Missing Him

Hello loves,
Sorry it has been such a long time since I last posted. I haven't been around my computer much. Last week, Nick and I both went home to our parents houses for a few days. Nick was going home to hunt. Of course. I was going home just because I haven't been home for awhile, and my car was in need of a trip to the garage. We were apart for five days.
Five days. That doesn't sound like a lot, I know. Especially for those of you in long distance relationships. I applaud all of you that are able to put up with the distance, by the way. But, for me, it was downright awful. Naturally, I love being home with my family, but no matter how much else I've got on my plate while I'm home, my head still swims with thoughts of my baby. I missed him immensely while we were apart. In fact, immensely may be an understatement. Since we live together, I am so used to him always being there. Even when he's not right there, in the room, or in the next room over, he is always relatively close. I feel safe because I can feel his presence. I know he's never more than a few miles away, if that. That was why it was so unbearable for me to be away from him.
We've been apart before, mind you. In the summers and on other breaks. However, this time, the separation felt so much different to me. It was the first time we've been apart since living together. I can't believe how much that has changed the way I feel about his absence. I feel silly, honestly. It makes me feel like maybe I'm too clingy or even, God forbid, desperate. I know that's not the problem, though. I know I just miss him so much because of how much I love him.
I came back to the apartment Tuesday night, and he was already there. He had been here since Sunday night because of school. I knew all along that when he came back, he would be leaving the very next day, Wednesday, to go home and go hunting again for a long weekend. I was secretly hoping all the while that he would stay until Thursday so that I could have one more night with him before he left again. More importantly, one more day. 
Well today is Thursday, and I'm all alone. I couldn't keep him here as much as I wanted to tie him down and forbid him to go. I knew how excited he was to go right back to his family, and climb up into his tree stand for a few more days in the woods. I couldn't take that away from him. It's his favorite thing in the whole world, and he doesn't get many chances to do it because of school. So, obviously, I cried when he left. I tried to keep it in, but I'm such a baby. He is my happiness, and without him, I'm not myself. He said he would stay, but I begged him to go. I know he would stay to make me happy, but I wanted him to be happy, too. He deserves it.
So, I will just wait patiently until my perfect boyfriend comes home. It's not like I can't handle being alone, I just really hate being away from him. Now, I'm just crossing my fingers for him in hopes that he brings home some venison and deer jerky to make all this loneliness worth while.

XoXo,
Bri

Easy Fixes For Relationship Troubles

Hey lovelies, I just came across this amazing article while aimlessly browsing the internet. If you're currently in a relationship, and you're in a rough patch, this post is for you! The following link will certainly be helpful, even if you're single at the moment: 

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201211/healing-the-cycles-tear-couples-apart

It gives examples of problems we ALL have experienced, are experiencing, or will experiencing. Of course, we all love to believe we have perfect relationships. I, for one, believe no relationship has ever been more perfect than mine. But, part of a perfect relationship is being able to identify with the imperfections. Which leads to the next subject in this article, fixing the problem. The post, "Healing the Cycles that Tear Couples Apart," earns five stars from me.
Hopefully, you all enjoy it as much as I did.

With Love, 
Bri 

Counting Heartbeats

Nick and I have spent countless days and nights together. That means we have a limitless supply of shared memories. There's a few bad moments past scattered throughout, but in general, they're all pretty great. Even the simple ones. They really are. We're a very fun couple. We act like little kids together, and it doesn't take much to make us happy. Give us a large pizza and some Mortal Kombat, and we'll be the happiest you've ever seen.
Among the endless supply of memories littered through my brain is one very special night that I always keep near and dear to my heart. Every time I look back on it, I smile. I'm smiling now just writing about it.
The night itself wasn't anything special. It was the same as all others. I had showed up at his door, like I always did, like a lost puppy waiting to fall into the arms of someone who loved me. Someone who would light me a cigarette and sit outside watching the cold depth of the night turn itself into early morning. We talked for awhile, and had some sex. We were in bed drifting to sleep, the lights were out, all was relatively quiet. That's when I heard it. 
It was Nick. He was mumbling something so gently, and quietly. The words were barely audible as they crept out of his thin, boyish lips. His head was on my chest. We rarely slept like this, but I loved when we did. It made me feel like I was the one protecting him for once. With his head turned away from me, the soft words sounded almost foreign because of how unclear they were to make out. "Nick, what are you doing?" I whispered as I ran my fingers through his soft, brown hair.
"Oh, I'm counting your heartbeats," he said, as if that was obvious. That was the cutest thing I had ever heard a guy say to me. Ever. Sure, everyone can give compliments, and tell you how much they care for you. Blah, blah, blah. No, this sweet boy one-upped every nice thing anyone else had ever said. He was falling asleep listening to my heart. The rhythmic drum of my heartbeat inside my chest was lulling him to sleep. That night, I laid down feeling like I had been the one playing protector, but it turns out he was still on guard. 
He was protecting my heart. He still is to this day. And if the two of us have any say over it, he will be the one to protect it for the rest of our lives.



This will be last daily blog post, I'm going to start writing one to two days a week. Keep yourself up to date by following my page.
Bri

Family Over Everything

My boyfriend, Nick, cares about my family as if it were his own. And, I feel the same way about his. I love his family, and I know he loves mine just as much. It's so amazing to know that. He treats my younger brother and sister as if they were his own, and they've looked to him as a big brother since the first time they met. From the very first day he ever met my family, he fit right in. It felt like he belonged there.

I had to grow up a lot before I realized how much I appreciated and loved every part of my family. I always loved them, obviously, but it took a long time to figure out that they're truly the greatest people in my life. Nick helped me to do the growing up that I needed to do. He never meant to, but through him, I came to value my family so much more than I ever would have thought possible. 
If you're ever with someone who pulls you away from your family, you're doing it wrong. No, we don't all love our families, and we can't change the one we're given. So, if it's totally not possible to love your family or his, don't force it. But, if you already have a great relationship with your family, and a man comes between that, then get the hell out of there. The person you love should strengthen the bond, not break it. Nick does that for me. My sweet heart of a boyfriend never ceases to amaze us.  





Family first, ya'll!
XoXo
Bri

And Don't You Forget It