little indulgences.

It's Wednesday, so it's time for another sweet round in my {distance makes the heart grow fonder} series. This week, I'm featuring Sam and Michelle {from Life's Little Indulgences}. Read on to find out more how they navigate deployments and what they enjoy most about their time together...

Name: Michelle

Significant Other's Name: Sam

When did you start dating? October 27, 2005 {and married December 19, 2010!}

At what point did you begin dating long distance? We started dating long distance in November 2007. This first stint of long distance ended in December 2010. We started another round of long distance in May of this year.

How do you fill your days while you're apart? Sam is currently deployed to Afghanistan for a year-long deployment, so his days are filled with Army duties. I work at a local grocery store and spend time with my roommate, who is married to another man in my husband’s unit. I love to craft and bake, so I have plenty of skills to use when I pull together care packages for Sam. 

What do you find most difficult about being long distance? The most difficult aspect of long distance is the lack of touch. We can’t hold hands, give hugs when we get home from work, or give good morning or good night kisses. This void really takes its toll on me!

How has long distance changed your relationship? Honestly, the last time we spent more than three solid moths together was four years ago, when we we were in high school. In all reality, I don’t remember what it is really like to have him near me for more than three months. I think that it has not changed our relationship all that much. We’ve grown with the changes long distance presented in our personal lives and we were able to redefine our relationship as a pair, rather than as an individual.

What do you enjoy most about the time you have together? I enjoy just spending time with Sam and making new memories in the process. So much of our relationship and growing up has been apart. Shopping at the grocery store, walking around the neighborhood, taking trips to the movies, and driving into the mountains are just some of the simple things that go quickly into my memory bank. When you are a military wife and spend days without talking to your husband, you have to rely on the memories!

Is there any end in sight to your long distance days? Our current time apart should end in May. Our long distance days won't truly end until he leaves the military, which won’t be for a few years.

Give Michelle some love today...she deserves it as she survives this deployment! I truly applaud the significant others of those serving in our armed services. I am so thankful for the sacrifices they make on our behalf every single day. They are long distance warriors, through and through. I can't thank Michelle enough for sharing her story with us!