Pt. 3

When we got back from Belize, we basically started "dating" if you want to call it that. I got back before Christmas and Luke came back shortly after. Our "dates" consisted of mostly going out with friends or him coming to my house, which he did almost every night till we got married. I valued this so much. He really got to know my family and I was so happy that they loved him nearly as much I did. We spent months playing board games, watching movies, praying together, and just talking with one another. After 2 months on Valentines Day, Luke took me out on our first real date. The boy didn't disappoint...:) He took me to Olive Garden and after we were seated he gave me this really pretty picture frame for my gift, which I thought was odd, but then said he needed to go get something, and brought in a KitchenAid mixer. If any of you know me, this was huge. He was pursuing my heart for sure..haha..I love all things KitchenAid and couldn't believe he'd bought me a super nice mixer. We went back to T'ville and bought all the stuff to make cookies and made some together with my new kitchen toy. At this point in our relationship we knew we were going to marry, but Luke didn't want to officially propose till he was able to afford a ring.

On March 11th 2003, We had made plans to go to Pebble Hill to see if we wanted to have any wedding pictures taken there, but I was not feeling well that day at all..so of course, I didn't want to go. My mom encouraged me that I needed to get ready cause Luke was coming to get me to go..(She was in on it, trying to get me there! haha) But my foul attitude from being sick made me act like a down right booty that day. Luke came and decided to stop for Jones Soda's next door at the gas station(when they still sold them there!) and we drove out to Pebble Hill. When we got there, you are suppose to pay to get in, but Luke kept telling me we didn't have to pay and the gate guy just made these silly faces at us, but due to my mood, I was unaware and more upset than anything that Luke hadn't paid the guy to get it..! My stupidity at its finest. We decided to park and Luke wanted to bring the drinks, but I thought we'd get in trouble having them on the property so I didn't want to bring them, but Luke was adamant. Again, my temper was ridicules and demanded he carry the drinks if he wanted to bring them so badly. After all this tantrum throwing I'm surprised our afternoon continued! haha.. So we walked down this hill towards the lake there and passed these ladies who were smiling and pointing at us..(should have wondered about this), but then I saw it. A table down by the lake all set up with my favorite foods, flowers and everything. He had made a picnic for us(hence those darn drinks!). As soon as we got down there I know what's up, and he gets down on one knee and asks me to make him the happiest man alive and pulls out this:

The Marquis ring we had looked at at the mall one time long ago when we were still on friend territory.

I of course say yes, though he will say to this day that I never answered him. I must comment on how funny this moment was, because it would have been such a key moment for us in terms of affection. It would have been so easy to have leaned down and kissed him, but Luke and I talked long before we were even in a relationship that we both wanted to save our first kiss for our wedding day. We had nothing against people who didn't, but for us personally we really wanted it to be a big deal, so it was slightly awkward ignoring the urge to have that moment be THE moment and kiss, but I'm thankful neither of us caved..haha..We had a lovely lunch together and roamed Pebble Hill afterwards.

Me in the shadows of a plant covering on our engagement day. It wasn't supposed to be artsy, but kind of turned out that way.

Just so you know..

I added my weight loss tracker on the top. Its been slow, but I know that this is a life style change, not a quick loss followed by gaining it all back. So I'm ok with it, but I am working out everyday so I probably have more muscle now then I did. I wish I had measured myself last week, but will do that this week so I can keep tabs on inches lost. My shorts fit better this week so I think things are changing. :)

Interruption.

Sorry about the lull between my story that I was sharing, but the Lord has gifted me with SUCH a desire to finally get healthy and I've been using all my spare time working out and prepping my meals, then on the computer, so sorry about that. I am SO weak when it comes to food, but the determination He has given me has astounded me and I'm going with it to the best of my ability..

I'm also slowing adding in running again and have been able to keep it up for over a week without shin splints! Hurray!! Still taking it slow in terms of how long/far I'm running at one time, but usually by now I'd be in agonizing pain, so this is quite the improvement.

Pt. 2

So a few months later we re-approached the situation and we decided to talk. It was an awkward conversation that was frustrating since we knew we couldn't really date(and really didn't want to as we were looking for more of a courtship model) but weren't really in the place to anything else. A few months later Luke's parents made a Stateside visit when Luke's grandparents were in a very bad car accident. Leaving his grandmother in the hospital for a while with what was a broken neck. Luke had lunch with his parents expressing his interest in me and his consideration of me as a wife but wasn't sure just yet...they just said they trusted him and to continue praying about it. Luke and I spent time at the hospital with his grandmother and time at their house while his family was in town.

It was all during this time that the Lord very clearly let me know Luke was to be my husband. It sounded so cliche and I didn't want to be THAT girl, but its true. I just KNEW. But the Lord also clearly told me that HE would reveal that to Luke, and I was not to. For my 17th birthday, my friend Joel, Patti and Luke took me out to the Melting Pot. It was so much fun and was such a special night...

Couple months after I turned 17, Luke tells me that the Lord confirmed it for him and he got to talk to my Dad about pursuing me on a night in Tallahassee where my Dad's truck broke down and it was just them..haha.Of course my Dad said that was fine by him. Then Luke's family invited me to Belize right before Christmas of '02. I happily took my chance to spend more time with Luke and his family and decided to go. It was an AWESOME time. It was the official start of our relationship and it was like breathing after holding your breath for a while. Luke's parents released him to pursue me, and basically were like, why haven't you asked her to marry you yet?! :) I have nothing but fond memories of Belize. I got to hold hands for the first time there, I was introduced to the Fletcher's church as Luke's intended, Luke treated me like a princess(still does!) and delighted in showing me his jungle home. I also was given my first kiss on the cheek on this trip and it was so unexpected and sweet and meant so much after basically ignoring our feelings for so long. So glad God provided this time for us.

