Brett and I talked everyday and all day for the next month. We talked about our hopes and dreams, what the military was like, where we both grew up and how we could not wait for his Christmas leave when we would actually be able to meet in person. During the time of getting to know each other, Brett found out that he would be going on his first deployment in April. I was the first person he told and as soon as he did, my heart dropped. I knew in that moment that I was really starting to care about him.
December 17, 2012 was finally the day that we were going to see each other in person! I was so nervous that I couldn't eat a thing. I had to work for a few hours that night and we decided that we would meet up after I was finished with work. Time felt like it was barely moving but 9pm finally came around and it was time to go meet this good looking Marine I had opened up to over the last month! I called Rebecca freaking out. After all she had been there since the beginning of this whole thing him and I had going on and I needed to release some nerves before I saw him. I talked to her for a few minutes and she assured me that everything was going to be alright and if I needed anything to call her back. I pulled up next to his truck on the passenger side, looked through my window at him and he smiled. The second I saw him all my nerves went away and it was like I had known him forever. We both got of our vehicles and stood in the parking lot just staring at each other and smiling ear to ear. I finally was able to spit out some words and mentioned how good it was to finally meet him in person. He gave me the biggest hug and said how he was glad to finally be home. We went back to my apartment and just talked for hours and hours and watched The Notebook.
I've never really believed in the whole 'love at first sight' thing, but there was just something about Brett that made my heart skip a few beats. We hung out with each other as much as possible while he was home because soon he would be leaving for his next duty station in California and didn't know when we would be seeing each other again. He introduced me to all his close friends and even his Dad and Sister. Some may say things were moving a little quick, but it felt right to us. After all he was in the military.
He left December 26th to fly out to California and I thought my world was going to crumble. We had spent a total of seven days together while he was home and they were the best seven days of my life. We didn't know if we would be seeing each other again before he deployed in April but all we could do was pray. Brett and I would text all day and talk on the phone every night. Our relationship with each other was being built on distance and trust. Even from 2,000 miles away, he always knew how to make me smile and that I was always on his mind.
Towards the end of January, Brett bought a plane ticket for February 12th to come home for three weeks on pre deployment leave. Talk about the best Valentines Day present! My heart was ecstatic. We had the best time together meeting each other's families and friends, and just taking in every minute we had with each other. As always time went by to fast and it was time for him to leave again. This was the going to be the hardest 'see you later' for both of us since we knew we wouldn't see each other again for eight months. I didn't know how I was going to do it, but I knew I needed to be strong for him since he was soon going to be headed to Afghanistan.
We still had a month before he would be leaving to keep in contact, but Brett was busy doing training and I was finishing up college, so time was moving a little faster than we liked. One night while we were on the phone with each other, we got this wild idea that I should come out to California to see him one more time. I was going to be done with school on March 20th so it worked out perfectly. Everyone thought I was crazy to just pick up and drive out there last minute, but I knew I just had to see him! I left early in the morning on March 28th to spend just one final week with Brett in sunny California. All we wanted to do was take full advantage of our time together and not think of the dreadful deployment day that was soon approaching. We went to the beach in San Diego, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and hiking in the Joshua Tree National Park. But as always, time went by quickly and it was time for him to leave.
Brett was told to be on base by 10pm on April 4th for him to get everything ready so they would be ready to go. They were supposed to leave by 1am but of course the military is never on time and they didn't end up leaving till 6am on April 5th. It was seriously the longest eight hours of my entire life! I loved being able to have a little extra time with him, but it felt like torture not knowing when they were going to load them up on those evil white busses. We said our 'see you laters' one final time and then he was off. The worrying, sleepless nights, hoping to hear from him and praying for the next seven months started instantly. I had never in my life done anything like this, but I knew that we were going to make it through and he would be home in no time. Some days were longer than others but technology is so great these days that we were able to talk more than either of us had expected.
On July 25th I received a surprise package from Brett but had very specific instructions on when and where to open it. I was a little confused, but did what I was told. First I had to read the letter that belonged with it and then I was allowed to open the package. I also had to go sit down at the lake and wear his favorite sweatshirt while doing so. I had my best friend Meghan come along because it was dark and I didn't want to be alone. I began to read the sweetest four page love letter and was soon in complete shock. He was asking me to MARRY him!! I instantly started to cry and couldn't believe it! I ripped open the package and there inside was the most beautiful and perfect ring. He was 8,000 miles away and had planned the sweetest proposal when he had much bigger things to worry about. About two hours later I received a phone call from my FIANCÉ and was the happiest girl around.
Finally his homecoming day had arrived, October 28th, 2013! I flew out to California to be the first person he saw once he stepped off those white busses. It had been a long and stressful 206 days since we had last seen each other and in just a matter of hours it was all going to be over. No more worrying or sleepless nights. Brett was finally back on US soil and there really was no better feeling. I could not stop staring at him or touching him. It didn't seem real that we actually kicked deployments ass.
Brett and I got married on October 30, 2013 out in California and I moved out here January 8th. We will be having a wedding ceremony and reception with friends and family on October 4, 2014 in Minnesota. It has definitely been probably the craziest thing either of us has done but we wouldn't change a second of it. Brett has two years left in the military and then we'll be moving back home to the Minnesota/Wisconsin area!
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