~Our Story~

I have never taken the opportunity to tell the story of us, so here it goes......
After finishing my first year @ Trevecca, I found a place to live in Mt. Juliet & a summer job at WalMart. I didn't know a soul except for the lady I was living with & the people I attended church with. So, while working one day, I noticed a guy who worked part time in the Electronics dept. I didn't know his name but I figured he looked like a guy I could hang out with & just have a pal to show me around the area. Before we really started talking, we caught a shoplifter who was trying to steal a television coming through my line. Anyway, I asked him if he wanted to go get a drink (coke) one day & he said sure. Our first meeting was a bit hysterical b/c I was unfamiliar with the area restaurants & I thought that O'Charleys was on Lebanon Rd., instead its on Old Hickory Blvd. I was so embarrassed that I showed up 20 min. late. He didn't seem to care. BTW, our first "date" was on his mom's birthday as I later found out. It seems like we never skipped a beat since then. We dated for over year but he proposed to me on his birthday that same year. We got hitched on Oct. 4, 1997. It was a small wedding, paid mostly by us. I was 20, he was 25. So young was I but I was tired of playing the games of the guys I was dating. Our honeymoon years were fun....we went to Vegas when I turned 21, he spoiled me in every way you can think of (he still does), and we had our typical newlywed fights. I can remember one fight we had where I slammed his leg in the door of my car & made a really bad bruise.....I don't even remember what we were fighting about but I do remember hurting him, don't worry he forgave me....I think? lol.
We made it to 5 years & celebrated in Hawaii....I don't think I ever told anyone this but I thought I was pregnant when we were in Hawaii but in retrospect I think I had a bad test or just simply an extremely late cycle. When we were coming home, I started to think I was miscarrying but the opposite was happening, it was just really bad period. Anyway, we started to think more seriously about having children. I started tracking my cycles, counting days, taking my temperature & fertility drugs, on & on it went for almost three years. Then my MIL passed away in August of 2003, my FIL moved into our home, we were trying to sell their home, I was going to school, working, dealing with all sorts of emotions & stress, ugh it was all a bit much at the time. In addition, I remember a big fight between us the weekend of Halloween. I think I gave him the silent treatment for at least a 24 hour period. I was furious with what transpired on Halloween ( I won't mention it but it was terrible). Then, on a Saturday night we went to dinner @ Longhorn & had a "come to Jesus meeting" & then he drove me up to the Hermitage Hills Church of Christ parking lot which overlooks the city of Hermitage. I forgave him for his mistake & realized in our conversation that I hadn't had a period in several weeks. I thought to myself, 'heck, I will get a test & see what happens'. The next morning was a Sunday and we were getting ready to go to church. I took the test & hopped in the shower. Bill was the one who saw the results first & we were both shocked. Nine months later on July 1, 2004 we had our son, Grant. We celebrated seven years & things were rough that first year of child rearing. But, we make it through. His dad moved out in early 2005 & life seemed to get a bit smoother. I wanted to get back into school so after Grant turned one, I re-enrolled part time @ the community college. My BFF kept him for me so I could go to classes. When Grant turned 2 1/2, I went back to school full time. It truly was a challenging four years, we juggled a lot between us. We had to work hard at communicating & sharing responsibilities. He was definitely supportive of my desire to earn a college degree but there were times when it was stressful on both of us. This past year has had its challenges as well. I won't ever believe that marriage is easy. It has its moments where you can say to yourself "what was I thinking?" but then there are the moments & memories that make you laugh especially at each other and at yourself. I can say one thing about my husband, he's definitely a comic when he wants to be. I also know that he truly loves me, wants me to be happy, and would do anything for me. Its been a ride for sure, I pray that we last at least another 12 years....then maybe I can trade him in for a new model, hehe J/K.
And that folks, is the story of us.....