Exactly one year ago today, I made the best decision of my life (aside from salvation) to marry the love of my life and best friend. It's been an interesting journey this year. After returning from our honeymoon in Colorado Springs, we began our lives in a new town with no friends and no jobs. When we moved to Emporia, we were both nervous because everything was so completely new to us but we were excited to be starting the new chapter of our lives. Within two weeks of getting married, Cameron and I got plugged in to Flint Hills Christian Church where we quickly made friends and started to get involved as part of the church family. Money was tight because it turns out that jobs are sparse in Emporia but we somehow made it by on the little nest egg that we had saved up before the wedding. We spent a lot of our time during the summer doing church activities, spending time with new friends, and taking long walks along the railroad tracks. In August, we both started taking classes from Emporia State University where he was studying secondary education in history and I was studying elementary education. Life got busy but we still always made time for each other. In September, Cameron and I somehow both found jobs. While mine was not the most desirable of positions, it was a job. We made it through. By the time Christmas started drawing near, I had taken on another seasonal part-time job and was really feeling the stress. Cameron was always waiting for me even when I got home late at night with a hug ready. Miraculously, Cameron and I were both able to get a full week of work off during the week of Christmas and we both really enjoyed the break and just spending time with each other. In January, it was back to school and work and that is when Cameron really started talking about joining the Marine Corps. I was a little surprised at first but I started getting to used to the idea after a few weeks of talking about it. Sometime during the beginning of February, Cameron and I came to the conclusion that joining would be the best thing for us in the long run. I never imagined that it would all happen so fast. Cameron and I did TONS of research on the Corps and on February 13th, Cameron went and talked to the recruiter for the first time. On February 14th, we both went and talked to the recruiter together. Everything was crazy from that point on. We were traveling back and forth trying to find documents and filling out paper work and making many trips to Topeka for whatever it was that we had to do there. Cameron's scheduled ship out date was May 1st but he was on stand-by for April 1st and that is when he ended up going. I didn't know until that morning so naturally I was not prepared emotionally for what was to come. Leaving my husband at the hotel in Kansas City knowing that I wouldn't see him or hear his voice for three months was the absolutely hardest thing that I had ever had to do but looking back now, I am glad that he left in April instead of May. I'm glad that we are close to being done with basic now. In 24 days, I will be reunited with the love of my life, my one and only, my best friend. These past few months have been rough and full of day to day challenges but I am so glad that we didn't wait to get married. God's plan is always so much better than our own and I have been learning so many things on a daily basis. I am so thankful to have such an amazing husband who loves God and loves me and is always looking to do what is best for our little family. I love him so much and I thankful for him everyday! I'm sad that we are not able to spend today together but I am so glad that we are married. People always ask if I still would have married Cameron if I had known that he was going to join the Marine Corps and the answer is ABSOLUTELY 100 PERCENT YES! I love my husband with my whole heart and I would have married him regardless of his occupation. :)
Photo credit goes to my lovely sister-in-law, Kara Cunningham.