How Ninth Got Us to Five!

When I was in ninth grade, I flirted with a boy who I found attractive and a complete hunk. Although, looking back in ninth grade no one really looks cute but rather awkward and gangly. He tutored me for my Spanish final (I sucked at spanish, still do). He would play hangman with me in spanish so that I would have to look up the terms. It would always say something like: I think you are pretty or I wish I could kiss you. You know the kind of things you would blush while reading. 

A few days before school was going to end he was getting ready to say bye and he kissed me on the forehead and ran out the door. I remember that whole day/night I didn't want to wash my forehead. The butterflies would come every time I thought about the moment. Oh he also told me he was going to marry me one day. What boy says that in ninth grade? We went to Spiderman with a group of friends and promised to see the next one together, but as fate would have it the next year we went to separate schools. 

We lost close contact. We talked occasionally on AIM. Does anybody remember instant messaging? Oh the hours I wasted on it. Anyway, life moved on. Tenth grade came and went. Eleventh grade came and went. The summer before Senior year the second Spiderman came out. Somehow the boy got in contact with me and wanted to make good our ninth grade promise. I thought it would be fun and agreed. 

We met at the movies. I remember the whole time during the movie the tension of what the other was thinking. How if our arms were to close to one another the other person would move. I could feel his eyes looking at me. Needless to say the butterflies returned quickly. That night after the movie we hugged and departed. I remember leaving excited about rekindling our friendship. We became close friends. We started talking on the phone every night and hanging out together when we could.  We still went to different schools, but he lived at my school. How he passed his Senior year I am still not sure. We went to prom together. We went to each others graduations. He was my best friend.

The night of graduation on May 21st he wanted to take me out on a special date. He made reservations at  the Tower of Americas. During the dinner he seemed a little nervous. He pushed a little box towards me.   I opened it to find the prettiest silver heart ring. It was a promise ring that one day we would get married. I accepted it without hesitation and could not have been happier. 

  

Two years later, on February 10th, I married my best friend I had met in 9th grade. Ryan is the love of my life. People may say when you are young you can't find real love, but I was lucky and did. We had challenges and struggles along our 12 years of knowing each other, but we have conquered and worked each one out together. He has been the man of God I had hoped for. He loves me and shows it on a daily basis. He is the father of my children and is the best dad they could ever want. These past 5 years of marriage have been the best and I am looking forward to the next 60, 70, or 80 together. How ever many God will grant us. I am thankful for my companion in life. 

I love you Ryan! You are my Lobster! :)

Practice Kiss at rehearsal.
We gave a peck and the paster said that we would get a 2 out of 10 and we needed to do better than that. This was our second attempt.

The Real Deal!
Evidently we had some people talking about how long our kiss was... Although seriously it was a classy kiss in my opinion. The Paster said it was a 12 rating. I will take that!

Love this picture!
 It always makes me feel like the end of Titanic when Rose and Jack meet and everyone is cheering.

And They Lived Happily Ever After!