I was supposed to publish this on Saturday for Laura’s Share Your Love Story carnival. But with the sickness and Blissdom, I didn’t get around to it. Finally was able to finish last night, so here ya go!

For me, I really realized I had feelings for Adam when I was shopping for his birthday that year. I cared so much about what I got him and that he had a great birthday. That was October 29. On the night of November 5th, we starting “going out” while watched Toy Story 2 in my room and shared a tiny little peck.

Our first real date was during Christmas break that year. Yeah, I know, but we were 19 and 20 and poor. We both proclaim it The Worst Date We’ve Ever Had. I had a nasty sinus infection. We went to see the first Lord of the Rings movie. Please note, it’s 3 hours long. We got some of the last tickets, so we had to sit in the very front row all the way to the left. My neck hurt afterward, plus I had to blow my nose throughout the entire movie. Blegh!

We had our little ups and downs, but it was May of 2002 that I was pretty sure he was the guy I was going to marry. The One. That summer, he went to Switzerland for 10 weeks and I went to China for 6 (overlapping) weeks. Our relationship subsisted on IMs and e-mails describing Florence, crazy Chinese food, and new friends. I went to visit his family for the first time that August after we both got back, and took his mother a vase I bought in China. I was very proud of getting it at a great price after a fun bargaining experience. She thought I should keep it if I liked it so much. And thus began our relationship of misunderstanding!

As to refrain from making this the longest post in the History of Blogging, let’s skip ahead slightly.

My sweetie proposed on February 22, 2003. I was 20. We had a sort-of debutante ball for our junior class. All the girls wore white, were paraded down the steps of a fancy hotel by their daddies, and everyone’s families came. When I got to the bottom of the stairs, Adam was there with the ring. I don’t even remember him asking me the question. He claims he did. I was shocked beyond belief. I pretty much knew we would get engaged, but I hadn’t expected it so soon. He wanted to do it while I’d still be surprised instead of expecting it every time we went out to dinner or something.

(The funny part of this story is 1. He didn’t tell my sister because, well, she was 18 and has a big mouth. When he pulled the ring box out of my mom’s camera case she apparently went into hysterics. 2. The order of people coming down the stairs got sort of mixed up, so I came much earlier than expected. He had to jump over some ropes to be there in time.)

We were married on July 31, 2004, not quite three months after our college graduation and about 10 days before we moved to Nashville. Our dads moved our stuff to Nashville while we were on our AMAZING honeymoon at the El Dorado Royale in Mexico. As soon as we got to Nashville, I got an awful bladder infection that moved to my kidneys and made me sick as a dog–throwing up everywhere, couldn’t get out of bed…and he took care of me the best he knew how.

We’ve been married 4 1/2 years and it’s been so much fun. I love being married to my best friend. We always have a good time together, whether it’s bowling, watching movies, or, now, playing with our little-bitty daughter. He is a great daddy, as I always knew he would be.

On our wedding day, there was a rainbow but no rain. We’ve always taken that as a sign from God that it was the right thing, He was happy with our marriage. And we want to make Him happy back, that is our hearts’ desire.