While I know that I’ve posted the first two “We Married Young” features on the last two Mondays- we’re switching it up this week! Today is most everyone’s Monday anyway due to the holiday- so roll with me. ;] I am very lucky to share an interview with you from a very strong and wonderful woman – Sam of Giprincess.com! She and her Husband just made their way back to the states after a long deployment overseas, and I’m super happy that she took the time to answer these questions! Enjoy! =D
1. First of all, tell us how long have you been married and how old were the two of you when you tied the knot?
We have been married two years, two months, and one day. :] I was 22 when we got married and he was 28.
2. Tell us a little backstory! How did you and Josh meet and how long did you date before getting married?
We met through a mutual friend, Jenna, and I thought he was cute and he thought I was cute, but he was going through a messy divorce and I was focused on school, so neither of us made a move. We ended up deploying a few months later to Baghdad, Iraq, where we had our first official date at a Green Beans Coffee Shop. We dated for a year and a half before getting married and would have waited a bit longer, but we were afraid we would get separated due to the Army, so we rushed it a bit.
3. Some people might say you got married a little too young (it’s been said to Nate & I!)- did you receive any negative feedback on your choice to get married at a younger age or were you surrounded by support?
We got a lot of negative feedback on getting married so fast more so than being young. But the majority of our friends and family were extremely supportive.
4. This is the time in our lives when most of us twenty-somethings are truly finding ourselves and our purpose, through education or by other means. Have you found it harder or easier to work toward your goals as a married woman?
I think it’s easier because we can support each other. He supports me while I’m attending school full-time and work full-time, while I support him in advancing his Army career because he is getting up there in the ranks, so it consumes a lot of your life. The only thing we have had issues with is stopping and making time for ourselves as a couple. It’s easy to get wrapped up in school and work and while they are priorities, we HAVE to make our marriage a priority as well, which takes time and work.
5. Life is fast paced when you’re trying to accomplish so many things and maintain a vibrant and fulfilling marriage at the same time! Do you have any tips on staying connected to your significant other with so much going on?
Make time for each other EVERY day. Whether it’s watching a TV show cuddled on the couch, eating a meal together, or sharing a ride to work, it’s important to have time for yourselves as a couple daily. Since Josh works weird hours due to being a cook, sometimes he isn’t home for dinner, so right before bed is our time to sit in bed and chat and watch TV while cuddling. We make sure we do this EVERY DAY.
6. What are your favorite things to do as a married couple? Have those things changed a lot or stayed the same since the dating days?
We love to go on long motorcycle rides, scuba dive, go out to dance, and go out for drinks. Our most favorite thing to do though is TRAVEL and we do a lot of it. We try to do a large vacation at least once a year. 🙂
7. Did getting married change anything (relationships, lifestyle, etc.) in your life that surprised you at all?
It didn’t really change a lot except neither or us were used to keeping other people informed about our whereabouts, so that was difficult at first. Communication was a huge thing we lacked in the beginning.
8. Are the first few years really the hardest?
The first year was extremely difficult, but it made us so much stronger. I think things have gotten better each year by far.
9. And while I’m aware that you have two beautiful Step-Children- do you think there will be any babies in the near future?
We want to adopt a baby girl after I go to Physician’s Assistant School. 🙂 So maybe 5-6 years.
10. Lastly, if you could give one piece of advice to a young couple who were thinking of getting hitched, what would it be?
Communicate with each other, respect each other, and make time for each other daily. Also, if you can wait a couple years before getting married, do it! And if your religion allows it, try living together first for sure. There are so many new things to learn about another person by living with them.
