My Love Story

I saw this and it's perfect for Valentine's Day coming up.  So, I unashamedly stole this from Jillian Knoedler's blog. :)  Couldn't figure out how to link up with where she got it from, so I used old fashioned copy & paste.  Shows you just how tech savvy I am. ;)

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

We have been together for 5 years on March 16 of this year.

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

We met through our young adults Bible study.  I had started coming just before graduating high school and met these 2 brothers, Shane and Jaron, who lived even further out than I did, which was no small feat.  I decided to see if they wanted to carpool to study and other places of interest.  However, I knew they were from a conservative homeschooling family and figured they would think me way too forward and probably shun me. :)  But, they accepted and we started carpooling.  We had many deep conversations about our beliefs, things we talked about in study and life in general.  It didn't take long for me to be impressed with Shane's beliefs and convictions.  I had the thought, "Whatever girl gets him someday is going to be very lucky", but at that point I still wasn't interested at all.  Several months later we had a small birthday party for him at study.  All of the sudden I realized, "I'm in love with Shane!"  I proceeded to panic and went home and told my mom, who didn't look surprised.  She asked me if I would be interested in kissing him, and I told her yes.  She promptly informed me that I was done for. :)  Long story short, we eventually realized our mutual like for each other and Shane got up the nerve (brave man!) to ask my dad if he could "pursue a relationship" with me.  The rest is history. :)

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

We have been married for an amazing 3 years and 3 months.

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?  If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small? 

We got married at Majestic View Church in Kiowa, CO.  And we had just under 400 people, so big. :)

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

Usually just baby, handsome, beautiful and then randomness at different times.

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

1. He's constantly trying to grow in his Christian walk and is willing to go way outside his comfort zone if that's what he feels God is telling him to do.

2. He makes me laugh more than anyone ever has and we have so much fun together.  He's my best friend.

3. He is the hardest working man I know and does a fantastic job taking care of us.

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

We had planned a sunrise hike at Castlewood Canyon, which I was extremely excited for.  However, he called me earlier that week and told me that he and Matthew had been talking and they had discussed a long time ago how fun that would be and Matthew really wanted to do it, so he had invited him along on our hike.  I was not very happy about it, but told him it was okay and figured we would still have a blast, because it was Matthew. :)  Little did I know that he and Matthew had set this whole thing up just to throw me off track and make it a surprise.  Matthew never had any intention of going.  Punks. :)  So we were up and leaving around 4 that Saturday, and Shane called Matthew on our way in to tell him we would be there in about 15 minutes to pick him up.  Matthew answered the phone and sounded terrible and told Shane that he wasn't feeling good and was just going to stay home.  I felt bad for Matthew, but was kinda relieved that we would have our romantic date back.  We got to Castlewood Canyon and hiked up to the top of a ridge.  Shane spread out a blanket and we were just sitting and talking and enjoying the beauty of God's creation.  He has recently put a contract in on a house and it had fallen through, so he was disappointed about that and we were talking about it.  He said not to worry, that he would find another house and we could get married someday (which wasn't anything new for us to talk about).  He continued on and said, "However, there's one very important question you need to answer first..."  At that point my stomach started doing somersaults and I was freaking out!  This was it!  He pulled out a beautiful ring and asked me to marry him.  Of course, I said yes. :)  At that point, he kissed me for the very first time.  We then went to breakfast at IHOP and then to hang out with our good friends, Dustin & Meg, for awhile.  We stopped in Castle Rock on the way home so I could see Joanna at work and tell her in person and show her the ring.  That evening we stopped at my parent's house to show my family, went to his parent's house for dinner and then attempted to fall asleep that night.  A wonderful day.

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

Honestly, neither.  He doesn't really believe in Valentine's Day.  He thinks it's lame that I would know that he has to do something on this day and would much rather it be a surprise some other time.  However, we usually end up doing something, whatever that may be.  I'm pretty much okay with any excuse to do something special with Shane, whether on Valentine's Day or some other day.  I'm easy. :)

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

I'm with Jillian on this one.  Before Shane, sunset dinner on the beach would have been my answer.  Now, I love just relaxing on the couch with a movie and lots of kettle corn. :)

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

Well, we've always wanted to go to Ireland, which we are doing this summer!  Basically any type of travel would be great.  We would also love to go see the rest of the UK, Austria and Australia some day...

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

Not sure.  Probably not go out, because it's a pain to have to wait 2 hours for a table, just because it's Valentine's Day.  If we stay in, I think I will be making gluten free sweet & sour chicken and crab rangoons, or at least attempting to. ;)

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Nope.  I never do. 

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Keeping Christ first in our relationship.  Knowing that Shane will always put God before me makes it easier to not get disappointed and gives me a sense of security in my man and his character.  Also, communication is key.  Shane and I talk more than any couple I know, married or not.  We talk about everything.  Spiritual things, life, you name it, we talk about it.  

14.  Show us a picture of what love means to you.

Well, that's it.  Hope you enjoyed my rambling.  I sure do love my husband. :)