They call me crazy:

I’ve had a couple people come out and tell me that I have fallen completely off my rocker and am downright crazy for having a relationship with Seth because (one) we’ve never met in person, (two) he’s in the Army and deployed in Iraq and (three) because it’s an ‘online’ thing.

I’m taking a step up on my soap box!

First let me say that I’m at the point in my life where I don’t care what other people think! Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, just as I’m an ADULT and can make my own decisions especially regarding who I date!!!! Second, I did not meet Seth online in a chat room or something like that! We were introduced through a mutual friend. She knows Seth very well and his family also.

And the ones that haven’t came out and called me crazy just tell me they don’t know how I do it and that it’s gotta be so hard with no talking on the phone, no going on dates, worrying about whether he’s ok, the times of no communication and just all the not having ‘normal’ relationship things.

It is hard:

Yeah it is hard and I don’t expect people to understand why I do it, people don’t need to understand but if you want to know… I do it because he is special. I do it because I care about him. I do it because he has the qualities I’ve always looked for and never found in a man until now. I do it because he really truly is a genuine, down to earth, great guy that treats me how I deserve to be treated.

I had my doubts:

I have to say that I was totally skeptical when Tammy was telling me all about him and how nice he was, how good he was with her kids, etc. I’m pretty sure I probably rolled my eyes as she was saying all those things. I know that I laughed & thought to myself yep I’ve heard it all before and they all end up being jerks, everyone one of them.

My doubts quickly went away:

He isn’t a jerk…at all! Even when I’ve made dumb decisions and done things that have hurt him. He really is a good guy and sometimes I feel like I need to pinch myself to see if this is real. He makes me feel like I’m the most important person in the world. He cares about things that are going on in my life, even going through everything he’s going through over there he still cares about the day to day things in my life. He cares about what’s going on with Caleb and all the ‘normal’ relationship stuff regardless of the fact he’s a gazillion miles away.

So back to the reason of this post….The Today Show

I usually have my TV on every morning tuned into The Today Show. I laughed and got so excited today when I caught the Race to the Altar segment of the show. Wanna know why?

Because there is a couple on there (Melissa & Ryan) that met EXACTLY how Seth and I met! Ryan’s sister suggested to Melissa that she meet her brother, the only obstacle was that he was deployed in Iraq! Melissa and Ryan met 2 months after they began emailing while he was on R&R!

Here are some little excerpts from the website (that I linked to above on their names) and I love it because it all just hits home with me!

Melissa and Ryan started out as pen pals.

The only obstacle was that Ryan, a combat army engineer, was deployed in Iraq.

Ryan decided to take a chance and wrote Melissa an email. (ok so I’m the one that wrote the first email but hey I’m not complaining! And I’m glad that I had some friendly ‘pushing’ from Tams and Shannon)

They typed. They talked. (I have had some very deep conversations with Seth – deeper than conversations I’ve had with men I’ve dated ‘in person’!)

Two months later, Ryan met Melissa for the very first time while he was on mid tour. (Seth and I plan on meeting up for the first time when he’s on R&R this summer)

At the very first sight of him, Melissa was speechless for the 6″4 brown hair blue-eyed handsome hunk. (I was speechless when I saw one of Seth’s pictures…I can only imagine what it will be like finally seeing him face to face…that gives me butterflies just thinking about it!)

A few short weeks later, Ryan was deployed back to Iraq for another six months. Their only means of communication was through emails and photographs. Melissa has kept every email and has since made it into “their book,” a 2000 page book filled with words of love. (Yes I’ve kept all our emails, chats, etc! and yes if we get the opportunity to meet up this summer, he’ll be going back to Iraq for several more months!)

Yeah I’m so excited for them! And that just goes to show that I AM NOT CRAZY! People do this kind of stuff all the time & to see/hear about another woman that did the same exact thing as me just made me smile and get all warm & fuzzy feeling.

An online relationship is a lot more common now-a-days than people realize! And not only have I heard this story of Melissa & Ryan being in the same situation as Seth and I are, I’ve had a couple of my online friends share with me that they’ve been in a similar situation with a soldier!

So there ya have it – I’m not crazy but if you still choose to think I am so be it. I already stated that everyone is entitled to their opinion. And quite frankly I am happy and that’s all that matters!

Hold our troops in your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.

Please stop a moment and say a prayer for our troops (land, air, and sea) in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and all around the world.

Of all the gifts you could give our U.S. Military, Prayer is the very best one!

Hi, my name is: Tishia

But you can call me: Tish

Never in my life have I: been so worried about a war that was going on as I am right now about the war in Iraq.

The one person who can drive me nuts is: Caleb

My high school is: (was) Which one? I went to Central Lake, East Jordan & graduated from Boyne Falls.

