This Man and Fourteen Years

On October 3rd, the Hubs and I celebrated fourteen years of marriage.  It's hard to believe that it has been that long and that he has been my love for almost half my life!  Wow!

I often like to take trips down memory lane, so let's take one.  Shall we?

The Hubs and I met while we were seniors in  high school working  at The Hollywood Brown Derby, Disney MGM Studios (now known as Hollywood Studios).  He worked in culinary; I worked in the Bakery and as a seating hostess at the Derby.

At the time, there were only 3 high school students at the Derby and he was the first ever hired in culinary at the Derby.  Smart guy he was.  Funny thing is, my mother sorta hired him!

I was smitten by him at day one.  And, luckily he asked for my number and we instantly hit it off. Our first date was to Honey I Shrunk the Audience at EPCOT and dinner at McDonald's.  That night he taught me how to crush a coin into a salt/pepper shaker so that the next person that picked it up was doused in leaking salt.  Romantic, right?!

We attended my prom and remained together while I went away to FSU and he stayed in Orlando for school.  That was one of the hardest years of our life...or so we thought at the time!

Needless to say, I didn't stay at FSU for more than a year.  It wasn't for me, but my parents are still waiting for me to admit that I came home for the boyfriend. Sorry Mom and Dad, it's not gonna happen!

We were engaged on St. Patrick's Day, 1997 and I was only 20.  He had saved for the ring for over a year so that it would be paid in full when he placed it on my finger.  

We were married at our home church, First Baptist Church Orlando, by JB Collingsworth.  I was 21 and he was 22.  Yes, youngins we were.  In fact, I still had 2 semesters of college left.  We bought our first house, I finished college and a year after that we had our first baby!

Our marriage has been a whirlwind.  We've truly grown up together and beat all the odds.  We've had some amazing years, as well as some not so good ones.  I've shared before that we went through a year of marriage counseling and it was the best thing we could have ever done.

I've learned that one of the most important things we can give our children is a healthy, strong marriage centered on Christ.  Nothing is more important.  If we give them everything else, and not that, then we've failed to show them something different than what the world has to offer.  I truly believe that.  I want my girls to know what kind of husband to seek.  I want them to desire a marriage that puts God first. I want them to see that God's plan for marriage is perfect as he designed it. And I want them to know that it's hard work, but so worth it.

I'm so thankful for this man.  For helping lead me to Christ all those years ago.  For supporting me through much heartache.  For never giving up on us even when it was hard. I'm thankful that he never fails to tell me I'm beautiful.  He constantly encourages me.  He has given me the gift of motherhood and the ability to work at home with my girls.  He still tries to make me act silly even though  I rarely do.  He loves me more and more each day even when I'm not very loveable. 

He's perfectly imperfect and I'm so in love with him!