Thankful for my husband.

Today Will and I took our lunch together so that we could accomplish some things both for work and for us. While we were driving to grab food we talked and reminisced about when we were dating and first getting to know each other. While having this conversation I started to think about the different feelings you get in the different stages of a relationship. And while I do love that feeling of first meeting someone that you are attracted to, there is just something about being with "the one". The feelings can't compare. I'm so thankful that God has given me "the one" that he has planned for me to spend the rest of my life with. He is a precious person to me. He is my best-friend. I love spending time with him and I love knowing that he is always there for me and he is my biggest fan! And he loves me back! Thank you, Lord, for my wonderful husband!

How I met my Husband

Well, as I said in my last post, I've been have a little bit of blogger's block. So, I thought I would kind of take Kristin's advice and blog about how I met Will.

When I moved to Jacksonville back in 2005 I didn't know anyone in the city except for my wonderful boss and her husband. They were kind enough to let me live with them until I found a place of my own and figured out a few things about this new city. After moving out of their house I had made a few friends but nothing like what I had back in Charlotte. And also, being the silly girl that I am, I had ended up dating a couple of the guy friends and when things didn't work out between us, well, that was the end of that friendship.

So, there I am was, a year into living in Jacksonville and really wanting to find my "place" in this city. I wanted to find my group to hang out with on the weekends. To meet up with for coffee or dinner during the week after work. And I just didn't know where to start. I was starting to get a bit discouraged and ended up talking to a co-worker about it one day.

My co-worker's name was Karyne and she had a step-son that was a couple of years younger than me who had grown up in Jacksonville. She told me to call him and see about hanging out so that he could introduce me to some people that he knew. I was all for it except for one thing. I don't call boys. (That's what my mother had always told me when I was growing up. As I got older that rule changed a little into I don't call guys I don't know.) She asked if I would give him my number and I was reluctant to do that as well. So, she gave him my email address. I didn't think much would come of it. If nothing else, we would email back and forth a couple of times and that would be it.

A couple of days later I was at work and I got an email from someone I didn't know. Turns out it was Will. Oh, how I wish I had saved that email. He confessed his love for walks on the beach by moonlight, puppies, rainbows and every other cheesy personal add type cliche'. It was silly and made me chuckle. He had a sense of humor and with that he had my attention.

We emailed back and forth a few times over the next two or three weeks before meeting or even talking on the phone. At that time Will invited me to go with he and some of his friends to a Sun's Baseball game. It was Thirsty Thursday so that meant the the stadium would be overflowing with 20-somethings. And as an added bonus love baseball and I like meeting new people so I thought this would be fun.

We made arrangements to meet up at the local community college where Will was taking an evening class. I didn't really know what to think of this outing as we weren't introduced in a romantic capacity and the initial intention of our introduction was just for me to meet people in my new city. The events of the evening didn't suggest that this was a date so I wasn't going to treat it like one. With that in mind I approached my closet. Now, you girls can probably relate to me with this one. I was going on a non-date to a baseball game with someone that I had never met before. I wanted to make a good first impression but I didn't want to over do it for a baseball game. I decided on a favorite pink polo, my jeans and flip flops. I felt confidant but not over dressed.

I left my apartment and headed to the school. Not knowing exactly where I was going I left plenty of time to get there not realizing the the school was literally a 2 mile drive from my apartment. I was 30 minutes early and I felt like a huge nerd! I tried to figure out what to do while I waited. Should I leave and come back? Should I just sit and wait. I think I ended up reading a magazine in my car while waiting.

Will got out of class and called me as he was walking out to his car. When I saw him for the first time he was talking to me on his phone and I remember thinking that he looked like a typical bachelor. His hair needed cut, his pants needed ironed and I think one of his shoes was untied. But he was cute. He was very polite and easy to talk to. And it wasn't until I saw him that I was actually nervous. But why? This wasn't a date. He was helping me meet friends. Why was I nervous over that? I tried to talk myself out of being nervous for about an hour. I felt silly and could figure out why.

