Often times I get questioned about my relationship with my husband.

How did we meet? Where is he from?

So Ladies and Gents, It's story time!

As some of you may know, my husband's name is Brandon.

He is a Corpsman in the United States Navy.

People often ask how a Carolina Man and a California Girl crossed paths long enough to get married.

We actually met across the world on a little island called Okinawa, Japan with good ol' 9th ESB.

One day I received a friend request from him on Facebook. I knew that he could possibly be in my company but wasn't too sure. Before approving this request, I sent him a message and simply questioned "Do I know you?"

I don't typically approve people I do not know.

He responded shortly after and had stated that he was our Company Corpsman and that he usually adds the Marines in his company.

We had a little small talk and that was the end of that.

Little did I know, I would marry this man.

It was a little weird. I was stuck in a place where I didn't want a relationship and enjoying his company. I had recently ended a 3 year relationship and I wasn't sure that starting something new with someone else was the right thing to do. I believe he felt the same because it only lasted a couple weeks and then we had went our separate ways.

After some time apart, we began to hang out again. It was one of those things where we followed each others lead. We remained friends for a while before ever actually making a relationship.

I was figuring out some issues with my ex and he was in the process of getting divorced.

 DISCLAIMER: He had been pending divorce prior to us even getting back in contact with each other. Keep in mind, he was never in a relationship when we had first met and we had started hanging out much later.

Fast-Forward a bit in time. We made things official in July of 2014. I left Japan in September of 2014 and he remained in Japan until the end of December 2014. Needless to say it was a very long distance relationship and it remained long distance until we were married.

I was stationed in California and he was stationed in South Carolina.

I surprised him when he came home in December for leave and he came out to California a few months later.

After 10 months of being together, we got married on May 1, 2015 in Ventura, California.

Yeah Yeah, I know. Most people think that's extremely fast.

But hey! What's fast for you may not be fast for someone else.

We have now been married for a little over a year and I am over the moon in love with my best friend. He is often times the biggest pain in my butt but we balance each other out and have the best of times together.

One of my favorite quotes reads:

Sometimes the greatest relationships are the ones you never expected to be in. The ones that sweep you off your feet and challenge every view you've every had.

*This post was inspired by my friend Valeria who posted her love story recently.

Be sure to check out her blog:

Loveisseekingpeace.blogspot.com

Question of the Day:

Where did your love story begin?

Until Next Time,

Hasta La Bridges

Motherhood.

My name is Nicole. I have a warm place in my heart for puppy dogs and helping others.

And I am a Mother.

All of us mothers may have different jobs. Whether you manage your own business, maintain being a stay at home mom with your children, or have joined a military branch like myself. Whatever it is you do, we all have a common goal; to support, love, and cherish our children.

We are all mothers.

I actually lost a beautiful angel last summer. It's something I don't always like to remember but it is absolutely impossible to forget. It will always be a part of me and I will always be her mother.

I am a firm believer that Motherhood has very little to do with biology.

It does not matter whether you lost a child, had a child, adopted or fostered a child, or are even pregnant now.

YOU are a mother; and don't let anyone tell you differently.

I believe the moment you find out you're pregnant you become so invested in becoming a mother.

You begin questioning who the child will look like, whether or not it is a boy or a girl, or just what name will be the perfect fit.

I am a mother whose lost their child entirely way too soon.

I remember getting a positive pregnancy test and being completely flabbergasted.

In fact, I was so much in awe that I made sure to test again.

I called my husband and just like word vomit, the words poured out of my mouth.

"I'm Pregnant."

I thought about what I would be like as a mother.

Would I be "that mom" and not let her child touch anything in fear of germs and bacteria?

Would I be the mom who lets her little boy play in the dirt and ruin his brand new outfit?

Or would I be a mixture of all the mothers who have influenced my life?

I never got the chance to even remotely find out.

I am a mother who lost her child due to miscarriage.

Let me tell you one thing that's for sure:

I learned how to be independent very early on. I learned to provide for myself. I had a career and a savings account. I had dealt with family deaths, break ups, and being long distances from home.

But NOTHING, I mean NOTHING could have prepared me for the loss of my child.

There was not one thing you could have told me to make me feel better. Not one thing you could have bought me or shared with me to make my heart feel less pain.

God needed an Angel and took my sweet baby long before I could ever hear it's laughter.

To those who have only got to carry your child for a short period of time or have had to deliver your child stillborn,  you are a Mother no Mother should ever have to relate to. Today is your day too!

To those of you who got to hear your child's giggles and first words but nothing more,
you are a Mother.

To those of you who have had to pick up where others have left off for whatever reason, you have loved that child as they were your own. You deserve this day as well. You are a mother.

To the Mother's who have the joy of spending this day with your children, know that we envy you. Take advantage of this day and enjoy your children's growth. It goes too fast. Cherish this day as your own.
You are a Mother.

My Dearest Angel Baby, I carried you for every second of your life and I will love you for every second of mine.

Happiest of Mother's Day to all the Mothers out there.
Today is your day and I hope you enjoy it as so.

Until Next Time,
Hasta La Bridges