The second semester of classes have begun and as I am settling in, I stumbled upon a quote in a book that is required for one of my classes.

The quote immediately caught my attention and warmed my heart. I thought it was fascinating how the author of the book began with this quote. Although I have yet to jump in and read the book, I am already quite interested. The book, "The Upside of Stress."

This book was written by Kelly McGonigal, a Stanford psychologist and award-winning teacher began her book with this quote, " If you have butterflies in your stomach, invite them into your heart." This quote is by Cooper Edens.

You can decipher that in different ways and in many different situations. But for me, I think of relationships and all that falls into being committed. My mom used to repeat to me that relationships take work and that if there is no effort put into that friendship or intimate relationship, will it last?

Take a moment to think of a relationship that means the most to you and all you do with one another. I'm sure as you are thinking, pictures and memories, along with sacrifices and arguments are coming to mind. Some may be more than others, however, whoever you are thinking about means a great amount to you. You want to keep that relationship, build it up and make it even more strong than ever before.

Whether its butterflies about something you need to talk to someone about, butterflies about something that is changing your life, or butterflies because he gives you that feeling unlike any other, let them in. Invite those butterflies into your heart, and prosper.

This article is more of a story I want to share with you all, and why inviting butterflies into my heart created more growth than I could have imagined.

As many of you who read my articles are familiar with who I am as a person and my love to express feelings into my writing. For those who do not know, writing for me is an escape to create pieces to share with the world in hope that I can inspire a better you or even to just put a thought in your mind that then channels you to think back on things in your life.

The story of love.

Over a year ago you walked up my driveway, we were meeting for the first time. To this day you remember what I was wearing. I had on grey leggings with an over-sized long sleeve shirt and socks on.

I immediately got butterflies as you took each step up that driveway, and I invited them in. In the next few months, we began our adventures and going out to eat traditions including late night food binges at buffalo wild wings and evenings out at the left bank for our anniversaries.

We fell in love fast and we fell hard. I knew you were leaving for the military and I was leaving for college but we made the most of the time we had. The two of us created a list of 100 things to do over the summer before we both left, even though you left a month earlier in July we did something new every day and our adventure list is amazing because we have done so much together. You left and my heart kind of felt like it was left in a sudden moment.

Then, three months later, I got you back for a few short weekends and just recently I had you for a little over two weeks for holiday block leave. Over break, I noticed how much we as a couple have grown and how much stronger our love has gotten. Dropping you off was harder than it was to say goodbye to you at the airport, my heart again was shattered.

To those girls who know how I feel, I know you know too.

The feeling of needing to keep busy because it takes your mind off of you worrying about your soldier or having just one more glass of wine to take the edge off and to help you feel like you are "okay" for just a moment.

Yes, we have it different than most people, but I believe it makes our love stronger. There is nobody else I can see myself grow old with or see myself have a future with. Even though that future involves miles between us, it only puts us closer together. I am writing letters to you every day even though you cannot receive them and are busy with training, but I write every day or night (sometimes both) because I will have them for you at the end of this next step when you reach your goal.

If I could give out advice to my fellow girls in the same situation, I will tell you to create a support system. Keep busy but if you need to cry, its okay and then pick yourself up again. "Look at the stars." My man and I always say to each other, look at the stars because no matter where we are in the world we can look up and know we are looking at the same sky. I hold onto that.

To those girls who are reading this and have a civilian relationship, you to should invite those butterflies in and make your relationship an adventure. Yes, they take work, but it is all worth it in the end.

I finish off my letters with xoxo and sending all my love. So until next time I get to hear that sweet voice of yours and look into those eyes, I can hold onto the memories. Over a year ago I let those butterflies in the day you walked up my driveway. Over a year later I still get "butterflies" when I see you and I get different "butterflies" when we have to be apart but the heart only grows fonder.

To all of you reading my words, "If you have butterflies in your stomach, invite them into your heart." Never look back and look forward