Lucky 7

Today is a special day...Hubby and I have been married for 7 years today!!

I remember our wedding as though it were yesterday, yet I can't remember a time without him in my life. That fact is funny because we dated only a little over 4 months before we became engaged and then married a few months later. Our first date was on Oct. 20 (my aunt's b-day) in 1999, we were engaged March 1, 2000...and then married today 7 years ago!

My college roommate and her husband, who at that time was her boyfriend, kept telling my honey and me that we should meet each other beginning in the fall semester of 1998. I was at UGA and he attended Georgia Tech, which made for obstacle in meeting. The timing never was right so I was beginning to think that this guy was not even a real person--you know, just someone who my roomie made up to keep my mind off all the random guys I had plenty of 1st dates with (mostly only dates). So, Z went off to Australia and New Zealand for a semester abroad right after Christmas, so I just let the thought of him go away as not meant to be (I mean, Brandon and Melissa had told me so many great things about him-I just knew how perfect he would be for me...Come to find out, they had done the for him about me).

In the last semester of Melissa and I receiving our Masters from UGA (spring 98), those two sneaky matchmakers worked it out for us to meet without telling either of us in advance. Most of my classes were from 4:30 p.m. until 7 or 8 in the evening, so on the rainy late March night, when I got in from class, Melissa informed me that we were going to dinner with Brandon and his roommate (insert eyeroll from me) and a couple of other buddies. She wouldn't let me out of it, so I went along...looking relatively drowned from trekking across campus in the rain). She drove, and I wondered why she handed me my makeup bag and a brush as we drove along. As we pulled in the parking space downtown in front of the Mellow Mushroom, she casually mentioned that Brandon was bringing Z...THE Z! What???!!!

Brandon did the same thing to Z, mentioning to him on the way that Melissa's roommate would be at dinner...he says his reaction was much like mine. What???!!!

So, while Melissa and I sat at the long table, we watched the door so she could point him out to me as they entered. I had never even seen a picture of him. In he walks leading the group, spiky blonde tips on his dark hair, about 5'7", wearing a shell-bead like necklace and carpenter jeans and Redwing Australian boots, and a great smile. Cute!

He sauntered over, gave Melissa a hug, and sat down right in front of me. He was kind of quiet, but with all that was going on at the table, we still managed to talk a bit. I found it interesting that he didn't drink any of the beer the other guys got. He talked about his older brother and his baby sister. He kept getting up to go to the bathroom, which I later learned was to sneak his drinks...(He was a little tickled when he arrived, but I had no idea until after we were married!!!). I was impressed with this guy. He had his head on straight and was fun to be around, and obviously very popular...his phone didn't stop ringing, but he didn't answer the calls...( I later found out the calls were from a girl that was "chasing" him.)

I wrote in my journal that night that I found a guy like who I had in my mind and heart that I wanted to marry. Z told his friend Ted on the way home the next morning that he met a girl like who he envisioned he would marry. Cool, huh?

Well, a month or so passed and I went to Melissa's family's for Brandon's graduation party hoping to have a chance to talk with Z again. In he walks with another date (the chaser). He told Brandon that night that he would have never let her come with him. I was disappointed. I had graduated with my Masters and was headed to Amelia Island to live with my parents for the summer. I thought my chance with him was done. I was ready to move on, especially when I didn't hear from him after the party.

Flash forward to late September. I was back in Atlanta area living with friends as I worked in my first teaching job. I spent lots of late nights and early mornings working. On my way in to work, I checked my cell that I had left in the car overnight and had a message. From HIM. It was perfect timing. I had been having a rough week, and he calls and tells me his number and to call him back. I walked on air all day, and was getting ready to call him back that afternoon when I arrived home from work. I was walking to the mailbox, dialing his number when he called me again! Yay! He was interested.

We talked for several nights, decided to try to get together soon. With all the work and weekend requirements, our first date ended up being on a Thurs. night. We talked frequently after that first phone call. Our first date was to a restaurant on the north side of ATL suburbs and a movie (3 Kings...awful). The date was great...he told me later that he wore his glasses that night so he wouldn't kiss me on the first date. I wouldv'e kissed him on the first date, definitely! :)

The rest is history...

Oh, how I love this man. I am thankful to God for him and our marriage is one that is solid and fun. I love him so much more now than I did on the day we married. I got a lump in my throat this morning while we were walking down to the lake for a boat ride. I was walking behind Z carrying C and holding L's hand on the way to the dock. My whole life is wrapped up in them, and I am so blessed by God for every moment I am with them.

Happy Anniversary! I love you more now than I did before. It's been a pleasure sharing life with you and I look forward to the rest of our "Happily everafter..."