Our wedding photographer no longer takes photos, so no link is available. I watermarked this photo with my own to discourage re-posting.
I feel like sharing a little bit of personal information today…the story of how my hubba and I came to be together! (I’m smiling ear to ear typing this!)
We are high school sweethearts. Sort of. I say sort of because we didn’t start dating until March of our senior year, back in 2002!
We lived in the same small town and went to the same middle/high school. Our graduating class wasn’t big, 100 and some kids, but we didn’t really hang out with the same people. We did have classes together — mostly social studies/history classes. He always knew the answers! I remember him always raising his hand! We knew each other but not outside of classes.
My senior year of high school, I signed up to be on my school’s newspaper staff at the suggestion of a friend. I somehow was assigned to be sports editor! How this happened, I’m not sure. I wasn’t involved in sports and didn’t know much about any of them. Regardless, I dived in and started writing stories! I went to a couple of football games and tennis matches, and I did my best to report about them to our school. My school counselor helped me get an internship at our town’s local newspaper, and the staff taught me so much! But, none of this really has anything to do with my hubba and I. Except…I fell in love with journalism! Knowing this fact, you’ll understand that when my government teacher asked our class if anyone would like to attend a state conference about something or another — I signed up! I didn’t really care about the conference, but I wanted to write about it for our school newspaper! And, wouldn’t you know, my hubba signed up to attend too!
So yes, we had government together. And that’s where our relationship started! Unfortunately, the trip to the state conference was canceled because my hubba and I were the only ones that signed up to go. BUT, I think this was what made my hubba notice me more than usual!
I worked at Dairy Queen, and I loved it…so I put in a lot of hours. Around the time of the conference, my hubba started coming into DQ. A lot. Like, a few times a week. He would get strawberry shortcakes mostly (not relevant, but a fun fact). One day at DQ, he asked me what I was doing over spring break. I said not much, maybe that I would go to our nearest city at some point. He proceeded to ask me if I had to work the first Friday of our break. I said no. He then asked me out for dinner and a movie! I was so surprised! All of my fellow co-workers were standing there with me at the cash register when he asked, so I was also embarrassed. I asked him if I could get back to him later that week. He said of course, and walked out of the store all Rico Suavé-like.
My mind was spinning! He had just asked me out! I never thought HE would ask me out! He was too perfect! I was afraid it was too good to be true. I had only had one other relationship in my whole life, and it didn’t end well. I decided I couldn’t go out with him…that it wouldn’t work out. So, the Thursday before the big night, I told him I couldn’t go on the date with him. I told him I had other plans (not true)! After school that day, I went to DQ to tell my friends what I’d said to him. They were shocked. One girl’s boyfriend was a good friend of his, and she told me, “Leslie, you don’t know how much that meant to him! He’s been asking me if I thought you would say yes all week!” Well, now my mind was really spinning! He really did want to date me! What have I done?! Maybe I should take a chance after all! My friend suggested we double-date, and I agreed. But first, I needed to call him to see if it wasn’t too late to change my mind. I called…he said he hadn’t made any other plans, and we were on!
Friday came, he picked me up at my house, and we drove to the neighboring city to meet our friends. We talked the whole way…about college plans, family, etc. It was very easy to talk to him. We had dinner at Pizza King and watched Sorority Boys. During the movie, he held my hand. That scared me! I was afraid it was going too fast and what if it ended badly like my other relationship?! My friend assured me he was a nice guy and I needed to stop worrying so much. He continued to come into DQ while I worked and we talked more and more. We had a second date the next weekend. After spring break, I remember being so happy and feeling so lucky to be dating him, I literally sang to myself “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” as I walked into the school building. I met his family on our third date, and we began hanging out after work during the week.
One night in the DQ parking lot, we were saying good bye/good night to each other, and it started raining very softly. He kissed me in the rain, and I had wanted him to so badly, I giggled out loud! I assured him it wasn’t because of him though. This relationship…him, our high school sweetheart status, our first kiss…it was soo perfect. I felt like I needed to pinch myself so often! We went to our senior prom together, after one month of officially being boyfriend and girlfriend. That night, he told me he loved me. I told him the same.
And the rest, as they say, is history! The most spectacular romantic history ever! We went to colleges a solid 2 hours apart from each other, and we made it work! We were never one of those couples that broke up and then got back together. I think we both knew from the very beginning that we were meant to be together. I guess that sounds cheesy, but it’s true. We’ve been through a LOT together. So, now we’ve been together for nearly nine years and married for more than four years!
There’s a reason I’m sharing this story today. Yesterday, an opportunity became available that is making my mind spin so much…and I can feel myself doing it again. Feeling like it’s too good to be true. Feeling unsure that it’s for me. But I’ve grown since 2002. My hubba has taught me so much and helped me become more confident in myself. He and I were meant to be, so why can’t this opportunity be meant for me?
I’m not going to say no to this like I did to my hubba when he asked me out for that first date. I might not get a second chance. I’m taking a chance now. Because maybe…maybe it’s meant to be!
