Girl, You Wanna Be Mine?

Happy Valentine's day eve! I don't care who you are or what your relationship status is I know you love someone and someone out there loves you! All the more reason for a celebration tomorrow! Heck, go on ahead and start celebrating today! 

In honor or Valentine's week I wanted to take a post to share our love story today and our proposal story tomorrow with all the readers who may be new to my little world. Since I have established my little "online journal" to take note of all things happening in this new phase of life and love, I adore going back month after month to see all that we are learning. Each month I can definitely see that we are growing in many, many ways. As I journal this new chapter of life, love, and all the laughter we are experiencing as southern newlyweds I am so thankful to have you all reading along each day! 

Without further ado, I would love to share with you the Mr. and Mrs. almost 8 years ago....

September 2005

Tony and I attended the same school, church, and lived less than 5 miles from each other. We had been friends since we were young. With the start of a new school year, many people noticed we had been "talking" (the clever term used when you were interested in someone). With Homecoming fast approaching, Tony secured his spot as my date (via our long time best friends, Codi and Neal), however we were not yet "going out" together. 

On Thursday, September 22, 2005, Tony was ready to take the next step for high school love. Once he was finished with football practice, he waited for me to finish with dance practice. While we were standing next to the picnic tables waiting for my Momma to pick me up, he asked me to be his Girlfriend! I have always joked with him that his interest in me spiked only because of the dance skirt and blonde hair (which was fake at the time), but I guess he does not mind my physical changes through the past years and obviously has decided to stick around.

Defined by many at the time, we were considered to be "going out" however Tony was 17 and I was only 15. Tony patiently "went out" with me only during school hours and extracurricular events as I was not allowed to go on dates yet. Eventually, he and I started the dating experience through the rest of my high school career and his college career at The University of Alabama. 

Through the ups and downs of everyday life, college, and my family's move to Louisiana after my high school graduation, we have stuck together and grown so much. I did lose my brain a bit as a college freshman and told him to get lost. After four months of the single world I realized my life did not feel right. We still kept in touch throughout those four months but our phone calls were extremely awkward. Finally, I realized what I was missing, called the boy up, and begged him to meet me in Hattiesburg, Mississippi as soon as possible. Since he was in Tuscaloosa and I was in Baton Rouge, Hattiesburg became our half way meeting point for dates for the next two years. 

During that little get together I confessed all my wrongs, realized what was right and in the middle of the Turtle Creek Mall parking lot we gave everything over to the Lord. I think it was then that we knew we were meant to be together. I mean, honestly most people do not willingly take on a six hours long distance relationship after a four month hiatus. I will be totally honest and say that I never once seriously thought about marrying Tony until this point in my life. While I knew that we were "serious" in high school, I did not want to hold him back during his college years. Even though he was the model husband that I longed for, I really was not that into stalking out a guy at 16 years old. I wanted to truly live life and love Jesus. (Since Pinterest was not around, I thankfully was not that girl to plan my entire wedding before being proposed too. Praise Jesus!) 

Obviously I am a newlywed and am still young so I have more learning to do along our journey. In my experience thus far, a loving relationship gets better with each passing year no matter the mountains or valleys that pass through your journey.  I thought  I would long for the days of butterflies and teenage love. However, I had no idea that exchanging looks across a room, reading Tony thoughts, or seeing his smiling face in the evenings as I walk through the door would be as lovely as it is. This time is our lives is truly simplicity at its best. My cup overflowth in every area of my life and I am SO thankful the Lord has given me the path I am on. I can literally feel my heart explode some days just because of the love that surrounds our home. Some days I truly wish I could freeze those little moments of love. 

Since the beginning our journey we have matured from the statuses of "going out" to "dating" to "long distance travelers" and now "marriage partners". Although our relationship has not been like most, we have had many experiences and opportunities to explore and grow in life and love. It may seem as though the past seven years were the best. However, I know the best years are yet to come, and I have such a hopeful heart for all the Lord has prepared for us. It is truly fun to look at where we have come! For now, we plan to continue to life each day like we are on our honeymoon.

A Few Last Minute Things

You can check out the guest post and recipe for today HERE. Meet Veronica from Passion, Pink and Pearls . 

I entered to offer advice on love, dating, and marriage over at Living In Yellow today! Feel free to visit Erin and show her blog some love! 

Today is the last day to enter to win the Michael Kors watch giveaway HERE.

As always, until next time- Happy Blogging!