our wedding

our wedding took place 8 years ago today.

i thought i would take some time today to reflect on the story that brought us to that day in our lives.  i won’t attempt to compete with or compare my story to the amazing romance story others writeabout their life.  i’m just hoping to put down some memories of how we got to today before they’re all lost in the wind of life!  as i sit here, i’m already drawing a blank.  this may all come out randomly…but i hope it makes sense in the end! 

We officially met a few years after high school (1994).  we had attended the same school for 5 years, yet had never crossed paths.  after moving back home from attending bible school and working an out of town job (1996), i started hanging out with some friends i had back in high school.  within that group of friends, there was a mixture of old and new friends! 

through the years of building new friendships back home, trying to find a job that allowed me enough room to grow as well as give me stability, i was lead face to face with the answer to my weaknesses, fears and frustrations.  our eyes had teased each other from a distance for some time, when one day we ”coincidentally” ended up in the same vehicle and both our hearts met to embrace each others feelings.  i don’t remember his exact words, but the jiff of it was he asked me out.  i still distinctly remember my reply.  i felt an incredible rush of excitement, but with it came the brain freezing unexpectedness of it all.  i had never had someone ask me these words before.  i had always been the one that the guys felt comfortable with in a nonthreatening kind of way.  in all honesty, i don’t know if i would have ever given my response to date anyone else.  with all the different emotions running rampant in me, i finally supped up enough lucidness to respond with what i’m sure was a less than enthusiastic ’sure’.  i’m not saying i wasn’t enthusiastic about dating him, it was the sheer surprise of the situation that didn’t properly allow for my true response.  i still remember going to my girlfriends work the next day and sharing the news with her, not being able to keep the excitement in any longer!

it was november 24, 1999.  from that day on, we dated fairly full time.  we attended each others christmas family events, we bought each other romantic gifts (if i remember right, he bought me a cherub and pillar, tho i have no memory of what i bought him).  it didn’t take long for me to realize that the reason i had never desired to date every guy i found interesting was because i wouldn’t and couldnt’ enjoy the idea of playing the dating game.  he got handsomer (is that a word?  LOL) and handsomer with every date we had. 

having realized this distinct fact about my abilities or disabilities to play the dating game, i prayed that God would give the two of us the same conviction bringing us to the the next stage of our life (engagement).  my heart was in it fully, but my mind had given us a time limit.  as much as it hurt me, i needed to have some confirmation that our hearts where at the same place by the end of august of that year (2000).   as he has proved to me time and again since then, he always comes through.

it was late on august 31st, 2000.  i remember lying in my basement bedroom on my bed depressed with the thought of breaking up.  the phone rang and he asked if he could come see me.  i said sure, with sadness at what i was going to have to share with him.  we went for a walk, the burden of my mixed emotions with what i had told myself i had to do after that day weighting heavy on me.  we ended up at the play structure of a local school, and sat there side by side enjoying each others company in silence.  he didn’t beat around the bush, but came out with a ring and asked me to marry him.  again, his words to me fail me now, but i remember i was so totally surprised and had to try and wrap my brain around the fact while totally changing my train of thought.  he always comes thru for me, and i responded with an enthusiastic yes!

it was late, but we quickly went home to share the news with my family.  i remember going to his parents place and sharing the news with his mom as well.  the plans all came together quickly, helping us acheive our goal of having our wedding on our one year dating anniversary. 

that brings us to today, November 24, 2008.  our anniversary twice over i guess.  happy 8 years of marriage to the best guy God could have ever chosen for me.  and happy 9 years of friendship that gets better and better with each year and all that we’re able to share.

a short tribute to a few things i love about my husband, and thank God for today.  Thank You God for:

• his ability to understand me more with each year of our life together
• his unfailing and unconditional love that embraces me each day
• his ability to make me laugh and smile
• his dedication to our family
• his dedication to providing for our family
• his dedication to knowing you
• his love for our children
• and most of all, for the things we’re still meant to be and do together in the years you have before us.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY BEST FRIEND AND HUSBAND!  I love you!