13 Years Later

As this new year begins, my husband and I are about to celebrate the 13th anniversary of when we started dating. I sometimes can’t believe I’ve spent almost half of my life with him already, but something even more surprising is how much life we’ve gone through these last 13 years: separations, deployments, multiple PCSes, parenthood, struggles, and successes.

I know I speak of our life mainly in terms of the military, but honestly it’s next to impossible to talk about it any other way (as I’m sure many of you can relate).

Our first dance, just a few weeks after we started dating. We were so young!

As a 16-year-old, I don’t think I could have guessed how things would go or had even a remote sense of the timeline that would play out.

As you get older and more mature, you change so much, even if you don’t realize it. I think especially since becoming a parent my attitude has changed in regard to many of the things in life I found menial and loathsome in the past. I don’t always enjoy doing certain things, but I do them because it’s what must be done. (Whoa. I am “adulting” over here!)

That’s something else I almost can’t wrap my mind around either. I’ll be the big 3-0 next month! When I was 21, I remember thinking how far away this age seemed, and now it’s literally right around the corner.

Not just that, but my baby turns 1 a week before my birthday, and it’s bananas to me that he’s growing so fast, but even more so, that I have survived my first year as a mom (hurray!).

This new year will definitely bring trials and tribulations, but I’m sure the good will always outweigh the bad. I anticipate some weeks of separation as my husband goes on TDYs for training and the possibility he’ll reach the next steps in his career as he heads off to do more schooling to advance as a leader. I really hope he gets the chance because he deserves it!

Life has taken us to some wonderful places, and even through the difficulties, I find I couldn’t be more grateful for all the experiences I’ve had, not just as a person, but as the spouse of a service member.

We live different lives than most of the people we know. We experience things and go through our lives with a kind of uncertainty that most could not begin to comprehend. I know there will be many challenges to come, but I look forward to overcoming them.

The last 13 years have changed my life so much, and I look forward to seeing where the next 13 take the life and family we have built together!

 

How has the military affected your life? Has life been different than you thought it would be? Sound off in the comments below!

 

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Mary Spangler

Mary Spangler

Mary was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. She currently lives in the suburbs of Chicago with her husband, SFC Spangler, their two sons, and one cat. Previous duty stations include Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, Rivanna Station, Virginia, and Fort Shafter, Hawaii. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Indiana University in 2009. During her college years she also spent some time volunteering for the Student Veteran’s Association, and participated briefly in the Army ROTC program. She loves writing, music, gardening, watching documentaries and movies, cooking, hosting get-togethers, spending time with family and friends, and traveling.

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