Love-Drenched Life

For as long as I can remember, I have always been interested in couple's "how we met" stories.  For years, I imagined what mine would be.  Now I have one, and I have time to sit down and share it with you!

I had the privilege of attending Liberty University straight out of high school.  I was ready to grip life by the horns, and relished my new-found "freedom".  I enjoyed the new friends I met, including the boyfriend I snagged day one of college.  I didn't consider a lot of how such a quick relationship would effect me, and the Lord taught me a lot during that year that we dated.  Although I had considered some things about dating, I certainly didn't have a "game plan" of how I would go about it once I actually got to where I was making my own decisions for myself when I was on my own.

Thankfully, God has ways of using our mistakes to our good and His glory. 

I landed my first "real" job summer of 2007 working as a waitress at Cracker Barrel in GA.  I actually really loved it.  I loved the challenge of the people I both worked with and served, and I liked the feeling at the end of the shift that I had done a good job.  I also had to learn to handle life as a Christian in a very non-Christian work environment...including adjusting to how guys treat women in the "world" respect-wise as opposed to the church as I was used to.  As soon as I went back to LU to begin my Sophomore year, I went to Cracker Barrel there in Lynchburg to try to transfer.  As optimistic as management was there of hiring someone they didn't have to train, it took a good two weeks until I could put a starting date in my planner: September 1st, 2007.

August 27th, my boyfriend and I ended our relationship.  I was very much not interested in pursuing another relationship, and planned on being single for quite a while.  Boys were better as friends, anyways. The work the Lord had done in my heart over the summer was undeniable, and I felt I had better things to focus on while at school.  That Friday, I rode my bike to work and my manager eagerly introduced me to my co-workers.  I gulped as I walked through the vestibule to the back and received the "look-over" head to toe from the first two male co-workers I passed. (I only share this because it was some-what important to what happened next).

Nick was standing next to the door as I came from the vestibule into the kitchen.  I was immediately shocked at how much he looked like Nick Lachey.  My manager introduced us, and during our brief exchange, Nick held my gaze...never leaving my face.  I felt respected.  I was surprised at how that moment was my "big event" of the night, however I guess it wasn't that surprising that I developed an immediate crush on him.  So much for my big dating plan.  Nick didn't pay any attention at all to me...or anyone, really...the rest of the shift.  It was obvious he was very popular with the mostly female staff, but he seemed oblivious to that too.  Wow, this guy was sooo different!

I didn't try at all to flirt with Nick, only speaking to him when necessary.  One night, it rained extremely hard right as I had to go to work.  I didn't much mind, but of course I had to ride my bike in the rain as I had no other ride to work.  I remember thinking it was fun to ride down the hill and across the highway with the rain and wind blowing in my face.  I must have looked like a drenched, sad puppy when I got to work because almost everyone looked at me with shocked faces, rushing me to the heat lamp to dry off.  I was most surprised by Nick's reaction, as he stood wide-eyed repeating over and over how he had thought about me riding my bike in the rain, and how he almost came to look for me but didn't know where I lived, and how I would never ever have to ride my bike to work again if he had anything to do with it.  I haven't had to ride my bike anywhere since then :)

After work, Nick packed my bike into the back of his Vibe with ease.  He talked the whole way back to campus.  Really, I didn't say a word, and I honestly don't even know what he talked about.  As I got out of the car, he handed me his business card and said if I ever needed anything I could call him.  May I remind you that I already had a crush on him and wasn't about to call a guy first!

The next week, Nick took me home after every shift.  On Friday night, we both got off early, around 9PM.  We made small talk as he unloaded my bike, and then continued talking as I sat on the bike seat in the parking lot.  Eventually, we realized we had no where to go, and Nick threw open the hatch-back of his car and we sat on the bumper, my bike leaning against the side of the car.  I remember feeling elated that he was actually talking to me.  We talked about everything...family, friends, beliefs, school, work, etc.  My roommate walked past us at one point and winked, knowing how excited I must be.  It seemed like 15 minutes later when she came back, waving her hands and looking at me, shocked.  She informed me that I had missed curfew and she couldn't believe I'd been out here this long.  Apparently, we had been talking for 4 hours and it felt like no time at all.  After Nick and I said our goodbyes, I went in and told my roommate that I had met my future husband.  I was just that sure!  This was September 8th, 2007.

We went on our first date the next week, to Olive Garden.  I don't remember too much about that night except we finished our meal with raspberry cheesecake.  Somewhere around that time we set strict rules for ourselves, that we would not be alone together and our physical intimacy would not go past hand-holding.  Period.  We did hold hands that night on the bench by the parking lot, a moment highlighted by obnoxious guys riding around singing "can you feel the love tonight" every time they drove past us and taunting Nick to "just kiss her, dude".  Precious.  He did not, of course.

This began our beautiful relationship.  Our dating experience was so fun, and only better by our commitment to keep the physical out of our relationship.  The best part? Nick was the leader in this - never once did he pressure me or even mention going further than holding hands.  Of course, it was hard at first, but eventually our "not" doing anything became habit. 

Nick proposed to me in the most precious way on September 8th, 2008, our one-year anniversary.  We had the absolutely most perfect wedding on July 3rd, 2009.  Now we're heading towards the end of our 2nd year of marriage and I'm more in love with him than I was on day one.  God has been so good to us and I'm so thankful that He answered all of my prayers when He brought me Nick.

I love you, babe!

Oldies but goodies from our first month of dating.