Love Knows No Distance

Where to begin... It was my junior year of highschool that I met the person who lit up my life. My brother and I have always been close and all throughout highschool we had the same friends and did just about everything together. I was always one of the boys and they were all my big brothers. But one day, a new one of my brothers friends walked into our lives and changed it forever. The first time I saw him, I knew he was different from every dirtbag guy I'd met through highschool. He wasn't obnoxious as the rest of the boys, and quiet, almost shy. But when he spoke everyone listened. I could tell people respected him, even my brother. And for the first time, I could see in his smile that he didnt just see me as his best friends little sister like the rest of the guys. But months went by before I saw him again and I almost forgot about the cute guy my brother talked cars with... Almost :) the next time I saw him, he was telling my brother he had decided to enlist in the Air Force. When he left my house that day, I couldnt help but notice the way he smiled at me when he said goodbye. I couldnt explain it to anyone but I had a feeling things between us were just getting started. One weekend in February, a bunch of our friends were getting together at the local bowling alley for drinks, some late night bowling and to have one last night of crazy fun before David left for bootcamp. Somewhere between the drinks, dark lighting and loud music, we found ourselves next to eachother the entire night. He pulled me onto his lap and I had never been so filled with butterflies EVER. We laughed and it was the perfect night... We never forgot it. The next day, he stopped by our house before he left for camp. Before we said goodbye, he gave me the best hug I ever got, and then he was gone. I felt so depressed and alone I never knew why.. I thought it was just a crush. Until I got a letter two weeks later from texas, and when I opened it and felt elated - better than happy. I knew after reading "I miss you, you better write back!" there was no way he was just a crush. 7 months of letters and a few calls later... He came back to me:) and the rest is history♥ Since that day in february two and a half years ago, we've been inseperable. He's always said he wish he'd met me sooner so he would have never enlisted and never had to leave. But I don't regret it - I think it made us as strong as we are today, and I'll always support him no matter what. We've been through one deployment, 9 months without holding eachother, and endless hours of missing our bestfriend. But we'll only get stronger. In one month, I'll be moving to Minot AFB, North Dakota for good! And we'll never have to be apart again.. Oh, well until another deployment;) But whats a few months when you have a lifetime of happiness to look forward to, right? Everyday I'm thankful... I mean how lucky am I to find my best friend and love all in one? ♥

Proudly Supporting My Sailor

Me and my Love met in June of 2006. We found each other under the beautiful night sky at Eufaula Lake in Oklahoma. He was so cute with the prettiest eyes I had ever seen. The sparkle of the light on the lake couldn’t compare to the beautiful blue sparkle of his eyes. I was lost in his country boy charm from the moment he first spoke to me. That chance meeting started a beautiful summer romance I never wanted to end.
We were young (he was 16 and I was 14) and his mother didn’t support us seeing each other. We also lived far enough apart that it was really hard for 2 teenagers to see each other since his parents wouldn’t allow him to come see me because of the distance. We did see each other as often as we could but in the end his mother won and we broke up.
Our lives continued on separate paths but I had often wondered what happened to that blue eyed country boy and what he was doing in his life. I met someone else I eventually married after I became pregnant with my son. I had moved on with my life. Married with a child I never imagined Brayden and I would cross paths again. My marriage wasn’t good but we had a baby. I felt I had to try to make it work. My then husband decided he was going to the Navy. I was in the recruiter’s office with my then husband and all of a sudden I saw my blue eyed country boy. There he was in a picture on the wall. All those feelings came flooding back but I was married. It was not to be. My marriage deflated quickly and I moved out and filed for divorce. This is where I would like to thank FaceBook. Brayden and I found each other and it was perfect. It was like we had never been apart.
He was coming home in February on leave but sadly had to come early because his grandma passed away. It was a sad time but also filled with bliss. Now not only did I have my blue eyed country boy but he was now my soldier. I am so proud of him and what he has given up for our country. He is my rock and the love of my life. He loves me and my son as if he was his own flesh and I cannot wait until May when I become his wife. Brayden….I love you to the moon and back.

