Two Years Already?

Yesterday was our Two Year Anniversary. It's crazy to think that two years have gone by so fast! Everyone says the first couple years are the hardest, and it was extra hard on us with everything else we were facing. It's nice to know that we made it through, and that makes us that much stronger. Especially looking at everything we've had to face...it's nice to go back and think about how well we've made it through.


*Moving out here, away from everyone and everything that we knew and loved, to a place that we absolutely hate. Going from always being in big cities, to being out in the middle of Texas-in-California was really tough. I even cried on the first drive out here to look for an apartment. Driving 20 minutes just to get into "town" (which is a strip of stores, and that's it), 45-60 minutes to a decent sized town, 2 hours to the mountains, 2.5 hours to the beach, 3 hours to LA, 4-5 to San Francisco...you could imagine how many times we even feel like going out knowing how long the drive is. I'm thankful we both like gaming, because I don't know how else we would not go absolutely crazy out here!

*Dealing with the issues on this base, especially with the quality of medical care I've received, was tough. Even today, I was told that I couldn't get back in to see the OB/GYN for another month (for an important follow up visit), unless I was pregnant. Pregnant people ALWAYS come first there, even if it is routine pregnancy check ups. By the way, I did get through to a nurse who scheduled me in quicker. And I was told that I didn't have asthma, that Valley Fever (which is VERY common and can be VERY serious) doesn't exist/is rare, and that my breathing problems (which I never had prior to moving here) basically didn't exist and/or weren't brought on by here. It's tough when you can't even trust the medical staff anymore...and that's one of the reasons we've been waiting to try for a baby, which has been driving us nuts because we really want one!

*Employment - the long hours Dustin works have been hard too. 14 hour days, 4-5 days a week takes it's toll. Especially when I was working, we would be two ships passing in the night. Also, not having any jobs out here for me (well, nothing professional or using my degree) is tough. I am such an independant person, and feel so guilty not working, even though it really isn't my fault!

*The problems we had with Sierra, which I'm not going to get into here, but you all know the story already anyways. That was really hard on both of us.

*Money of course is always an issue with newlyweds, especially here in California when everything is so crazy expensive. I don't think I have to mention the stress with debts, credit cards, or misc expenses that we all face...and that double when you get married.

*We haven't really met anyone out here that we REALLY feel a connection to. Back in our homes and in Virginia, we had really good friends that we could count on...out here it feels like a different world that we don't belong in. Anyone who we might've been able to get along with seems to get out of the navy or change bases too quickly for us to make any real connection. Anyone else, while they might be fun to hang around, we don't really feel CLOSE to in the same way.

*The stress of our Vow Renewal, and planning everything from out here. But we wouldn't change that for the world, and we are so thankful that we could have that and have all our friends and family there (though we were really sad that a few people couldn't make the distance or get their leave granted).

And I'm sure there's even more things I'm forgetting about. But it makes me feel so much better to look back at all these stressors and problems and think "We made it." I feel like we can make it through anything life throws at us now. And all of the stressors will hopefully be changed in the next 2 years, as we move and grow and opportunities present themselves. There's hope and love, and, really, what more do you need?