Gaining Perspective

I cried today...not because we fought, not out of sadness or discontent, not out of worry...this time it was out of relief, relief that my soldier made it through another week safely. I keep talking about how much I have learned this week, and the good that came out of all of the hurt. What I really learned was that, if anything happened to him and that was the last conversation we ever had, I'd never be able to live with myself. It was a wake-up call, a chance to put my life in perspective. I'm not sure why it took so long for me to realize that that's the reason I crumpled to the floor sobbing yesterday, reading each word in my "little box of happiness" word magnets to calm myself down, but it did.

I missed the little green light more than ever this week, but I got it back tonight. "Hello, love!" ...after all of that, those are the first words he sent me. "Hello, love! I'm going to sleep now, but I should get a chance to talk to you soon. I'm doing well, and it's been a pretty good week. I love you!" I'm the luckiest girl alive, and I am thankful for EVERY moment, every message, every smile, every tear. I am thankful that every step I take and every moment we're apart brings me closer to him. I am thankful for the love and the trust that we share. I am SO thankful that he's a part of my life and I am PROUD of my soldier.