July 27, 2011

Dear Joe,

I am so proud of our relationship. Not everyone is cut out for a life like this. Living 1,700 miles away from the love of their life isn’t possible for everyone. Of course, it’s not always easy for us. But the only hard part is staying put, knowing that you’re halfway across the country. Loving you, on the other hand… That’s effortless. That’s one thing I’ve never had to question. I’m proud of how independent we both are. Of course, whenever either of us has a problem, we can always go to each other, and I love that. But in boot camp, we didn’t have that luxury. We both grew up and became so much more independent because of that. Before I met you, I relied on other people so much for my own happiness. It’s ironic that it took meeting a man to finally realize that I could be fine on my own. Thank you for helping me grow as a person. For teaching me to stand up for myself, and to be my own person and make my own decisions. It also took meeting you, though, to realize that I don’t want to do it on my own. I want you by my side, every step of the way. So when you go to North Dakota, just know that we will be fine being separated for a while. But also know (as I know you do) that I will be right here waiting when you get home. I love you forever and ever and ever.

Love,
Amanda

September 1, 2011

Dear Joe,

I wish every night was like last night. We haven’t had the perfect nights lately, but last night was amazing. Of course I wish we could have been together. But short of that happening, nothing could have made that night better. I’ve never been happier. I love you forever and ever and ever.

Love,
Amanda 

August 16, 2011

Dear Joe,

You’re in Minot now. I’m happy for you. I really am. I know that operational will be so much better for you than tech school. I really am glad that you’re finally at your base… At least, part of me is. But I can’t lie, another part of me feels like this will be even harder than your training. It’s like… I don’t know, maybe up until now, a part of me was still hoping something would change. That I would end up being able to come with you. I guess that little piece of me was still hoping I’d never have to leave North Dakota. And last night, on the phone, what you told me… you said that after you dropped me off at the airport, you drove away, but you had to stop somewhere. You said you almost came back. You wanted to take me and find a little chapel and get married and go live together in Minot. I wish you had.

As soon as I walked through those doors at the airport, I felt lost. All day, I felt empty. Part of me was missing. How can I go five months without seeing you? How can I go two more years away from you?

You asked me last night whether or not I’m still doing this with you. If I’m still going to wait for you. I’ll tell you this every day if that’s what you need, but my answer will never change. I’ll wait for you. Always. I love you forever and ever and ever.

Love,
Amanda

August 8, 2011

Dear Joe,

You’re leaving soon. We only have three days left until our road trip begins. Three days is a long time compared to how long we spent together while you were in Texas for the past six months. I just can’t believe your visit is almost over. There so much we planned to do that never happened. But it’s funny… before you got here, I was so excited about our to do list. Then, the minute I saw you in the airport, I knew it didn’t matter what we did. In fact, we were better off without a list. I like being spontaneous with you, and more importantly, the time goes by more slowly when we don’t have stuff to do every second. It’s nice to go out with you sometimes, but I always love staying home to cuddle with you. I’ll never let go, cross my heart. I love you forever and ever and ever.

Love,
Amanda

August 7, 2011

Dear Joe,

I promise to always love you. I promise never to turn down a kiss. I promise to put on a white dress and walk down the aisle. I promise to say, “I do,” and I promise to mean it. I promise not to make you eat cheeseburgers. I promise to only watch Disney Channel once in a while. I promise to try my best to cry less often. I promise to try to leave on time for things. I promise to try to pack less when we go places. I promise to sleep next to you every night whenever possible. I promise to follow you wherever you might be stationed, because I promise to feel at home wherever you are. I promise to miss you when we’re apart, but I promise to always be strong for you. I promise to never get a cat. I promise to let you get a Great Dane. I promise to try to learn how to cook. I promise never to give up on our relationship. I promise never to give up on you, because I promise that you’re my best friend, my soulmate, my everything.

I love you forever and ever and ever.

