Ryon and I met while he was active duty in the Navy and I was finishing up my last semester of college. [Read how we met here.] A few weeks into dating he told me that he was ending his active duty and going to go to school full time back in Michigan. I thought this was a great idea and told him I would follow him up there. I was fortunate enough that I landed a job before making the big move in January of 2008. We moved in together in a small town in Michigan in a cute two bedroom apartment. It was my first time living away from home, let alone in a different state and with a roommate. But we were young, in love and care free.
We got engaged in the summer of 2008 and planned a wedding for a year later. A few months before the wedding I was laid off from the company that I was working for in Michigan. I was upset but saw it as an opportunity for something better. I was able to work on the wedding more and I landed a job coaching high school softball for a few months. Ryon was in the reserves and was doing really well! He was quickly promoted a few months into his reserve duty. We were young and in love and care free.
Our wedding was everything I could have wanted and so much more. I remember thinking “Take it all in. Its going to go SO fast.” And it did. We both decided we wanted kids right away and were overjoyed when I got pregnant a few short weeks later. I found another full time job at the outlet mall nearby. Ryon ended up taking a part time job at a store in the mall during the holiday season. We would meet up for dinner on our late nights and just talk about the baby and the future. Yup, we were young and in love and care free.
One afternoon I was leaving work to go to lunch and Ryon met me at the door. He was in his uniform and didn’t look like himself. He said we needed to talk at home but I told him to tell me what was the matter now. He said he was getting deployed. I didn’t know what to do or think. My mind raced and kept coming back to the same thing, ‘I’m pregnant. You can’t leave me!’ But the Navy said jump and he had to leave in less then a month. We were young and in love, but not care free anymore.
Our lease was up on our apartment and we figured the best thing to do was move in with Ryon’s parents until the baby was born. I was so tired from working and being pregnant that all I did was sleep, worry and cry. Ryon was set to be deployed on a Sunday morning and went to the reserve center on Friday to get his shots and travel paperwork. I just kept thinking that he wouldn’t be there for his daughter’s birth or her first birthday. My heart ached to have him there for those milestones. He came home Friday evening and my world changed forever.
Ryon’s tour has been canceled! All 32 members from his reserve center were staying home! I think I cried more that Friday then when I found out he would be leaving. I don’t think I let him go that entire day. I just hugged onto him and cried. He was going to be there for Ryley’s birth! And her first birthday! And for her mama! We were young, in love and almost care free.
I honestly don’t know what I would have done if Ryon had been deployed. I think I would have started blogging sooner to help overcome the sadness that comes with deployment. It would have been a great way to share pictures and updates of Ryley. I don’t think anything can ever replace experiencing a milestone in a baby’s life but documenting it and sharing it with a loved one overseas through blogging would ease some of the sadness. Now that I do blog I try to honor Ryon’s time in the military by sharing stories like this with yall. I will never fully understand the heartache of deployment but I am forever grateful for the men and women who make the sacrifice of being away from their families. Because I know, its hard to be young, in love and part of the military.
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Candy @ Candypolooza says
Ah to be young and in love. Love your story mama!!
Kelley says
Thanks Candy! 😀
Jane's Adventures in Dinner says
I just can’t imagine how it would feel to hear about the call-up of a loved one let alone actually seeing them go. We’ve got some strong folks out there, doing it on a regular basis.
Kelley says
That we do! Im very grateful for them too!
Kim says
I’m so glad for you that he was able to stay home for the birth! I’ve known so many families for which was wasn’t possible. My husband spent 6 years as active duty Navy and we were married for 4 of those. He’s been through 3 deployments, but we were lucky enough to have several months of warning before all but the first one. You learn to deal with it (and you learn a lot about yourself and your marriage), but I certainly don’t miss them! Well, maybe the homecomings. 🙂
Kelley says
Thank your husband for me! And you for serving right along with him! 🙂
stacey says
God really works in mysterious ways! My husband has been in 13 years this September and has been fortunate ONLY to deploy twice before we even met {and now the one.} Since we have been together, we have spent 7 years dodging deployment bullets {literally every time his name was in the bucket, we either moved/he changed jobs/or someone higher up put a freeze on his careerfield from deploying} But now that I’m experiencing one first hand, I think I’m at a better state of mind and it is the right time “now.” And with lil man being a little older & keeping me on toes, it keeps my mind at bay in a way. If I were kid-less or pregnant, I think I would have gone crazy. So I completely understand where you are coming from and glad it all worked out. BTW, thanks to your husband for his service to this country. It’s really appreciated!
-Stacey
Kelley says
Thanks so much Stacey! Thank your husband as well! When does he come home?
stacey says
He probably won’t be home till the new year. Might be sooner, who knows. The military is funny 😉
Kelley says
If I can help in any way, let me know! You are brave mama! 🙂
Kim says
See, I think it’s super impressive that you are able to handle it so well having kids. We don’t have kids and I think I wouldn’t have been able to handle them as well as I did if we had them. I just had myself to take care of and I could do y own things to stay distracted. I’m really impressed by all the parents who keep the family together alone and keep up the morale of the kids while dad or mom is away for so long.
Kelley says
I agree. The parents of a deployment member are saints!
Jessi says
Oh man. We did 5 deployments total. But thankfully none with children. I was pregnant for his last one but he came home when I was 30ish weeks so he was there in plenty of time for the birth. Those women who parent alone while their husbands deploy are brave and strong!! That is one of the many many reasons I am so thankful Ben got out of the Marines when he did. Don’t think I could handle being a single parent!
Kelley says
I don’t think I could either! Its hard work with both parents! Props to mommas who do it alone for sure!
Sommer says
Ahhh, that is such a sweet story and thanks for sharing it with us! You’re adorable! If you ever come back to Michigan you better tell me so I can see you in person again!
Kelley says
Thanks Sommer! We will be traveling up there this November! Would love love love to get together! 🙂
Karen says
Wow, Kelley! What timing, both for the notice of deployment and for its cancellation! I also have so much respect for families that have a member deployed. It has got to be so difficult and yet they make such a sacrifice for the benefit of all of the rest of us.
Kelley says
I agree! Its just as hard on the families as the members serving sometimes. I am beyond blessed that he his tour was cancelled!
Nicki Woo says
I was taking time out tonight trying to read happy stuff! My blog is killing me. . .but I just didn’t want you to think I was stalking you on youtube and now your blog. . .its just that you have such a nice disposition, i was totally attracted to it. Such a pretty blog, and a lovely story about you and your hubs. May happiness reign forever! Thanks for sharing:)
Kelley says
You are too sweet Nicki! Im so glad we were able to meet at Blog Elevated! 🙂