Happy Anniversary to My Love!

On this day 9 years ago, I married my very best friend. Cheesy, I know, but it's true! Happy anniversary to my love, I am so thankful God brought you into my life.

You are my husband, friend, confidante, sidekick, and my all time favorite person.

You have challenged me and helped me grow, encouraged me when I was down, rejoiced with me when I was happy, and held me when I was sad.

You have been with me through the highest highs and the lowest lows, through laughter and tears, and you have been my rock. I love you more than I could ever express.

Here's to many more years of loving and growing together.

The Story of Us: Part 2

Ok, part 2 of our story is up next! If you missed Part 1, you can read that here.

So anyways...we had the game night and Sarah and Emily had been acting kind of weird for a couple of days afterwards. Like whispering and smiling and such, you know how girls do. I really didn't think much of it, just figured if there was something they knew that involved me, they would tell me.

A few nights later Sarah told me "Adam had a really good time the other night" and I think from her tone of voice and the way she said it I pretty much immediately figured out what she was trying to say. They (Sarah and Emily) had debated whether they should tell me that Adam liked me and wanted to get to know me better, and that he had asked if they thought he should just call me sometime or wait until we had another group thing. Knowing me and my super shy nature Emily and Sarah thought I might feel more comfortable in a group setting at first, so they planned a lunch thing at Kevin's apartment.

It was pretty much a typical weekend afternoon for us, eating KFC and playing Mario Party (we were CRAZY college kids, you guys). Adam and I interacted of course, but no more than anyone else, we all just had fun together.

About a week later, when Rebecca and I came back from the gym, I walked in the door and Sarah immediately tells me "Adam called." (This was on my cell phone, and it just occurred to me...I went to the gym and left without my cell phone?? How times have changed.)

I quickly checked my voicemail and his message said that he had gotten my number from Emily and he wanted to know if I wanted to do something that night. I promptly began to freak OUT because as you may recall at this point I have pretty much zero experience with dating AND I'm an overthinker so I'm all nervous and awkward. I had plans already for that night so I called him back and asked him if he wanted to do something tomorrow instead. He said that would work and the plan was set.

The next afternoon after church (it was a Sunday) I called and we agreed to meet at a local arcade later that afternoon. I went to lunch with Sarah and Rebecca in the cafeteria and could barely eat anything, I was so nervous. We met at the arcade and played all the games for a while, then went to Starbucks for a while, just chatting. I honestly can't really remember what we talked about, but I do remember it just being so natural and easy, even with my nervousness. I was all "Hey this isn't so bad, this guy is really easy to talk to" and he said we would call me later that week.

About a week later was the day before Valentine's Day "date" and after that he started hanging out with our group a lot more and we started calling and texting each other a few nights a week. I was starting to fall for him, and I didn't even realize it yet.

My Favorite Valentine's Memory

*This is sort of a continuation of our story, but more of just a little aside within the story, if you will. I will continue the main story next Thursday as promised*

As I have mentioned, Adam was my first and only boyfriend/dating relationship, so I spent A LOT of Valentine's Days as a single lady (all the single ladies), but it never really bothered me that much. Of course there were Valentine's Days I wished I had a boyfriend to send me flowers or bring me candy, but I never really just hated the day or anything.

It's kind of funny because my favorite Valentine's memory is actually of the Valentine's Day immediately before Adam and I were "official", when we were in the "we're just hanging out as friends" phase (like February 13th was literally our second time hanging out just the two of us). At this point we knew there was interest, but we were just getting to know each other. We planned to meet at Starbucks that afternoon to have coffee and chat. 

So I felt kind of awkward going on a "date" (we didn't call it a date at the time, but let's face it, that's what it was) with this guy I didn't know very well right before Valentine's Day. Isn't that like, a cardinal rule of dating or something? Don't plan a date with a guy you're not in an official relationship with on or right around Valentine's? Obviously I was clueless. I didn't know if he would feel like he should bring me some kind of gift and I didn't want him to feel like he had to. But what if he did?? And what if it was weird?? And what should I doooo and saaaaay??

Clearly I was overthinking things, as usual. Since it was all so new to me I was super afraid of doing something wrong or awkward or weird. 

When I arrived I noticed he didn't have candy or a card or anything so I was like "Ok, cool. Now I know" and we sat and talked for awhile. Then as we were getting ready to leave he goes "I have something in the car for you" and I was like "Oh snap."

So I walk to the car with him and he pulls out a card and a Guitar how-to book. We both played guitar and had talked about it and he knew I was just learning chords and stuff, so he thought I might like to read up on it. I was thinking "Well gosh darn it that's just the most adorable and thoughtful thing ever!" and I was impressed that he managed to come up with something thoughtful and sweet but not the kind of gift that says "Happy Valentine's Day, we are just getting to know each other but let's define the relationship right here and right now!"

Then I opened the card and it was a Valentine's greeting card with Barbie on it and said "For a Special Granddaughter" but "Granddaughter" was crossed out and he had written "Julie" in it's place (Julie is what my friends have always called me even though my real name is Julia). I cracked up and all of the nervousness left.

You would have to know Adam to know this perfectly embodies his quirky sense of humor and I absolutely loved it. Again I was impressed that he struck the perfect balance between sweet and funny and a little bit of sentimental as we were discovering how we felt about each other. I left that day thinking "This guy is something pretty special."

Of course we've had many wonderful Valentine's as a couple since then, but this one is my favorite because it was my first real glimpse into what a sweet, thoughtful, funny, and considerate guy Adam is, and though I didn't know it at the time, it was the start of something wonderful. 

What's your favorite Valentine's Day memory?

DANG I am wordy! And I tried to be more succinct with this one, really I did!