And so it begins

I'm not completely sure of the history of the phrase "your intended one".

It makes enough sense, I guess, as the person you are to marry is the person that you are intended to be with for the rest of your days. Although to me it always sounded a little like you were hedging your bets- "Eh, well, we INTEND to get married, but who really knows." (They say the road to hell is paved just that same way. This seems bleak.)

Nonetheless, when someone referred to me as J's "intended" last week, it clearly caught me off guard. Not just because I'm still wrapping my head around the idea of being engaged, though I clearly am. And not merely because the language seemed a bit old-fashioned (Note- I live in a very very liberal section of the East Coast where ideas of anything pertaining to a traditional or old-fashioned wedding/ marriage/ engagement/ partnership/ commitment/ love affair tend to be met not only with a degree of cynicism, but almost seem to be held in contempt).

No, the part of this whole business that smacked me across the face was that in our case the word "intended" seemed so point-on accurate that it scared me to death.

My fiancee serves proudly in the United States Army. Just yesterday, he was deployed for a year to Afghanistan. Upon his return, we will get married. At least, this is our intention.

How old fashioned is that? A war-torn love story? A "wait-for-me-through-miles-and-months-until-we-will-safely-be-happily-ever-after?"

What I'm finding as I begin to immerse myself in the world of Army spouses is that this great love story is the every day life of oh so many. And now, I join those ranks. Not of the army, but of army spouses, as I wait, and hope, and pray that my J returns safely to me. At least, this is my intention.

And so this blog will be my way to pass the time. The 366 days between now and then. I'll continue with my life here, one which is happy and fulfilling. I will continue to allow the support of my friends and family who care so much (even if all this business seems abstract to them). I will continue to plan the wedding of our dreams- the party of the year.

And I will wait.