July 20th, 1861

It was the summer of 1861, when the officers came to our house in the middle of the night. They arrived in a fancy covered wagon, with silver shingles. They came to our house and knocked, firmly on the door. My heart began to pound, I knew what this meant. It had come the time for Samuel, my husband to go off to war. My heart suddenly sank as they requested for a strong soldier to fight against the South. We all knew who the tall, firm man was looking for. Emma, my 6 year old daughter and I knew this was coming. We helped Samuel gather together his necessities and he was on his way. Samuel gave Emma a big hug and told her he was with her no matter how far away they were. Samuel whispered a few words to me and was on his way.

I glanced out the circular window looking at the wagon, trail down the dusty road. As the wagon glimmered in the distance, it soon disappeared. I felt tears run down my face as I glared at Emma. She was laying in the corner across the room staring with a blank look on her face trying to grasp the fact her dad was gone for who knows how long. I felt as if the life of my daughter no longer relied on me and my husband, but now only me. I could see our family already being torn appart as I try to find the words to say to Emma. I don't know how our lives would stand further on, without Samuel. Desperation appeared in our home and inside of Emma's life as her dad left.

I, Annabelle Andrews the wife of Samuel and mother of Emma will keep a blog to write about all the changes and sacrifices we will experience in our life. I will write about all the times and important events that happen while my husband is away. My heart sunk and crashed into a billion pieces. Sometimes I wish I was still a child because bruised knees heal faster than broken hearts.. I have no idea what I am going to do without my beloved, Samuel.