physical therapy and exercise science, and I supported him then (and learned a lot about anatomy in the process). He had several odd jobs in between college and the Army, and I backed him then, and for awhile was the only one with a steady career. AND You better believe I support him practicing what he went to school for and in A LOT worse conditions to better himself and his country! He’s so dang good at it too!
VERY much so. I would support Steven no matter what he did, though. He went to school for physical therapy and exercise science, and I supported him then (and learned a lot about anatomy in the process). He had several odd jobs in between college and the Army, and I backed him then, and for awhile was the only one with a steady career. AND You better believe I support him practicing what he went to school for and in A LOT worse conditions to better himself and his country! He’s so dang good at it too!
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My hub was an instructor at FLW, it’s crazy but I actually miss that place just a teensy bit 😉