the story of us...
Well, as we have discussed before, I am a hopeless romantic. I love the sappy love stories, even if half of them are seriously impossible...I am still sucked in and watch them time and time again.
Have you ever noticed that almost every one of these types of movies have the line in it, “any man who doesn’t appreciate who you are doesn’t deserve you anyway...” or “I hope that he knows what a lucky man he is to have you...)or something along those lines? You get the picture. It is a little ridiculous, but those movie writers KNOW! They know exactly how to feed our female ego and keep us coming back for more! We want to know that we are loved and that the man who loves us knows how special we are!
With yesterday being Valentine’s day, I thought I would give you all a little of the love story that is my life...
I have known my husband Matthew since we were in the 7th grade, about 13 years old I guess. (the same age that my son is now...oh man!) I knew him because his parents owned a family restaurant that my family ate at quite a bit, but I actually met him at a band concert. He played saxophone and I played the trumpet. (Not the best instrument for meeting guys since it leaves a fabulous little circle on your lips!)
I was so excited to see him and talk to him at that concert. We entered from the side of the auditorium (outside) down a series of stairs and little platforms. He was ahead of me in the line so I had a great vantage point from higher up the stairs...the disadvantage was that I was so busy gawking at him that I failed to see that we had come to the next set of stairs...yep, I fell. He didn’t see me fall, but my hose were ripped and my knees were bleeding. I was so embarrassed and then just wanted to go and hide! We did exchange a few brief words, but I don’t hardly remember what they were because I was just trying to hide my knees! (I later found out he asked one of his friends about me and his friend said not to mess with me, because I was a “Bartlett” girl. i.e. I was from the country school and he was from the city school!)
The years went by and we became friends through junior high and high school, hanging out together and, of course going to band functions together. He became a stable voice of reason in my life at times that I wasn’t sure life was worth continuing. He taught me to love good Christian Music and appreciate musicians like Joe Satriani... oh the memories! Eventually, our Senior year of high school, he finally asked me out! He took me to see “Necessary Roughness,” a football movie! (I didn’t even care what the movie was, I was just excited that he finally had asked me out!)
We were very much in love. We already knew each other so well from being friends that there wasn’t any awkwardness in dating. Quite honestly, not a whole lot changed. We didn’t really “date” like most people would think. I hung out at his house or he hung out at mine. I don’t think we actually went on a whole lot of dates until we were in college.
After graduation we went off to college together and dated until he proposed on December the 21, 1993. Of course, I said yes! It was one of the most memorable, romantic nights of my life. Roses and Candlelight, Dinner by the Fire, Snow, Christmas Lights and “Big” Wishes being made as we threw quarters into the waterfall at Big Cedar Lodge and Restaurant.
We were married January 7, 1995.
Over 16 years ago....
Time has flown by and yet at points, seemed to stand still. We have been through times that were sheer fun and times that would have sent most couples packing and headed their separate ways. Through it all we have been there for each other. When I am down, he lifts me up and when he is down I do the same. I think that the thing that has kept us strong through the years is not just the foundation of friendship and true love that our relationship was built on, but truly God, Himself. He is the common thread. He refuses to let us quit, on life or each other! I never want the fun and excitement that we have had through the years to ever go away. It helps that, most of the time, we don’t take ourselves too seriously and we both remember that we are just human.
I can truly say that after knowing him for more than 24 years, I am just as much in love with Matthew today as I was the day I met him.. I don’t know that he always believes me about this. I think sometimes he thinks I am blinded...maybe I am, but if so, I hope no one ever takes off the blindfold!
Whether you have found true love, or are waiting for it to find you, I hope that you find as much joy and fun as we have.
Thanks for stopping by!
Crazy Mom, Crazy Wife, Crazy Life...and hopeless romantic,
Wendy Jo
Have you ever noticed that almost every one of these types of movies have the line in it, “any man who doesn’t appreciate who you are doesn’t deserve you anyway...” or “I hope that he knows what a lucky man he is to have you...)or something along those lines? You get the picture. It is a little ridiculous, but those movie writers KNOW! They know exactly how to feed our female ego and keep us coming back for more! We want to know that we are loved and that the man who loves us knows how special we are!
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| Can you find us in this awesome picture? |
I have known my husband Matthew since we were in the 7th grade, about 13 years old I guess. (the same age that my son is now...oh man!) I knew him because his parents owned a family restaurant that my family ate at quite a bit, but I actually met him at a band concert. He played saxophone and I played the trumpet. (Not the best instrument for meeting guys since it leaves a fabulous little circle on your lips!)
I was so excited to see him and talk to him at that concert. We entered from the side of the auditorium (outside) down a series of stairs and little platforms. He was ahead of me in the line so I had a great vantage point from higher up the stairs...the disadvantage was that I was so busy gawking at him that I failed to see that we had come to the next set of stairs...yep, I fell. He didn’t see me fall, but my hose were ripped and my knees were bleeding. I was so embarrassed and then just wanted to go and hide! We did exchange a few brief words, but I don’t hardly remember what they were because I was just trying to hide my knees! (I later found out he asked one of his friends about me and his friend said not to mess with me, because I was a “Bartlett” girl. i.e. I was from the country school and he was from the city school!)
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| Matthew with one of his friends...sporting some nice hair! |
We were very much in love. We already knew each other so well from being friends that there wasn’t any awkwardness in dating. Quite honestly, not a whole lot changed. We didn’t really “date” like most people would think. I hung out at his house or he hung out at mine. I don’t think we actually went on a whole lot of dates until we were in college.After graduation we went off to college together and dated until he proposed on December the 21, 1993. Of course, I said yes! It was one of the most memorable, romantic nights of my life. Roses and Candlelight, Dinner by the Fire, Snow, Christmas Lights and “Big” Wishes being made as we threw quarters into the waterfall at Big Cedar Lodge and Restaurant.
We were married January 7, 1995.
Over 16 years ago....Time has flown by and yet at points, seemed to stand still. We have been through times that were sheer fun and times that would have sent most couples packing and headed their separate ways. Through it all we have been there for each other. When I am down, he lifts me up and when he is down I do the same. I think that the thing that has kept us strong through the years is not just the foundation of friendship and true love that our relationship was built on, but truly God, Himself. He is the common thread. He refuses to let us quit, on life or each other! I never want the fun and excitement that we have had through the years to ever go away. It helps that, most of the time, we don’t take ourselves too seriously and we both remember that we are just human.
I can truly say that after knowing him for more than 24 years, I am just as much in love with Matthew today as I was the day I met him.. I don’t know that he always believes me about this. I think sometimes he thinks I am blinded...maybe I am, but if so, I hope no one ever takes off the blindfold!
Whether you have found true love, or are waiting for it to find you, I hope that you find as much joy and fun as we have.
Thanks for stopping by!
Crazy Mom, Crazy Wife, Crazy Life...and hopeless romantic,
Wendy Jo
As someone who grew up with the two of you, I love reading this. So crazy thinking back to those days and then seeing where you both are now. I'm so happy you have each other!
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