Home Is Where His Boots and Dog Tags Lay

My husband and I met in the 9th grade. How or when neither one of us can remember. We can name other individuals in our class that yet we cannot remember each other. It wouldn't be til 11th grade that we both started realizing how much we cared for each other. All 10th grade my husband would make fun of me. I honestly thought he was a mean guy. It wasn't until I became single that he really showed me who he really was. The summer before our senior year in high school he asked me to be his girlfriend. I went to Germany 3 weeks prior and before I left he gave me 21 letters. One for each day I was there. When I came home it was 4th of July. My husband gave me one more letter and at the end of it, it said he had something important to ask me. That night under the fireworks he has me to be his girlfriend. My husband and I dated 3.5 years before he left for bootcamp. The month before he left we broke up. We still kept in touch and talked all the time. A month into him leaving he asked me to be his girlfriend again. On the day of his graduation for bootcamp, he proposed to me on the parade deck. It was the greatest surprised I could have asked for. This past December we got married. Our wedding was on New Year's Eve and after 4.5 years I was finally married to the man of my dreams and the perfect guy for me :)

Behind every MARINE there is a girl. She is always with him in heart & soul. She goes through everything that he goes through. She feels his pain, his sorrow, his joy, his longing and his devotion. For every minute they are apart, her heart aches. But she smiles. She is a model to other girls. They watch her and wonder, How does she do it? She is the picture of everlasting love & fidelity to her MARINE♥

Daddy is my Hero

Lexi Murphy mother of Teegan Marlo,was there winner of our Cutest Military Love Baby Picture Contest...This is her daughter Teegan Marlo who was only 2 days old in this picture. Teegan's daddy is in the United States Army, She's very proud of her daddy and loves him with all her heart. Her Hero is her Daddy!!!

MY DADDY, MY HERO

Before I was even a twinkle in your eye,
God picked you to be my Daddy.
He fashioned my body with a reason and a purpose
and He knew I needed you to help me through this life.

He knew I'd need your strong arms to carry me when I couldn't walk.
He knew I'd need your fun laugh to cheer me when I was sad.
He knew you'd sit with me for hours and cuddle when I felt sick.
He knew your adventurous spirit would make my life so fun and normal.
He knew I would thrive as you shared with me your love of the outdoors.
He knew Mommy needed a strong shoulder to cry on to support her through
tough times.

I do know that Daddies get frustrated sometimes
because they want to 'fix' things and make the bad times 'go away'
That's just the way God made Daddies!
I know you would do anything to make my struggles disappear.
I also know that you will always be my biggest fan!
You'll always be my hero!

We're a good team, you and me.
I'm teaching you about God and His eternal perspective.
You're teaching me to enjoy this beautiful life and our journey here on
Earth.
We've both learned to be thankful for the little things in life.
You and Mommy don't take any of my accomplishments and milestones for
granted.
I revel in the pride that shines from your adoring eyes.
I know that I can try anything if I set my mind to it--
As long as you are behind me to cheer me on and catch me when I fall.

I see glimpses of my Heavenly Father in your eyes
the love, the pride, the pain and the unconditional acceptance.
I am whole and perfect in your eyes.
I am beautiful and charming in your eyes.
You don't care that I may not be just like all the other little girls
That's why you love me so much!

One thing is for sure
I have you wrapped around my little finger and I won't ever let you go.
Thank you for loving me for who I am and for guiding me towards Heaven
where someday I will run and jump and maybe even fly!!
I can't wait for the day when I am holding your hand and God's hand
and we are walking together into the sunrise of forever

Love Always Finds Away

We met between mutual friends & family in 2005. He is 4 years older than me. So, with such an age difference, at first we didn't see each other anymore than friend. We started hanging out more and before we knew it, we were head-over-hills for each other. We started dating on February 18, 2006. Justin & I have been together for 5 years now. We got civilly March 12, 2010. We are planning a wedding since we didn't really get to have one. Which is set for this July 9th, 2011. He left for Army Basic Training June 7, 2010. He graduated from everything November 25th, 2010. So, we just moved to his first duty station. We are best friends, each others main support, and the love of our life! I would not be the person I am today if it wasn't for him. He pushes me to be better and to do better in life, to have a purpose. I love him with all my heart!!!!

