On this day 8 years ago, at the young age of 20, I married my best friend. It was at that point the best day of my life.(I told you I was going to be cliche`.) I met, dated and married my husband back in the ice age when it wasn't popular to have a blog and only college students were allowed to have Facebook. Because of that I've never really shared our story with the whole world. So, in celebration of our anniversary I'm going to do just that.
I'll start in December 2003. It was my Freshman year at OSU. It was finals week and I had been studying non-stop for days. My roommate Rachel and I lived in Drummond Hall and she begged me to make the short walk across the mezzanine to Kerr Hall so she could study with a guy friend that she had several classes with. This friend of hers had been to our dorm room and she had been to his many times throughout the semester. Not once did either of them speak of his roommate. Anyways, after a lot of convincing I put my books down and agreed to go with her. I now know that was probably the most important and best decision I've ever made.
When we got there they decided to study in the commons area because the roommate was sleeping. Rachel grabbed me by the hand and said, "Come on! Let's wake Chance up so you can meet him!" She walked right in, woke him up and that's how we met.
The next night she invited both of them over to our room to study. It had been snowing all day and so of course not a lot of studying took place. We all got bundled up and went out to play. And that was the night I knew. I honestly knew almost nothing about him, but I knew we would be together....forever. I know, I know that sounds crazy, over the top and
We hung out every second of finals week. I could not get enough of him. We each went home for Christmas break. Our families lived nowhere near each other so we spent Christmas break emailing and calling each other. Again, this was back when you had to pay for every text you sent. So we would spend hours on the phone at night talking until we couldn't keep our eyes open.
Over the next month we were inseparable. He even made a trip to the Tumbleweed with Rachel and I. I now know how huge that was because he does NOT dance. But, that night, just for me, he did :) Since we lived in the dorms there was a curfew on when the opposite sex could be there. So we would spend all night driving around Stillwater just to be with each other. I seriously would have done anything and went anywhere to be with him.
This continued through the spring semester and all summer. In September, 9 months after we "officially" started dating he popped the question. It wasn't a surprise at all. I even knew he had the ring. It wasn't fancy or choreographed, but it was special. It was just me and him sitting on his bed. Even though I was expecting it any day, that did not change how excited I was!
The fall semester ended and so did Chance's time in Stillwater. He decided he would finish his degree at a different school. I was less than pleased about this decision. So in December he moved and I stayed in Stillwater. I can honestly say this was by far the hardest time of my life. It wasn't because he moved. I loved him more than anything and no distance would have changed that. But, at that time he was all had. Not everyone agreed with our relationship and other than Rachel I didn't really have anyone. I felt alone, depressed and I spent every day of every week waiting for the weekend because I knew we would be together and all the problems I was had would temporarily disappear. At the end of that spring semester my job as a substitute teacher ended and my Rachel decided she was wanted to live on her own. There was no way I could afford to get my own apartment and I didn't know anyone else who could be a trustworthy roommate. But honestly all I really wanted was to be with Chance. I didn't care if that meant leaving Stillwater, a town that I had fallen in love with. I didn't care what anyone else thought. I just wanted to be with him.
That spring, about a month before our wedding, I moved to be with him. I left one of the best places on earth and moved to a town I less than liked. But we were together and that's all I cared about. Yes, we lived together before we got married. It worked for us and I've never regretted it a day in my life.
On June 18, 2005 we said, "I do." I didn't have my dream wedding or my dream dress. But I did have my dream groom who loved me despite all of the obstacles we went through to get to that day. I wouldn't change a single thing about that day. It was beautiful and filled with love and that's all that mattered.
Since that day 8 years ago so much has changed. We went from the ghetto of Okmulgee to buying our own home. We went from a family of 2 to a family of 4...so far;). I wouldn't care if I never step foot in another McDonald's again :) Even my love for him has changed. I thought I could never love him more than on our wedding day. Man was I wrong! The day our first baby was born completely changed the way I loved him. It's not something I can put into words, but if you've experienced it you know what I'm talking about. Watching him with our girls never fails to melt my heart <3
Happy Anniversary, babe. I will never stop thanking God for blessing me with you. You're more than I could have ever dreamed of for myself. I don't always deserve your love, but I'm so thankful you're always so generous with it. The girls and I are so thankful for the life you have worked so hard to give us. I know I don't always tell you, but please know I never take it for granted. You make me a better person and I can't wait for the next 100 years.
I've loved you since the very first day <3
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