Hanging out in Belize.

Our first official couple picture.

Going/coming back from one of the Falls there.

Luke, Me, and our friend Ian who came along as well.

A favorite picture of mine that Joel took while in Belize. Me to a T-Frizzy hair, silly facial expressions. :)

I came back a week before Luke did, this was one of the first meals we got to eat together when he got back. Its got a glich on the left side with another photo of Luke jumping off a cliff in Belize.

When I first met ..Pt. 1

This guy-

I remember thinking how cool it was that our youth group was getting a new worship leader, how much Luke resembled his Dad, and how long it'd been since I last saw him. I hadn't realized how much our lives had already overlapped. My family rented Luke's family's house while they were missionaries in Belize, C.A...and that our families had been friends for a while already. When they moved I was 5, Luke was 8. I remember various visits but nothing stuck in my memory till he came back in 2001. I was 15 when he moved back to the States to go to college.

I was assigned as his assistant in our youth leadership group. I got copies out for music, put them back away, did whatever needed to be done to make it easier for him. We pretty quickly became friends, and had kind of a 4 friend clique with Luke's cousin who just happened to be my greatest girlfriend since age 4, and the other worship leader at the time. We did soo much together(as well as with other friends), went on trips, worshiped together and so much more. Luke lived for some of this time with another friend's family...and I would love going over there to see her, hoping I'd get to see Luke. I remember on my 16th birthday party he came by to bring me a present, and thinking how random it was that he went out of his way to bring it to me instead of waiting till I next saw him.

My 16th year was much the same as my 15th. However, I worked as a nanny for 2 girls and that helped busy up more of my time as well as school and church activities. We went on a youth leadership trip and I remember singing "Leaving on a Jet Plane" to him while there and it being one of our first "romantic" moments.  I also lost an aunt and Luke(and Joel) came with me to the hospital and were there for me when we were all told she wasn't going to make it. During this time Luke had asked our youth pastor about talking to me about what seemed like mutual feelings and was discouraged to do so due to our leadership guidelines that did not allow for dating amongst leaders. So the matter was put off, but eventually it had to be talked about.

Back!

We had a great time at our conference. It was like having a family reunion getting to see so many people we met last year and have turned into friends. I think its great for us as Christians to meet regularly with other believers outside of our own gathering so that we remember we are all part of ONE body and one Man. It was also a great bonding experience for our group when you stay with people...you learn how to die to yourself and your own needs when you do that..haha..

We've been taking a break from social activities this week though after our crazy busy weekend. Really focusing on meeting our children's needs and meeting the ones our marriage needs as well. We bought Domino's this week after playing it over the weekend and it was soo much fun, not like how I thought it was, apparently we learned a version of Domino's...but it takes a while to play so we're working through it over this week. We also watched "Just Go With It" last night and thought it was so stinkin funny..(if you can ignore the poop in the brownie as my Mom used to say..;) )

Plan on getting Kate a little potty this week. She likes to try to go potty a lot but I think she'd do better if I could leave her sitting without feeling like she was going to fall in the toilet...Hoping to get this little lady potty trained before it gets cold maybe....Still having potty accidents with Noah on some nights, but I've been told by my Ped, and other mothers its still normal for his age, however its still frustrating to deal with. Hoping he outgrows it soon.


Off to make my kids a late lunch...!

Has it really been over 2 weeks?

Why does it feel like I blog all the time, when in reality I don't? Geez...sorry readers. It makes me sad when other bloggers take a hiatus because I enjoy reading them so much..so I apologize if anyone cared enough to miss me posting more often.


Got my camera working again! Hooray! Now I can actually take pictures again without using my iPod or phone. Its nice to have real pictures again and not fuzzy wanna-be's.

Luke's been working hard, I've been busy with doing things with the kids during summer break..(who said I only get another month with them before school starts up again? Life is moving too fast. I CANNOT believe I will have a 1st grader, a preschooler and an almost 2 1/2 year old by the time school starts. Its so bitter sweet. I LOVE watching them grow, learn, achieve, and gain independence that makes things somewhat easier on me and them, but its kind of sad knowing your babies are growing up. That they aren't babies anymore, that they need you a little less each day. The joys and sorrows of parenthood. I sure do love my little ones. They are pro's at pushing my buttons, but all in all, they are great kids and I could not be more thankful for them and God entrusting me with them.

We had a busy July 4th weekend. Friday I drove down to ATL to get to see my nephew's mother who lives out of town and was here for the afternoon on business. She's like a sister in law to me and I was so thankful to get to see her for a bit.

Luke worked Saturday, we hung out around the house on Sunday morning then had Church that afternoon, followed by me feeding a couple Brother's(one from here, the other 2 from Australia). They are looking for a more organic church style and came all this way to meet with our group and Gainesville, FL's group to experience some body life. They were such a blessing, it was a father and son, the father actually grew up in South Africa, and then moved to Australia when his son was 8...they have different accents which is interesting and we loved asking each other questions about life on another continent. After them talking about it for so long, Australia looks like a pretty decent place to live! ;)  Set off a few bottle rockets and chatted for a while then called it a night.

Monday we got up and went to my parents house for lunch and hung with them and  my sister/bro-in-law/niece for a bit then headed back to G-ville to grill out with some friends here, followed by setting off tons of fireworks...the kids had a blast(except Kate who screamed at every one till the last 10 minutes of them or so)...maybe next year won't be so scary for her..haha..

Getting to go to a conference in 9 days sans kiddo's thanks to Luke's parents...it will be so nice to get away and enjoy some adult and spiritually uplifting time with other believers. Can't wait!