Love,
Amanda 

July 26, 2011

Dear Joe,

Thank you for doing the little things. Thank you for bringing me milkshakes at work. Thank you for telling me I’m beautiful when I first wake up in the morning. Thank you for not getting frustrated when I’m tired all the time. Thank you for taking care of me when I’m sick. Thank you for buying me jewelry. Thank you for watching Disney Channel with me (and only making fun of me a little bit). Thank you for encouraging me to follow my dreams. Thank you for letting me plan our life years in advance. Thank you for buying me stuffed animals to cuddle with while you’re gone. Thank you for always reminding me of our ultimate goal. Thank you for teaching me to stand up for myself. Thank you for showing me that gentlemen still do exist. Thank you for respecting me. Thank you for being there for me when I cry, even if it’s for no reason. Thank you for loving me like I love you. Thank you for being you.

Love,
Amanda

July 25, 2011

Dear Joe,

You were gone for almost six months. We were apart for 169 days. Boot camp was hell. Eight and a half weeks and all I got from you were three letters and four fifteen minute phone calls. Not being able to talk to you for two months… It was torture; I won’t lie to you. But it really did make us so much stronger. Then you graduated and went to tech school. Three and a half more months of separation. The time didn’t exactly fly by, but I was so grateful that I got to talk to you each day that it was a breeze compared to BMT.

It’s odd, though. After six months of being apart, I assumed it would get easier. And I guess it has, in a way. But now that you’re home, I can’t stay away from you. At all. I constantly miss you now. When you’re at your house, ten miles down the road, I miss you. When I’m at work during the day, and you’re outside running, I miss you. I dread saying goodnight, even when you’re sleeping in the bedroom next door, because the second I do, I miss you.

I guess I just feel like every second we’re apart, we’re wasting time that could be spent together. Every time we say goodnight to each other, I always just want one more kiss. I want to share one more smile with you. I want to get wrapped up in your arms one more time.

That’s the thing about you. I could live forever and still never be able to get enough of you. That’s why two years apart from you will feel so long. But it’s also why you’re worth the wait. I love you forever and ever and ever.

Love,
Amanda

July 21, 2011

Dear Joe,

YOU’RE HOME! You’re finally home. Yesterday, I woke up early. Two hours before I needed to be at your parents’ house. I absolutely couldn’t wait. I drove to your parents’ house, and we got in the car. The car ride went surprisingly quickly! But we got to the airport an hour and a half before your sister’s plane landed. Lol I was so bored! Of course your flight was delayed :/ Shannon landed (It was really good to see her again, too!) and then we went to wait for you. I was SO impatient. It took about 30 minutes between the time Shannon found us to the time you finally came out. Standing there in front of those doors was torture… I wanted you to be there RIGHT THEN! It felt like it was taking forever. There was a family right next to us waiting for their daughter to return from Afghanistan. That was really awesome to see, too. Everytime I heard those doors open I would get my hopes up. They were teasing me! Haha eventually, I saw you walking towards us. I ran up as close as I could to the doors to wait for you. When you looked up and saw me, we both smiled so big. You walked out and we had our first hug after two and a half months. It was amazing. Your parents were so excited to see you, and you were so surprised to see Shannon! It felt so good to finally see you again. I love you forever and ever and ever.

Love,
Amanda 

July 19, 2011

Dear Joe,

You just sent me the best possible text.

“I can’t wait to hold you tomorrow.”

All I said back was “TOMORROW. OMG.”

Twenty seven more hours till we see each other again.

I cannot wait.

I love you forever and ever and ever.

Love,
Amanda

July 19, 2011

Dear Joe,

You’re coming home tomorrow. TOMORROW! I couldn’t be more excited. But, it still doesn’t feel real. It probably still won’t feel real, even on the way to the airport. You’re my dream come true. It’s been 72 days since the last time we said “See you later.” Do you remember how awful that morning was? It started out great, because I woke up next to you in the hotel. We got ready and we tried not to talk about me leaving. We walked outside to wait for my shuttle to the airport. We wanted to give ourselves plenty of time to say goodbye before the shuttle got there, and yet we waited to start saying goodbye until the shuttle pulled up.

It’s been almost six months since you’ve been home (only six months?). It feels like a lifetime. And yet, I know that we’ll pick up right where we left off, like you never left. The distance is just a number. We’ve never been apart. Not really, not at heart.

I love you forever and ever and ever.

Love,
Amanda