5 Years - Happy Anniversary!

It has been 5 years that Mr. Man and I have been together. Five years of fun loving family adventures! It is crazy to think that 5 years ago I married my high school sweetheart. 5 years ago, I was 17 and barely graduated from high school. 5 years ago I said "I do" and moved to another state.

Our life together has been remarkable. We have done exactly what we have wanted and so much more. Yes, we each have given up some things in life for this adventure, but it has never stopped us from reaching out to achieve our goals and have our own life. My husband has given me the greatest opportunity to be my own person, have my own friends, and create my own future. We may be as one, but we also reach out to meet our own needs and goals in life. It has been 4 years that I have been unemployed. 4 years of being a stay at home wife/Mom and half of that a full time student. He has given me the courage to reach out and make my dreams come true. Some say fairy tales are not true, do not happen. But I beg to differ. Our life has seemed to work itself out and things have happened in the most perfect timing. I have always said that God was on our side, and he always seems to prove himself (not that he needs to). Mr. Man may not be the first person I see when I wake up or the last person I see when I lay my head down at night, but he is forever in my thoughts and dreams. Baby A is so lucky to have such a wonderful Dad, and I know she already knows it. It's such an amazing feeling to be in love, and know that you did everything right... that all this was meant to be. I have never felt so lucky and blessed in my life. To know that my husband sacrifices just about everything for his family is such an amazing thing he could do for us.

Most military wives feel that they have to live in the shadows of their husbands. It's them that gets the recognition for their hard work and sacrifices... and sometimes the families left behind do not get that appreciation and respect that they deserve. I have never once felt like I live in the shadow of my husband. I do not think people understand the sacrifice I (and our daughter) make as part of his family, but I do not ever feel like I am forgotten or just a bump on a log. Mr. Man encourages me to do my own thing, create my own life, support myself, do my own things, be my own person, love in my own way, do everything my own way and the way I want, the way that makes me happy and satisfied. And honestly, even though I technically can not speak for him, I believe he feels the same way. I believe he knows he can do what he pleases, go where he wants, be who he wants to be, have his own friends, create his own future, and everything else. And I think this is what makes our love so strong. Knowing that we are our own separate people, but in the end we are as one. I am proud to call him my husband and the father of my child. He is the most amazing gift God could have ever given me, and for that I will never take him for granted.

On this day, we celebrate 5 years of marriage a part, physically. But emotionally we are in step every second of the way.