Two years

Monday, October 22, 2007

Has it only been two years? The husband and I were married two years ago today but it seems like a lifetime ago. I don't remember life without him and I don't care to. We've known each other much longer than that, so maybe that's why.

We practically grew up together, playing on the same high school tennis team in a tiny Texas town. I first met him when I was 12, and secretly had a crush on him all through middle school. Once I got to high school, he was the guy all the girls were after; a senior and a quiet guy with a cute smile and a curl in his hair. And I was the timid freshman, sure that I didn't stand a chance at getting him to notice me but still determined to try.

I can still remember the team trip to Corpus Christie the summer before my freshman year. My friend Katie and I teased the crap out of him, stealing his hat and giggling as he chased us for it. I remember spending hours picking out my outfit to wear to the steakhouse that night, curling my hair just so and trying to suck my stomach in and stick my chest out as best I could. I remember watching him play a match from up in the stands with the senior girls, and them commenting on his cute butt. One of those girls would later date him, and many years after that, we'd visit her and her new husband on a trip back to Texas. It's so funny how things work out.

We did end up dating for a short time in high school, but not long enough to really even count as a relationship. My dad caught us kissing in the driveway once after practice, and I remember trying to pass it off as a dare from the other girls. But believe me, no one had to dare me to kiss him. I was plenty willing!

After he graduated, he moved to Arizona to go to a local college in Phoenix, and shortly after that, my dad's job relocated him and we moved to Indiana. I didn't talk to him for nearly two years. One day, I decided to send a note to his old email address and see if he still checked it. Much to my surprise, I received a response, and we began talking again. We'd talk on the phone a lot, just a platonic relationship. For me it was a way to hang on to the life I once knew.

A few months after we reconnected, he told me he was being sent to Indiana on a business trip. I was so incredibly excited and begged my mom to take me to see him. We hadn't lived here long and didn't know that Ft. Wayne was a two-hour drive north. But we made the trip, and had an amazing time. He kissed me in his hotel room that night and rekindled something I never thought would ever be again. My mom still to this day says that if she had known how far we would have to drive, we never would have gone. Thank goodness for small miracles, right?

After that, we talked non-stop. I entered my senior year of high school and had my fair share of boyfriends, but he was always in the back of my mind. For Spring Break that year, he invited me to come to Phoenix for a week, and I was ecstatic. I did go, and to describe it in one word: life-changing. I still can't believe my parents let me go, but I thank my lucky stars that they did. After returning home, I sent him an email and mustered up the guts to tell him in that email that I loved him. His response was less than stellar, because he didn't say it back. But I assured him my feelings would be the same if he ever changed his mind.

October of that same year, he came to Indiana again to visit me at college. Our time together then was very confusing, and I wasn't sure how I felt any more. But when I took him to the airport, I cried as he walked away from me and it was then that I knew I still loved him. When he returned home and called me that night, he finally said it back. We became an exclusive couple that night. The funniest part of this is that when we decided it, it was past midnight in Indiana but three hours behind in Arizona. So to determine what day would be the "official" day, we decided to use the time it was in our Texas hometown. It was just after 11pm on October 22, 2003.

Despite the distance, our relationship flourished, and five months later in March of 2004, he made the leap of faith to quit his job in Arizona, pack his things, and move to Indiana. It was an incredible decision to make in that he had no job lined up here and was just trusting that he would be able to find one. He lived with my parents (for much longer than expected, actually) and I am thankful every day that they took him in and allowed us to make things work. I was still at college at that time and would drive home every weekend to see him.

Sawyer was conceived three days before our one year dating anniversary, and I found out I was pregnant on Halloween. That event started a snowball of activity and when I was 14 weeks pregnant, January 5th, 2005, he proposed to me. Two months later, in March, we bought our first home and in May after I finished my sophomore year of college, I was able to finally come home and live in our house. Sawyer was born that July, and we were finally married three months later on October 22nd, 2005. Exactly two years after we started dating.

I always love telling our story because I think it's such an amazing example of fate and how everything happens for a reason. What if we hadn't moved to Indiana, or I hadn't ever emailed him, or he hadn't chosen to work for that particular company that sent him to Indiana? It's such a crazy chain reaction.

It sounds like such a short time, but like I said, it seems so, so much longer. We've been through so much and in that short time, we've had two children, one wedding, bought two houses and changed jobs twice. We've seen life, death, hardship, rejoicing and everything in between. And I wouldn't change a thing.

Happy two years of complete bliss to my amazing husband. You are my happy ending.

Blogged by Making A Modern Family at 3:47 PM  

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on 2 years!

Mon Oct 22, 04:46:00 PM EDT

 
Keri said...

so sweet!

Mon Oct 22, 05:01:00 PM EDT

 
Unknown said...

Aww, congrats! I wish my story was that fairy tale sounding, haha. :P

Mon Oct 22, 05:15:00 PM EDT

 
MomSmoo said...

Happy anniversary!! I love the pic of Sawyer at your wedding!

Mon Oct 22, 05:27:00 PM EDT

 
Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary! What a story!

Mon Oct 22, 05:35:00 PM EDT

 
Jess said...

Congradulations! The 22nd must be a good day to get married. We got married on the 22nd as did his brother and his parents. All diffent monthes but it's still cool.

Mon Oct 22, 08:13:00 PM EDT

 
J said...

AWW!! You totally made me tear up. That was so beautifully written. You have such a great talent.

Congrats on two years!!

Mon Oct 22, 08:35:00 PM EDT

 
JoDee Phillips said...

What a sweet story Alicia!!! It's always funny how things work out!!! Congratulations on two years!!

Mon Oct 22, 08:49:00 PM EDT

 
Amanda T said...

Congratulations! What a great story :)

Tue Oct 23, 08:06:00 AM EDT

 

Happy anniversary! What a beautiful love story. :)

Tue Oct 23, 09:05:00 AM EDT

 
houseofeling said...

what a great post! Thanks for sharing.

Tue Oct 23, 09:16:00 AM EDT

 
Jennifer said...

So happy for you two. Congratulations.

Tue Oct 23, 01:17:00 PM EDT

 
Cricky said...

What a sweet and inspiring story.
Congrats on 2 years!

Tue Oct 23, 02:12:00 PM EDT

 
Melban said...

What can I say other than it has been the happies 2 and 4 years of my life. I'm so glad I was able to find a woman as great as you to love me.

Tue Oct 23, 03:20:00 PM EDT

 
Sara said...

Awwwww, what a great story. Congratulations on many happy years.

Tue Oct 23, 05:08:00 PM EDT

 
ann said...

hi! just dropping by! congratulations on your 2nd year of marriage. you have a wonderful love story. :)

Wed Oct 24, 06:15:00 AM EDT

 
louann said...

THat was a sweet sweet story. Congratulations!!! More years together =)

Fri Oct 26, 11:12:00 PM EDT

 
Anonymous said...

HAPPY 2 YEARS!!!

Mon Oct 29, 06:22:00 AM EDT

 
Tina said...

Wow, what a sweet love story! This reminded me a lot of the chain of events in my own relationship with my hubby, from dating to marriage and making a family. What a wonderful reminder it is, too!
You should be proud of yourself for creating such a fantastic life and family for yourself. :") And what a beautiful family you do have! Very touching post. :)

Mon Oct 29, 05:41:00 PM EDT

 
Crooked Eyebrow said...

What a wonderful day for you two. Congrats!

Fri Nov 02, 09:33:00 PM EDT

 

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