Keep Calm, my man is a Marine!

Well, Tyler is officially a Marine. Family day and Graduation in San Diego was incredible. And spending 18 days with him was even better. We spent an evening in Denver, we spent a ton of time together doing random things like laying in bed all day or taking Ella bowling. We hung out with Matt and Britt a lot, which was fun and made me dread leaving Valentine. One of the very few things that would keep me here, by the way.

Family Day

 Graduation

He went back to San Diego yesterday for Marine Combat Training. He'll be there for 28 days. He'll more than likely get his phone on the weekends - at least on the third and fourth weekend. Then he'll be off to North Carolina for 13-16 weeks for 1171 training. At that point, I can visit him on weekends that he has liberty. Which, from what I read, is every weekend while at MOS. This obviously leads to us moving about the end of June or beginning of July. He may get Recruiter's Assistance in between MCT and MOS. I'd love to be able to see him in between, but him coming home on leave then going back to more training is very hard on all of us.

Date Night!

First night of freedom after boot camp!

I never realized how hard it was on him. He got to keep his phone until they had to turn them in last night, so I got to talk to him as he was on his layover at the airport then when he was waiting for his bus to Camp Pendleton. He continuously reminded me that he loved me and kept saying how much he missed me already. I kept reminding him that it's training, he'll be so busy soon and Ella and I will be okay. I made it through boot, through writing letters every single day, checking the post office like it was a religion, jumping any time my phone rang, panicking if the battery died. I made it through that just fine. This will be easier, I think. Yeah, there might not be any letters, but there will be weekend phone calls and I know what to expect.

My very, very sexy Marine!

It hasn't gotten easier. I don't think it'll EVER get easier. It's just no longer the unknown. I know how it feels to have that last hug, that last kiss. I know how it feels to watch him walk away. And it sucks, hardcore. But I know what feeling to expect now. I know how I deal with it now. I knew that I wouldn't necessarily lose it until a certain song came on, until I spent way too much time inside my own mind. Then there would come a time where I would just get sick of being weak and I'd get sick of being strong. I'd float right in the middle and have a miniature hissy fit - literally - cry a little, curse the Marine Corp, slam my hands on my steering wheel, pout, and then I'd be fine. And that happened.

Forgot to mention that we got tattoos!

I was going to take a break from school, but that would probably be ridiculous of me. So, I'm going to continue. Within the next month, I need to get back to Omaha to get my Military ID so I can be enrolled in DEERS and snag some financial assistance for it, or I will have to take a break from school. My next 4-5 months is going to be spent concentrating on me, on Tyler, on Ella, on school, work AND packing. I will be loading up on totes - another reason to get to Omaha! Hobby Lobby, Ikea, etc. I wish Omaha had a Container Store, but they don't. Oh well.

Monday evening, our last night together

I guess that's what's going on with us. I miss him terribly but it's not as hard as it was the last time. I now know what to do to keep myself busy. I'm catching up on Parenthood and Nashville, I don't work tomorrow (Ella is sick, sad!) but I work Friday through Tuesday or Wednesday next week. I got two new planners - one for my purse and one for home - so I need to fill those out and start with lists! I am going to rock these next four to give months and get AS MUCH done as I can!

 Because this is how we are!