Becky and I went on our first date as a married couple last night…we had a great time!! She got her nails done, I perused the mall and had a hot tea, and we went to see Transformers. What an awesome movie! It has been a long time since I walked out of a movie theater totally jazzed about the movie I just saw but Transfomers takes the cake. They didn’t go for the cheesy romantic angle (like when you are expecting them to kiss in the middle of a huge fight going on but instead they get back to helping the good guys), or the stupid laugh (though I do like the stupid humor), or even the typical socially awkard geek (Shia LaBeouf does a great job of portraying a unique, believable high school student who starts off pretty average).

And the special effects! I mean, I am around FX all the time but these were gorgeous! The guys at ILM (Industrial Lights & Magic) did a simply supurb job on the Robots and the effects. There is a fine line between cheesy and overdone and the nail it right on the money.

But enough about the movie…what really stuck with me from the movie was a comment that Becky made while we were in the middle of watching the movie…

While we were watching all the Army characters fighting to defend the city, Becky couldn’t help but think about Julie (my new sister) and they fighting going on in Iraq. There are a few obvious differences (Julie isn’t frontline infantry and we aren’t being attacked by nearly-indestructible robots) but the special effects guys did such a good job that you can almost feel the bullets whizzing over head. (Ok, no more about the movie I promise)

When I first met Julie, I was a little unsure of what to expect. Becky had told me all about her love for her sister as well as her hard headedness. All I was trying ti figure out was how to make Julie like me because it was obvious that her opnion and relationship meant so much to Becky. Then I spent a little time with Julie when I was meeting some of the family and I quickly realized that nobody makes Julie do anything.
So, Becky said to just be myself and let it happen. And over the last couple of years it has been cool to see or talk to Julie a couple times but not nearly as fun as getting to hang out with her at the rehearsal and wedding. (For example, it was important that I ask Julie for her permission during the ceremony to kiss Becky 🙂 ) Then Julie and I had the first opportunity since Becky and I met to spend some brief one on one time together when she came to stay with us last weekend before heading back to Iraq. It was great to spend some, albeit short, quality time with someone that you have been praying for for months.
By the time we had to take her to the airport, instead of hanging with her at the check in desk for a couple of minutes, we ended up sitting down and laughing and talking for almost 5 hours! (Becky and I even tried to leave once and didn’t even get out of the terminal parking!!) Being the oldest of 6 and having three sisters, I can’t imagine having that kind of relationship with someone I have only seen a handfull of times over the last couple of years. But the three of use were goofing off and having fun like old friends ( 😉 At least I was!).  I am both proud and grateful to have a new sister in the military; esspecially one with more courage than I can dream of…