How I Met My Husband {Repost}

10 years ago this weekend, Gary and I first met in person. 5 years ago, I wrote about it. Here's the repost in honor of the occasion.

**********

5 years ago today, I flew halfway across the country to spend the weekend with a man I had never before seen in person.

It's true!

Wanna hear more? Well, I feel like dishing, so here's the story:

I was teaching Kindergarten at a private church school in Las Vegas, about to begin my 7th year. Another teacher (one of 7 or 8--small school, remember?) was one of my closest friends. 

W and me

W had been pestering me for several months about her single brother-in-law. I was in Nevada, he was in Iowa, I was sorta dating someone, he was just out of a serious, long-term relationship, I wasn't interested. One day she looked at me and said, "You're not happy. You need to do something about it. Make some changes in your life!" We all need friends like that, don't we?

I told W that her brother-in-law, Gary, could have my email address, not my phone number. 

(Since then, I've learned that W's husband, my now-husband's brother, felt really awkward making that phone call! And Gary kinda rolled his eyes and agreed to email me only to get W to stop bothering him! Ha!)

A day or two later, I got an email from Gary. It was basically, hi-my-name-is-Gary-and-this-is-weird, tell-me-about-yourself. Still feeling the need to fulfill my agreement with W to at least get to know Gary a little bit, I replied. And he replied. And about that time, the angels started singing and everything started looking all shiny and rainbow-colored.

The emails continued through the first week, then we started instant messaging which lead to a real phone call (for HOURS) which lead to Gary buying a cell phone package with the same provider as I had so we could have anytime minutes. 

16 days from our first awkward email, he was in his truck driving south to St. Louis and I was in a plane flying east. 

An Allegiant airliner with The Strip and Mt. Charleston.

Ok, let me add a couple details that might make you feel a little better. (Hi Mom!) First of all, I had known W for several years and trusted her implicitly. We weren't just work friends. She had been part of Gary's extended family for 15 years and had spent many holidays with him. I had seen the family albums, heard the family drama, read the family Christmas letter. Second, we all belong to the same church. Not a specific building, but an organized Christian denomination with churches around the world. It's a sub-culture. Families have similar goals, individuals have similar morals, people have similar backgrounds, etc. Third, Gary and I had logged countless hours on emails and phone calls. I really felt like I knew him. Fourth, we had separate rooms, thank you. So yeah, it could have the potential to be dangerous, but I guess I was willing to take the risk. All in the name of love. Or glittery rainbows.

Waiting to board that plane was about the scariest thing I've ever done! Right next to walking off the plane and looking for a man I'd never seen in person. The worst part was the fear of "us" not working out! What if he walked funny and had weird mannerisms? What if he had chronic halitosis? What if we just didn't click?

Well, my wobbly- kneed, sweaty-palmed, thundering-hearted self made it to the main section of the airport (post 9-11, so he couldn't come to the gate). And there was Gary with roses and a huge grin. We fell into each other's arms and walked into the sunset.

Or not.

That first evening was AWKWARD. We were nervous and ill-at-ease, me far worse than him. I was having the hardest time matching the person with the emailing/phone-calling voice I knew. We started and stopped random topics. We would bring something up and realize that the stranger walking beside you already knew that story! Strange!

The next day was much better. We got out of the hotel and saw some sights. Finally got comfortable enough to talk! We had our first real date that night--dressing up, reservations, linens, candles, fancy courses... It was amazing. Then we went up in the Gateway Arch!

And then we walked into the sunset!

Well, kinda. :) But that's where I'm ending the story for now!

A Love Story

Seven years ago today, this happened.

We don't have a typical love story, so I thought it would be fun to share it with you today. I've shared it before, but it still makes me smile, so here it is again, in honor of our 7th Anniversary!

*****

It was August 2005. I was 29. I was teaching Kindergarten at a private church school in Las Vegas, about to begin my 7th year. Another teacher at our small, private school was one of my closest friends. 

Wintress and me on a cruise, shortly before this story takes place.

Wintress had been pestering me for several months about her single brother-in-law. I was in Nevada, he was in Iowa, I was sorta dating someone, he was just out of a serious, long-term relationship.

 

 I wasn't interested.

 

One day she looked at me and said, "You're not happy. You need to do something about it. Make some changes in your life!"

 

We all need friends like that, don't we?

I finally agreed to let Wintress give my email address to her husband so he could give it to his brother, the single guy. I did it to get her to stop bugging me about him, certain it would never work out. Since then, I've learned I wasn't the only one feeling extremely awkward in the situation!

A day or two later, I got an email from Gary, my friend's single brother-in-law. It was basically, hi-my-name-is-Gary-and-this-is-weird; tell-me-about-yourself. Still feeling the need to fulfill my agreement with Wintress to at least get to know Gary a little bit, I replied. And he replied. And about that time, the angels started singing and everything started looking all sunshiny and rainbow-colored.

The emails continued through the first week, then we started instant-messaging on our computers which lead to a real phone call (for HOURS) which lead to Gary buying a cell phone package with the same provider I had so we could have anytime minutes. 

16 days from our first awkward email, he was in his truck driving south to St. Louis and I was in a plane flying east. 

An Allegiant airliner with The Strip and Mt. Charleston.

Ok, let me add a couple details that might make you feel a little better. First of all, I had known Wintress for several years and trusted her implicitly. We weren't just work friends. She had been part of Gary's extended family for 15 years and had spent many holidays with him. I had seen the family albums, heard the family drama, read the family Christmas letter. Second, we all belong to the same church. Not a specific building, but an organized Christian denomination with churches around the world. It's a sub-culture. Families have similar goals, individuals have similar morals, people have similar backgrounds, etc. Third, Gary and I had logged countless hours on emails and phone calls. I really felt like I knew him. Fourth, we had separate rooms, thank you. So yeah, it could have the potential to be dangerous, but I guess I was willing to take the risk. All in the name of love. Or glittery rainbows.

