Chris and I first met the summer of 1990. When we first met, I was not interested but shhh don't let him know that. We did however, start spending many a nights talking on the phone and getting to know each other. Chris asked me to be his girlfriend on August 15, 1990 and our first date was that Friday night. Chris and I became great friends and our love grew deep roots. We dated "on and off" for the next 5 years and even though we still cared about each other, we decided to part ways. Don't worry, it gets better I promise. Over the next, 21 years Chris and I did amazing things in our separate lives. Chris got married (and divorced), became a Dad to 3 AMAZING boys and found a career he enjoys. I became a mom to 2 remarkable boys and found a great career. Somehow during these years Chris and I only saw each other from a distance 3 times. The first time we spoke and don't ask us what we said to each other, our memories are a little different... but we both agree that we are glad that we did finally talk. It is now December 2016 (where is time going??) I am texting with my good friend Sonya, who also happens to be Chris's Aunt, when out of the blue she asks me if I was still single. Feeling a little confused because in almost 30 years of friendship she has never tried to fix me up. She then asks if it is okay for Chris to contact me.... Over the next few days, Chris and I spent a LOT of time on the phone, again. Talking and texting, catching up on the last "few" years. It wasn't long before we had our 2nd first date, and for me, that 1st hug felt like home. Our relationship seemed to start growing again from those roots we planted so many years ago, Our love, friendship and family grew into a beautiful relationship and family and continues to grow stronger daily. I once heard....."Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers" but I will always be thankful for the prayers that were answered 20+ years later.
I can’t tell you WHEN it happened but I can tell you HOW it happened or at least when I knew Chris and I were going to get married. Chris and I were cleaning the kitchen and doing dishes after a pack of wolves or our 5 boys had come through and left a mountain of dirty dishes and crumbs on every flat surface. Chris asked me “IF we ever get married what is important to you?” This began a back and forth conversation about what was important to us and who we needed to have there and what we wanted IF we were to ever get married knowing that up to this point we both had said we were happy and did not need/want to get married. At the end of the conversation with a smirk on his face, Chris said “So are we going to do this?” I think my heart skipped a beat, this was all hypothetical right? my response, “Chris, are you asking me a question?” “No, I was just wondering if we were going to do this?” “Well, IF you asked me, then I would say yes.” So even though this is not the official engagement story, this was the night that we both knew we planned on spending the rest of our lives together. As for the official story, remember when I told you about our conversation in the kitchen, one of the things that was a MUST for me was for Chris to ask my Dad’s permission. Yes, I know old fashion but important to me. March 29,2019. 2 kids needed rides to 2 different locations and I needed to pick up something from my parents house. Chris offered to run to my parents and do the pick up while I ran the kids around, Divide and conquer! This SHOULD have been a BIG clue because I knew Chris had the ring but I sure missed the clues. Chris came home, walked in the front door with the saddest expression on his face, “Pop said no” my heart sank and I think tears began to fall. Then the happiest grin I have seen on Chris's face as he handed me a bottle of wine with a box attached to it. Will you marry me? It was official, I was going to spend the rest of my life with my best friend.