8 Years Ago Today

Today is mine and Sweet Husband's "dateiversary". We went on our first date 8 years ago. So let's reminisce about the past shall we??

I had just broken up with my boyfriend of 2 years and was feeling a little down and blue. I had just gotten back from visiting University of North Alabama and had my heart set on starting there in the fall. A fresh start in a new city. That was the idea I had in my head anyway. I had plans on spending some much needed girl time with my bff (who now happens to be my sister in law.. yes, isn't that cool!!?). Anyway, I was sitting at home on April 14th (the day after my 17th birthday) and I received a phone call from a guy friend. He asked me if I wanted to go to a 3 doors down concert. I was kind of like "Eh, I don't know" and then he said "Oh, not with me! Here just talk to him." That's when Sweet Husband got on the phone and asked me if I wanted to go with him. He had asked another girl and she was going to go, but then she had something come up. He was trying to rack his brain on who to ask when our mutual friend said, "Dude, Katie just broke up with her boyfriend!!" They say he was really excited to hear that news. Obviously I said yes.

BUT, to be honest. I almost cancelled. It was so soon after I just ended things with my ex and I just wasn't sure I was ready to go out with another guy. My mom talked me into going. She said, "Just go! You'll have fun!" So I decided I would try it out. Sweet Husband called me and asked if I wanted to hang out the night before the concert and I told him that a "friend was down from college" that was code for a guy I used to date is in town and I'm just going to hang out with him for a while. I wasn't ready to be tied down to one guy. He was bummed, but we hashed out details for our date that Saturday night.

Saturday came. I went through my closet trying to find the perfect outfit. I settled on Abercrombie jeans and an Amercrombie tank top.... that I'd paid WAY too much for. Goodness we're silly when we're young. He picked me up in his super loud, super muddy Toyota Tacoma and we headed back to his house to meet up with his friends. I was worried things would be awkward because we hadn't seen each other in at least a year, but really it wasn't we talked the whole way there and I had these little butterflies fluttering because I use to have a crush on this guy when I was younger and here I was riding in a truck with him. We got to his house and immediately his mother took our picture. I thought that was odd, but now I am so thankful to have that memory captured. We went with his friends to the concert where I had the most amazing time.

He put his arms around my waist and I laid my head back on his shoulder and we fit together perfectly. I think that's the moment I knew that this was going to be more than just a one date kind of deal. On the way home I fell asleep on him because I was use to going to bed at 9 pm and well it was late dadgumit. He took me home and walked me to the door. He hesitated and just stared into my eyes for what felt like a good 2 minutes and then he leaned forward and gave me a kiss that I can still remember to this day. Never have I ever had the breath immediately leave my body like that. When he pulled away I still couldn't breathe and my heart was pounding. He told me goodbye and said he'd call me later. I walked into the house all smiles. After that we spent EVERY day together.

It was such a fantastic night. An unexpected night. One I almost missed, but thank God I went anyway. We fell in love. We fell in love fast and we fell in love hard and it hasn't slacked up. He's my best friend and to him I say

Thank you for calling me.

Thank you for treating me like I hung the moon.

Thank you for telling me I'm beautiful everyday.

Thank you for our two beautiful children.

And most importantly thank you for your unconditional love because I love you more than words and I thank God that he put us together.