Our story starts with a birth. I was born in Honolulu, HI on a military base. My parents moved us to Kansas 2 weeks later and we have basically been in Wichita, KS ever since.
Devin (AKA: Hubby on the blog) was born in Wichita and has lived here his entire life.
My parents wanted to instill in my sister and I a priority for God from the beginning and so they diligently searched for a church home. They found Central Church of Christ in downtown Wichita and knew that they had found a family to belong to. Little did they know that they when they found a church family, they also found their future In-Laws.
Hubby was raised by his grandparents and they also have a strong conviction in Christ and wanted to show him the love that God provides. His grandmother was the lead teacher in the church nursery at the time and 18 month old Devin and 6 month old Jaime met for the first time.
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| Baby Jaime |
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| Baby Devin |
As time went on we both continued to go to church and occasionally our families would get together, but Hubby and I were not very close friends (probably because Devin was a year older and also a boy). It wasn't until we were both in the youth group that we started to actually interact all the time and become friends.
On a dare from friends in 2001 Devin and I had our first kiss. It was in the back of a church van while all of our friends watched. Embarrassing? Oh yes! But that kiss lead to us dating. Now remember that at this time we are in 7th and 8th grade so I'm using the word "dating" loosely. Mostly we held hands while at church and we might have talked on the phone 3 times.
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| The friend, Sally Manlove who dared us to kiss all those years ago. |
I decided about 6 months into "dating" Devin that I was no longer interested, but since he was my first boyfriend I had never broke up with anyone, so I just stopped talking to him. This would have been easier if I didn't have to see him twice a week every week. But I ignored him for probably 2 months before I think he just gave up and realized that we were through.
It took about a year after that before we became actual friends. Middle school is tough for everyone, but Ex's? So embarrassing! Anyway, after the appropriate amount of awkwardness passed we actually became really good friends. We would go out with other friends and eventually felt comfortable enough to go out to the movies together without any "weirdness" between us.
**Now I need to put a disclaimer in here, Devin was in LOVE with me since the very first time we dated and never gave up hope that we would get back together. I knew this the entire time and would often take advantage of it. I know its terrible, but I did, I loved the attention he gave me and the way he spoiled me, but didn't want to date him. I feel horrible about it now.
Anyway, towards the end of my junior year of high school, I finally decided that since I spent so much time with him and we were such good friends that we would start to date again. This time we actually went on real dates and talked on the phone. I know, I know real grown up right?!
I think we dated till the end of school and I decided that since Devin was going away to college 8 hours away that I wanted to end things. We went to a movie that night and I waited until afterwards and we were in the car to break up with him. I know again I'm terrible I made him pay for a movie, just to break up with him. He still teases me about that one. :)
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| The movie we went to see before the break-up | Source |
Well after the trip to Texas, I couldn't get what she had said out of my mind. She was right, Devin was exactly the person I was describing. And when I thought of someone else marrying him I was jealous of whoever that would be. I didn't know why, all these years I had just thought of him as my best friend, and kissing him would be like kissing my brother. Why now did I have these competing feelings?
I tried to ignore the feelings because I knew that we wouldn't last another break-up. I couldn't risk my great friendship without knowing for sure. I knew that if we broke up we would never be friends again.
Two weeks later I had surgery, and Devin came over to help take care of me. This showed me his nurturing side, and I couldn't help but imagine him with a little baby. It melted my heart. Within a few days I was feeling better, but I didn't want him to leave my side. As we were watching TV one day, I just leaned over and kissed him. He just stared at me, smiled and kissed me again.
That same night we had "The Talk". You know the one, I told him my conflicting feelings. We agreed that if we were going to date it had to be for a purpose. We weren't going to date casually, this would be for real, meaning it was leading towards wedding bells. I was not going to risk my best friend without the potential of him becoming my husband. Devin agreed and we decided to start a relationship.
Two weeks later we were engaged....
Yes you read that right, he proposed after only 2 weeks of dating. I know we sound crazy, but you have to remember that we have known each other our entire life, dated 3 times, and were best friends prior to even getting in a relationship. Since that night we decided to start a relationship, we haven't been happier. I know that Devin is the man that God designed just for me. He is my perfect complement and even though he can drive me crazy sometimes, he is the only person I want to be with 100% of the time. I cannot imagine my life without him and thank God everyday for persistently opening doors for me to finally realize it for myself.
We were married in October of 2010, and even though it has not been perfect, we do not regret a single thing, and grow closer together everyday.
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