Cute Military Love Picture Contest

Nicole Buonanno was there winner of our Cute Military Love Picture Contest...This is her Husband Frankie Buananno who was in  Kuwait last year (2010). He's now home with his wife and enjoying their time spent together. Nicole is a PROUD AIR FORCE WIFE!!!
"I'm the girl who waits months for a single kiss, a kiss that makes the months apart worth every second "

Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

I met Richard in early 2008. We had both recently ended previous long term relationships with other people and my best friend was currently dating his friend, so they decided to try to hook us up. In fact, without my permission my friend gave Richard my phone number. When she told me I was peeved! (Now I am incredibly grateful that she did!)
Anyway, so Richard and I began text messaging each other and talking on the phone. We had an immediate connection. After that I found him on MySpace and was happy to find that I was also physically attracted to him. (He was super hot ;])
Not long after that we decided to meet in my hometown. I was so nervous so I made sure that our friends were there. I will never forget the first time I saw him the butterflies were dancing in my stomach. We were both grinning from ear to ear as we hugged each other. (I remember thinking he is even hotter in person! =P)
After that we continued to talk on the phone a lot and he came to see me a couple times but unfortunately things ended quickly and we both went back to our exes. For a while after the break up I was pretty upset because I knew there was something special between us, not to mention the break up was a little ugly.
Even though we never talked I still thought of Richard a lot. Right after we started dating he had told me he would be deploying to Iraq in May so I often would wonder how he was doing over there and if he ever thought of me. Then one day in June I received an email from him asking me how I was. The truth was my life had changed tremendously since our break up. I had started college and my boyfriend at the time and I were expecting a baby in December. Richard and I emailed back and forth and caught each other up on things and then once again we stopped talking for a while.
One night in mid-October I had a dream about Richard and then couldn’t stop thinking about him the next day. For some reason I had this strange feeling that he was home and I had a strong urge to text him…so I did. I guess it was my strong woman’s intuition but sure enough he text me back and said “Ashley I just stepped off of the plane how did you know that?” Once again I was reminded of the strangely strong connection we had. We exchanged a few texts and he asked if he could see me but I turned him down because I looked awful at eight months pregnant and I knew my boyfriend would have a fit. (Now I wish I would’ve at least had lunch with him or something)
Months went by before we communicated again. I gave birth to my son on the sixth of December and after that I spent most of my time focusing on him and my schoolwork. Richard emailed me that month and I kind of blew him off. (I wish I hadn’t).
Then in February I decided to try to email him in hopes that he wasn’t too angry with me. Much to my surprise he replied the very same day. Little did I know that was the start of Ashley & Richard take 2! They say distance makes the heart grow fonder and boy is that true! We began emailing each other back and forth a couple times a day and talking on the phone as much as possible. I had turned into the typical military girlfriend almost overnight. I started leaving my email up on my laptop all day, sleeping with my phone on my pillow, and I even signed up to receive text alerts when he made Facebook posts. I was smiling so much during the day that my cheeks would ache at night. There was no doubt about it…I had fallen in love. His phone calls were the highlight of my day and missing them or not getting one at all was devastating. I started counting down the days until we would be together again and before I knew it we were making plans to get married!
August 10th 2009 was the day my heart became whole again. I will never forget that day. Seeing him and being able to touch him and kiss his soft lips again was the most incredible feeling! I was also floored by the fact that he took to my son instantly as if he were his own. We were finally a family!
Later that month, my prince charming proposed to me at the top of a lighthouse in Ponce Inlet, FL while we were visiting his family. My breath was taken away as he got down on one knee and showed me the gorgeous ring he had chosen for me. I was so excited I yelled “Yes!” before he could even finish what he had planned to say. We stayed up there for awhile just reveling in the moment and looking out over the ocean. It was so romantic!
From that day on it was nothing but planning, planning, and more planning for our wedding that was to take place less than two months later! The planning was crazy and stressful but also fun. I couldn’t believe the day I had dreamed of since I was a little girl was right around the corner!
Then on October 10th my great-grandfather (the only “dad” I’ve ever known, R.I.P.) walked me down the aisle and gave me away to the man of my dreams. It was more wonderful than I could’ve ever imagined!
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I am extremely proud to be an Army wife and I enjoy the military way of life. No matter what happens I will always stand by my soldier. I will support him in all that he does and it doesn’t matter where he goes or how long he is there I will always be patiently (ok maybe not patiently), and lovingly awaiting his return. It takes a lot of guts to join the military and because of that I admire and respect my husband immensely. Being married to a soldier may not be easy but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world! I love being Mrs. Holley! Hooah!