happy 13th anniversary to us!

OUR STORY

how we met:

Once upon a time there was girl. She was attending college. She thought all men were jerks. (this would be ME). Then, at the start of winter semester, a new boy moved in across the street (this would be BRAD). I was interested right away, but so were all five of my roommates. (We all thought he had beautiful blue eyes, a great smile, and talent coming out his ears). Unfortunately, Brad also had a girlfriend back home. I thought my chances of catching his eye were slim to none. Still, we became friends. We watched movies. We listened to music. We grocery shopped. We talked. We laughed....a lot. Then, come March, he broke up with his girlfriend. Then, come April, he asked ME out. (Hooray!!!)

how I knew I was in love:

Our first date was to a nature park. We went hiking with another couple. It was getting dark as we headed back to his truck--his spanking clean, nearly new Chevy Silverado truck that he washed every week faithfully. I wasn't watching where I was going and I stepped in a big mud puddle. My Doc Marten boot was covered in black, slimy mud. It was the first time I had revealed my extremely clumsy, very un-perfect side to him. Most guys I had dated up to that point would have acted very put off, and probably made me and my muddy boot ride home in the back of their pristine truck (which is why, incidentally, I had thought all men were jerks!). Brad laughed with--not at--me. He helped clean me up as much as possible and let me ride home next to him--muddy boot and all. He even bought me pizza. Sounds silly, but I knew from the "muddy boot" incident on that I was in love.

how it ended (and began):

He had to propose twice. The first time he asked, I panicked. I thought I was too young. I thought I hadn't seen enough of the world. I thought I needed to establish a career first. Then I spent a few months kicking myself for saying no. I thought he'd surely move onto someone else. But he stuck around anyway.....and he asked again. And I didn't feel so young anymore. And I knew I'd seen enough of the world. And I knew there was no way I could go on in life unless it was with him. We were married for time and all eternity Dec. 28, 1994 by Brad's father. Through the ups and downs of seven homes, five jobs, four boys, and one orange cat--I think we have had a very happily ever after.

So Happy 13th Anniversary to my sweetheart who:

Brings me ice cream every Saturday night.

Tells me I look beautiful even when I first wake up and my hair is all crazy.
Will still be a big goof with me.
Takes me on a date once a week (and doesn't he clean up nicely?!)
And is the best father in the whole wide world.

I LOVE YOU! -your Jennifer

*Funny choice of music to accompany this post, I know. But I loved old re-runs of the Partridge Family in college. I bought their "Greatest Hits" CD and took it to Brad's apartment to listen to on his monster stereo. He stuck around and listened to it with me. What a keeper!