"Forget what you think it should be or what you think it ought to be and let it just be what it is. Accept what it actually is and you'll be happy." --Golda Lucille Burnham • Eight years ago today I experienced my very first reunion with my Airman. After 9 weeks of separation with next to no communication, I wound my way through a maze of identical BMT graduates, searching for the man who saved me by loving me, amongst thousands. My legs were jelly, my heart was racing and thudding into my throat, and I was equal parts excited, scared, and as nervous as a girl talking to her first crush. We'd been together for nearly 3 years and married for 2 and even though we knew each other better than ourselves, the nerves were real. Every bit of this USAF life we love was brand new and the life we'd had only months prior was changed and gone forever. There are a lot of things in this world that bring joy to us humans; so many different things and experiences that make us feel happiness and overwhelming gratitude down into the depths of our souls, reminders of the beauty and brilliance of the life we live. I have yet to discover any other thing that measures up to the immensity of our reunions and what emotions we are filled with. I don't believe such a thing exists. Eight years ago, I experienced absolutely perfect love as I saw Cody standing at parade rest in his Dress Blues amongst the ranks of our country's newest freedom fighters. The purest and brightest light surged in my heart as he turned to me, as I reached for him, jumping into his arms that wrapped around me and held me. When I pulled back so I could look into his blue eyes while trying to convince myself he was real and there, a switch flipped and we were both irrevocably changed. What was so fresh and new and scary eight years ago is now our entire life and we wouldn't have it any other way. ||| #memorylane #usaf #aflife #timeflies #milie #myperson #loverface #reunion #BMTgraduation #nothingbetter #lovemyairman @codydsteele @erincurtis430 (at Lackland AFB Parade Grounds)