  I hate to say it, but being over here has been a good thing for me and CP (my husband, Cutie-Pie).
When we were back home, we spent so much time apart (5 years of long-distance dating, followed by finally getting married, then I went to Korea, he went to the National Training Center, I went to Jordan, he went to the Joint Readiness Training Center…) that I don’t think I really appreciated him.
I kind of took him for granted because we were never around each other, and I am pretty independent, so I've always been dependent on myself. Now, everything is so different. I still love him the same, if not more, as before, but I really think that being over here has made me realize how lucky I am to be with someone who loves me so much and treats me the way I deserve to be treated. I have seen soldiers who are just ripped in half because of their cheating spouses back home, and it pains me to see what they have to go through.
I’ve also seen tons of hook-ups over here that aren’t exactly ethical, and that bothers me. Why would you marry someone if you weren’t planning on being with ONLY that person? Being here has allowed me to see all kinds of people and how they react to different situations under different circumstances. I wear a wedding band and a big sparkly diamond every day , and that doesn’t stop guys from hitting on me.
Seriously? You've got to be kidding me! No, I will not make out with you! On some level, a teeny tiny part of me is a little flattered, because even in uniform, in 122 degree heat, with sweat pouring off me and sand stuck to me, it's nice to know I've still got it. But I'm also annoyed that someone would behave so completely inappropriately when it is obvious that I am not interested, nor am I available.
Geez. I am so glad that I have someone who would never disrespect me by doing any such thing. Also, prior to deploying, I really wasn’t comfortable with having children—I am very young and CP and I just recently got married, so I really wanted to wait, to make sure we had a solid foundation before we threw someone else into the mix. CP said he thought we were great and wanted to start a family right away. I have a little more pull on that one, though... okay, honey, I'm going to play this ovary card one more time!
Also, quite honestly, I just didn’t think I was at a point where I was ready to be a mother. I told CP we would try for kiddos once we got back, but to be honest, I said it only to pacify him. At the time, I didn't really mean it. Kind of mean, I know...but I just hated seeing him disappointed, and his eyes lit right up when I suggested that.
Now, I can't wait to get done with this deployment so we can start our family. Being over here and seeing so much death and ugliness and destruction of life has triggered something in me. I can't wait to give life to something innocent and beautiful. When I told CP this, he was completely overjoyed. "Let's make babies NOW! " he said. "Well, sweetie," I said. "that's a little difficult right now...you know, that whole war thing? " But we're really looking forward to being parents. I think we'll be pretty good ones. As far as the cheating husbands over here (there could be cheating wives, too, but they don't approach me, thank goodness!
), all I can do is be professional and tell them, no, thank you, and ohbytheway, don't you have a wife and three kids back home you dirtbag ??!! Then, in a very calm and gentle voice, I tell them that they should talk to a chaplain about the trouble they are having in their marriage.
Usually this scares them off. (Hee hee! ) Just to clarify, I'm not a bitch--I just don't take kindly to those who can't value the sanctity of marriage. 
