If you knew me at 14, I didn't do boys. Not a little bit...not at all. I didn't really do anyone, except my cousin and my BFF, Tara. That was it...I wasn't very trusting of people so usually steered clear of getting too close to anyone! Then something happened! I met a boy...a quiet boy, a sweet boy, a good boy.
Our church got a new pastor the summer of 1999, and with the new pastor came this boy! :)
Our family hosted them for lunch and swimming, the day after my Maine trip...and although we didn't speak much then, it wasn't long before we started to get to know each other. We attended the same high school, went to the same church, and lived in the same neighborhood. We started dating (if you can call it that) the spring/summer of 2000. After a short intermission over the winter, we began to talk again in the spring of 2001, and the rest is history! We have been together since May 4, 2001! ;) He had my heart way before he let me have his, but it didn't take him too long to figure out I already had it!! :)
We share soooo many wonderful, amazing memories together! This May will be 13 years! 13 years of our life spent loving and growing together! I have absolutely no idea where or what in the world I would be without him. I have said this before, God knew I needed a rock and that is just what He gave me. When everything else and everyone else seems shaky or disappears...he is there, solid as a rock, holding me up.
It brings tears to my eyes, just to recount the days we have spent together. I am so undeserving of such a wonderful wonderful man. Such a wonderful life with him. There's this quote I absolutely love, "Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same"...I don't know if there's a better way to describe us. We get the things about each other that no one else gets. We find joy in the simplest things. We are ok being "old fashioned". We are ok being us. And I am so thankful, so very thankful for our love. Our life.
I don't think at 16 we had any idea that 13 years later, we would be married for almost 9 years and have three beautiful children, but here we are. And we made it together! The bumps have come, but we have always found our way to the other side. From little kids who couldn't even drive, to partners in this life...we have gone together. We don't have EVERYTHING there is too have, and we do nothing particularly special, but we love. And love deeply. And this has been the greatest blessing. To love with all of me and know that I am loved just that much in return. What an amazing thing! Perfect? No. But absolutely amazing.
I wish there were words to say all this better, but there actually are some feelings, some experiences that lack the ability to be described. That defy old Webster! ;) I will just end with the best description I know, and not my own. It is actually from one of my very favorite movies, The Notebook .
"I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who's ever lived: I've loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough."
Thank you, God, for this wonderful man! And for helping us build this life together!!
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