A decade of marriage

15 years ago in August, on the first day of freshman orientation at Westminster College, I met the man that would be my husband.  Our parents were staying at the same hotel, and had struck up a conversation about us kids (as we were both there to play ball).  At breakfast my mom said - "oh, there are the nice people we met at the hotel, and that must be their son".  To which I replied, "oh, he's cute" and that was the end of it.  I was 17 and Aaron hadn't celebrated his 19 birthday just yet.  We didn't officially date until October, because he was seeing his high school girlfriend still, but we enjoyed activities together with our friends there, and there was no denying that we were falling for eachother.  He left school in October, just before the 25th (I think) and so I had to finish the semester without him there.  I needed to have ankle reconstructive surgery during practice for basketball.  The doc there wouldn't allow me to finish the season without the surgery, so I went back home (my mom's doing) to have it in Texas, rather than stay in Missouri (away from her) to heal.  So, I left at Christmas break - with no intention of returning to Westminster. 

Unknown to me, my parents gave me the best gift for Christmas that year - they flew Aaron to Austin to come live in their guest house.  It is a long story, but things weren't going anywhere for him in Wichita, after he left school, and I didn't want to be without him.  I was very sad.  So they got involved.  Now, the rest of that year wasn't a great situation as he tried to find work, I had surgery and tried to get to and fro from school and work, and the situation with him and my family wasn't rosey - but he and I were always happy.  And he had to keep working (starving to death) in Austin (no longer with my folks - that lasted 2 months) because he had to establish residency in Texas for in-state tuition.  So we did, and as SOON as he had it, we left Austin for Lubbock where we became Red Raiders.  While living in Lubbock, 5 years after we started dating, we got married.  We were married in Bastrop, TX.  A horse and carriage took the wedding parties to the church, and also picked Aaron and I up after and drove us through the historic, beautiful downtown and covered bridge.  It was wonderful!

After the wedding we staying in a hotel near the airport and Sunday morning, we caught a flight to OKC - where Aaron had stashed our car (his family picked him up there the day before our wedding, while driving down to Texas from Wichita) and we drove to Branson, MO.  We spent the BEST week there!  So much so, that we went back for our 1st anniversary.  We have always had a love of Missouri - since that is where we met. 

So, here we are 10 years after that.  Happily married to the man of my dreams, my best friend, and my lifelong companion.  There still isn't anyone else I would rather wake up next to, spend all my time with, or grow old with.  His Godly character has supported me over and over, and molded him into the 'perfect husband'.  : )  We are leaving this morning for Missouri.  My folks drove up last night and they are going to keep the kids for us until Sunday!!!  I am sooooo excited.  We are staying at Argosy Casinos in KC and will be driving over to Fulton, MO tomorrow to walk around all our old places at Westminster College.  We haven't been there since 1994, when we left school.  But it played a part in the single most important event in our lives.  Without it, we wouldn't have Addie and Admiral, nor all the happy memories we have today.