Well, we arrived at the game and after some interesting encounters at the concession stand we got to our seats. I met a few people as we got situated and then we started to just watch the game. We would talk in between plays about little things. Getting-to-know-each other types of things. It was fun and I was starting to relax a little.

After the game had ended we went to grab some food with some friends and then started planning out the rest of the evening. I had to work the next day but it was still early and I was having a great time. It was decided that we would all go and sing karaoke. Yikes! I wasn't so at ease anymore. I didn't want to sing.

Now, let me just give you a little back ground but not get too far off track. I love to sing! In fact, I've been singing in some capacity for my entire life. I have been in a choir or ensemble ever since I can remember. But I have terrible stage freight. If I have to sing a solo I want to die! I would rather crawl into a hole and never come out. I did overcome it at one point in my life while I was singing in a band for church. It was the only time in my life I can remember not wanting to wet my pants when singing by myself.

So, there we were at the karaoke bar and I was terrified that I was going to have to get up and sing. I really didn't want to. I didn't say anything in hopes that Will wouldn't try to talk me into singing. I just went along with the crowd and started watching everyone else. Next thing I know the KJ (karaoke jockey) was calling Will. He got up there and sang I Like My Women Just a Little on the Trashy Side. I was in shock. He wasn't bad. He made me laugh. It was encouraging to see him get up there. When he came back and sat down he asked me if I was going to take a turn. I don't know what in the world came over me but I agreed to sing a song. I sang one of my favorite Alison Krauss. And I have to admit, although I was terrified I still had fun.

After we finished up with karaoke we spent about an hour talking. We had both had a great time and wanted to see each other again. I never imagined when I started emailing that anything would come of it. I was pleasantly surprised and we did end up declaring the evening our first date.

Our First Wedding Anniversary

Yesterday was our 1 year wedding anniversary so how did we celebrate? We had a weekend packed full of things to do! Friday night we had a normal date night which consisted of going out to dinner and to a movie. Now, I have to take a moment to add that my husband is the best husband and he lets me get away with way too much. He took me to see The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: 2. And on top of that he didn't complain one bit, well, maybe a little bit but no more than I expected.

Saturday was such a great day. It starting off with a massage and then a manicure and pedicure. Will and I had reservations at one of my favorite restaurants, The Melting Pot. We had a wonderful server by the name of Emily and she really helped make our first anniversary special! In fact, the entire staff at The Melting Pot was wonderful! Every single employee we encountered all the way from the hostesses to the manager came to tell us Happy Anniversary! After we sufficiently stuffed ourselves on cheese and chocolate fondue we said thank you to everyone for making it a lovely night and then headed home. It was such a great night!

Sunday was our actual wedding anniversary but we didn't have anything special planned. We went to church, had lunch with friends and then found out that we were going to be getting a washing machine and dryer that day! We were buying it from a friend of ours and thought we wouldn't be able to get it until the following weekend. This was a huge blessing to Will and I! We have not had our own washer and dryer since we got married! So, in order to make room for the new washer and dryer we had to do some organizing in our garage. After an hour or so of organizing and installing, with the help of my father-in-law, we had a very organized garage AND a new washer and dryer! Will and I both are so excited!

After washing and drying 3 loads of laundry and cooking dinner we met up with some of our friends for Rita's. (I'll have to tell you all more about Rita's another time.) With such a busy day we almost forgot to do one of the most important things to do on your 1st wedding anniversary! We almost forgot about our cake top! (Although, now, I think Will wishes we had forgotten it.) We cut into the cake and each took a bite. It was terrible! We didn't spit out our bites so we did stick to the tradition but we are both glad that it's not a yearly tradition.

To sum it up, we had a great anniversary weekend! We spent time together and with friends. I couldn't have asked for a better one. And I couldn't have asked for a better person to share it all with.

P.S. Will, thank you for a wonderful first year of marriage. I look forward to many more with you. I love you the most.