Waiting to board that plane to St. Louis was about the scariest thing I've ever done! Right next to walking off the plane and looking for a man I'd only seen in pictures and on Yahoo Instant Messenger. The worst part was the fear of "us" not working out! What if he walked funny and had weird mannerisms? What if he had chronic halitosis? What if we just didn't click?

Well, my wobbly- kneed, sweaty-palmed, thundering-hearted self made it to the main section of the airport. And there was Gary with roses and a huge grin. We fell into each other's arms and walked into the sunset.

Or not.

That first evening was AWKWARD. We were nervous and ill-at-ease, me far worse than him. I was having the hardest time matching the person with the emailing/phone-calling voice I knew. We started and stopped random topics. We would bring something up and realize that the stranger walking beside you already knew that story! Strange!

The next day was much better. We got out of the hotel and saw some sights. Finally got comfortable enough to talk! We had our first real date that night--dressing up, reservations, linens, candles, fancy courses... It was amazing. Then we went up in the Gateway Arch!

And then we walked into the sunset!

Well, kinda. :) But that's where I'm ending the story for now!

 

*****

 

Happy 7th Anniversary, Sweetheart! I'm so glad we were willing to take risks to find each other. I l love you to the sky and back!

Anniversary Date

My husband and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary in July. 

It's been 6 weeks--about time give a report!

July 2, 2006

We are usually pretty simple with our anniversary celebrations. Dinner out is typical, usually without kids. The more kids we have, the harder that is to arrange, naturally. But since we've been spending Fourth of July with my in-laws in Missouri, it's easier to arrange for babysitting! (Thank you!!!)

This year, with it being the whole 5-year thing, I got the idea in my head that we should have an overnight date. In St. Louis. Something bigger and more special than dinner. Some real time to reconnect and enjoy being a couple, not just parents of three children aged 4 and under. Since the baby was only 6 weeks old, he would be included in our plans.

St. Louis Arch

Did I mention that the first time we met in person was in St. Louis?

See, I was living in Las Vegas at the time, he was in Iowa. 

We were set-up by his sister-in-law who was a teacher at the school where I taught and a very good friend of mine. 

Me & my sweetheart, spring 2006

After putting off her you-should-meet-my-brother-in-law comments for months, I said, fine, you can give him my email address. She called her husband who was away for business. He called his brother who awkwardly brought up the subject (ME!). 

And I got an email.

Then a phone call.

Then a date in St. Louis.

And the rest is history!

The right Hyatt 

Now fast forward almost 6 years to our 5-year wedding anniversary, and I'm planning a date in St. Louis! So cool right?!

So there I went, planning away. 

Dinner at the fancy Italian restaurant on The Hill.

Reservations at the Hyatt where we stayed (in separate rooms, thankyouverymuch--it was our FIRST date!), and a babysitter for the baby! (My sister-in-law--a different one--lives in St. Louis.)

Perfect.

This was all for Saturday. On Friday, my credit card got rejected three times!!! Turns out there had been "suspicious activity" on my account so the bank closed my card and issued me a new one via snail mail. Without telling me! To the wrong address!! Um, we moved almost 3 years ago... I think it was reserving the hotel online that was "suspicious". Why didn't they contact me? Call me? Ask me if I'd done such-and-such. Tell me they're issuing me a new card, confirm my address, send the card to the right house?! 

I worried that the hotel wouldn't accept our reservation because it had been made with an account that was no longer valid.

Meanwhile, my sweet, easy baby is being cranky! He was up at least three times during the night before our date. He fussed all morning and hardly napped. My husband and I tag-teamed during church and got to sit together for maybe 10 minutes. We ate lunch, kissed our older boys, and listened to our baby cry on and off during the nearly 2 hour drive to St. Louis.

Baby J3, July 4, 2011

We cancelled the babysitter Aunt. 

The baby finally took a nap, so we headed to The Hill to eat dinner.

He started crying on the way inside and continued for half an hour. 

I hid in the restroom, trying to breastfeed him in a bathroom stall. I shushed, I comforted, he cried.

I left.

My husband ordered and got our food to go. The restaurant was very nice to us, but I was so disappointed!

As we drove downtown to our hotel, we realized what the Fourth of July weekend meant to a big city: crowds. 

Duh.

Our hotel  was right by the fireworks display. No, we didn't have a view, but we fought traffic for an hour trying to get to the hotel. Thankfully, the baby was finally sleeping. And the hotel took my husbands card with no problems on the closed account!

The old courthouse, St. Louis, from our hotel

But parking was like a mile away and 7 stories underground and the elevator was closed for the night!

Oh, did I mention it was the wrong hotel? Yup. Who knew St. Louis would have two Hyatts?! Not me!

We finally got to our room, hungry, hot and exhausted. Some date!

This is all we saw of the arch this time!

I fed the baby and he went back to sleep--miracle! I still don't know for sure what was bothering him, but he was back to his easy ways after that.

Our room had these neat windows--kinda like a window seat but too high to really be called that. We had an amazing view of the crowds and sunset.

Beautiful sunset viewed from our room

We ate our 80-dollar meal from styrofoam containers sitting in the window watching the crowds. Not a fancy restaurant, no waiters bringing water, but still nice.

Romantic dinner for two in the windowsill

Then we watched TV. We don't normally, so it was fun! We took long showers, enjoyed the relative quiet and the huge, fancy bed.

St. Louis at night from our hotel room

We headed back to my in-laws and our boys the next day, refreshed. 

Me & my sweetie on the way back from our date

Happy 5th Anniversary, sweetheart!