When I’m nervous: I fidget – I play with my hands, play with my hair or shake my foot. If I’m talking & I get nervous I ramble or talk really fast.

The last song I listened to was: I’m listening to music right now…Grateful Dead – Touch of Grey. Next in line is Garth Brook’s The Dance (yeah I know…what a difference in the two! What can I say I like a bunch of different types of music!)

If I were to get married right now it would be to: I’m just gonna skip right over this question and move on to the next.

My hair is: in a ponytail right now & I have a baseball cap on (I love my baseball caps!!!).

When I was 4: Yeah ok like I remember back that far…puuuhleeeeze!

Last Christmas: Caleb went to his dad’s that morning and I hung out with my mom & that side of my family.

I should be: working but decided to do this first.

When I look down I see: my desk & my keyboard & my fingers typing. (who cares? that was kind of a dumb question)

The happiest recent event was: Last week when Seth and I stopped fighting or whatever it was we were doing….being mad at each other I guess. Can I just mention that it really sucked being mad at him (and having him mad at me) when he’s so stinking far away?!

If I were a character on ‘Friends’: I’d be Rachel cause I like her and she’s pretty cool or Phoebe…probably Phoebe because she’s such a goof ball and I’m a total goof ball! I’d totally have to sing Phoebe’s smelly cat song cause it makes me crack up just thinking about it Here’s the main verse of the song: Smelly Cat, Smelly Cat,What are they feeding you?Smelly Cat, Smelly Cat, It’s not your fault.

By this time next year: I don’t know…that’s too far ahead. I’m not thinking that far in advance.

My current gripe is: I miss instant message conversations with my boyfriend!!!! I hope things settle down over there sometime soon so I can talk to him again.

I have a hard time understanding: some people and how they can do some of the stuff they do.

There’s these girls: that I have met online over the past couple years since I started working at home and they are all so great and aside from business relationships, I’ve built some amazing friendships!

If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be: Seth even if I had to just email him to tell him.

I want to buy: A plane ticket to VA so I can go visit Tammy for a couple days & take a mini vacation w/her to Virginia Beach.

Where do you plan to visit: See above answer – I would like to do that in June. Then sometime this summer if things go as planned and Seth gets his R&R we are going to Grand Cayman Island…I think that’s still the plan

If you spent the night at my house: You would see how much of a neat freak I really am. You would see the no bread crumbs in my butter that I’m ALWAYS talking about! You would have to watch Caleb do all these crazy stunts on his bike cause he loves to show off! You would have to listen to me flap my jaws for hours on end because I love to talk! And you would see how good bad I am in the kitchen while I tried to make something for you to eat…LOL!

The world could do without: All the school shootings, all the rapists, all the drug dealers, all the prostitutes, all the crazy people.

Most recent thing I’ve bought myself: Ummmmm I honestly can’t remember, it’s been awhile since I’ve had money to buy myself anything…bills & Caleb come first!

Most recent thing someone else bought me: Seth recently bought me some of Tammy Munson’s VA/Consulting time.

My middle name is: Marie

In the morning I: go to bed…lol. No actually up until a couple nights ago I was doing good about being in bed before 2am! So let’s see…I get Caleb up, get him breakfast, get him clothes and get him out the door to school (I used to drive him but he rides the bus again).

Last night I was: thinking about Seth, working, in the networking chat and emailing Seth.

There’s this guy I know who: is amazing, smart, wonderful, sweet, caring, genuine, handsome, fighting for our freedom, makes me smile, makes me happy…and so much more. Oh that would be Seth I’m talking about just in case you didn’t know that

If I was an animal I’d be a: I have no clue!

A better name for me would be: Tish because that’s easier for people to say. Or maybe Tishia would be good but it should just be spelled Tisha so people aren’t trying to pronounce that last i in there.

Tomorrow I am: Working.

Tonight I am: hanging out with Caleb until he goes to bed at 8:30pm then I’ll be working and probably chatting with friends.

My birthday is: February 20th

I got this from: Jen Houck Spink I mean…keep forgetting she’s married now

For those of you that aren’t aware of why he had surgery you can read that post here. I didn’t post much of what had happened other than he had been hurt. I didn’t honestly care to share the details anyway because that’s not what matters anyways.

I haven’t wrote a lot about Seth on my blog (which is so unusual considering I always write about everything going on in my life, especially exciting things) much but I figured it was time to start.

Most of you know the story behind how Seth & I ‘met’ (by the way thank you so much Tammy Munson!) and it seems to be the topic of conversation among Twitter friends, Mom Morning Show listeners, etc.

Ok so anyways please send up a prayer for him (and all our soldiers). He was hurt a couple nights ago and thank God it wasn’t more severe than what it is. He will be going into surgery here shortly (about 10pm my time – Eastern) to have his ankle operated on.And just keep praying for all the men & women over there. I can’t even imagine what it must be like being there.