The One

So, I met the one just a few months after high school. He was a cowboy with somewhat longer hair and always wore this cowboy hat with these rope type things hanging from it. It bothered me and I was not physically attracted to him. But that was not going to stop him. I never thought I would be into a cowboy. So, we hung out that weekend and he kissed me that first night. I was excited but at the same time, not so much. I think I just had other things on my mind and was not looking for a relationship with someone new. He didn't give up though. I told Angie, who is one of my best friends and introduced me to Justin, and she told her boyfriend, who in turn, told Justin that I was not that into him because of the way he dressed. He changed his whole look. From cutting his hair, shaving his face, to a completely different wardrobe. We met up for lunch the next day and I was surprised and at the same time, still not that into him. I think he was a little straight forward for me. I don't know though. The weekend flew by. I met him Friday, September 11, 1998. (I know, bad day, three years later) And I finally opened my eyes and realized that he was the one......

He had officially asked me to be with him on Sept 15. Just four days after we met. He bought me a necklace with a heart on it, a dozen roses, and a gray teddy bear. With a card and his words, we were official. My 18th birthday was that Friday, Sept 18. I went to dinner with my parents, who came down from Prescott, two hours north, and my grandfather and I believe my brother. Angie went with me. I wore the necklace that Justin gave me and told my parents that it was a friend. (Sorry mom and dad) I was scared to tell them that I had met someone that I believed to be the one. I moved in with Justin, and his parents, a week or two later. On Oct 4th, he proposed. We went to a Kareoke place and he got down on one knee, in front of our friends and my brother and he proposed. He then sang a song to me by Gary Allan called "Her Man". It is still our song. We didn't get married for over a year after that and had a small wedding. I didn't even wear a wedding dress. But we exchanged our vows, which is the most important thing. I had already had our first child by the time we got married. I got pregnant Nov. 18th of 1998. She was born on August 25th, 1999 and we were married on December 10, 1999.

I did make the mistake of breaking up with Justin a short while after he proposed to me. I was scared and didn't believe that he really wanted to be with me. I was a very self conscious person and still am. I never thought that I would settle down with anyone, let alone the perfect guy. Justin is amazing and always will be. I know I got lucky. I am so thankful that I let my guard down when he continued to pursue me. I thought I had loved before but found out that I never knew what love was until I met him. He is a wonderful father and an amazing husband. I thank the Lord for him every day. And I also thank him for our wonderful children. We have been blessed with a wonderful relationship and four beautiful daughters. We do struggle, financially, but we make it through okay.

All of this coming from a man who had a rough childhood and no biological father in his life. Another blog, another day.....