IN EVERY ISSUE
BESIDE THE UNIFORM Military Spouses
By Lindsay Norman • Photo submitted
Ours is a bit of a non-traditional story .
Erik and I met through eharmony ( yes , we met on a dating site ) in 2009 , while he was deployed somewhere in Asia and I was living in
Dallas , Texas .
We were both in our 30s at that time , and very much had our own lives . We dated long distance for three years before we married and that was my first taste of military life . It was really hard at times , but by faith , I knew without a doubt it would be worth it in the end .
We were married by a justice of the peace in 2012 and again in church with our families later that year . Another hallmark of Navy life , the need for paperwork before ceremony , and leave and deployment schedules come first .
My first military move I had to do alone with two dogs in tow , from Dallas to Naples , Italy . I left my career at that time of 10 years and set out to fully embrace our new life together . We joke that we had a three-year honeymoon in Europe . I was so blessed to experience living overseas . We traveled every weekend we could , and was able to make it to Greece and Turkey as well .
In Italy , I also started my career with Navy Federal Credit Union in 2013 . I have the privilege of supporting military members and their families financially as they travel their own journey . Erik and I treasure the time we had in Italy and would do it again in a heartbeat .
Unfortunately , shore duty for a Sailor is temporary , and we found ourselves on our way to Norfolk , Virginia , by 2015 where Erik was assigned to the USS Gerald R . Ford . This period introduced me to sea duty . Erik did two deployments with two other operational commands in the first 16 months after we arrived and we were once again apart .
I was working for a local Navy Federal branch and that kept me very busy . I focused on work and friends quite a bit to pass the time until he came home I lived for the emails and gift boxes he would send from all over the world .
In between these two deployments we had decided to start a family , and in October 2017 our son Leif was born . Also in that year , Erik was also promoted to Chief Petty Officer and our journey as a family completely changed .
A new baby , new demands on Erik and a new ship followed . This period was one of the most difficult to date , and we had to learn how to balance and somehow also prioritize family life . There ’ s a saying spouses use , “ I ’ m also married to the military .” How true this felt at that time , but as fast as children grow up so does the time pass and we pushed through it . Before we knew , it it had been six years since we arrived in Virginia , it was time to move again .
Submitted photo Lindsay Norman is pictured with her husband , U . S . Navy Chief Erik Norman and their son , Leif . The couple has resided in Meridian since 2020 where Chief Norman is station at Naval Air Station Meridian .
Our next set of orders brought us to Meridian and blessed shore duty where Erik is assigned to Naval Air Station Meridian . We arrived in December 2020 , two weeks before Christmas . A lesson learned from military life : Don ’ t ever move during the holidays . Meridian has charmed me with its hospitality and welcoming community . Our time here has been a type of respite from the lifestyle that sea duty demands , and the pace is most welcome .
We are starting to prepare for potentially , our last duty station before retirement and can see the end of the journey ahead . I ’ m learning that even as we make choices as a family , as we move from place to place and Erik serves faithfully , our steps are being ordered and this chapter in our lives will be used for God ’ s purposes . I will always treasure my role supporting Erik ’ s career with the Navy and we look forward to what adventures lie ahead .
36 • MERIDIAN HOME & STYLE