It's a Love Story: The Proposal

This is what I wrote on our wedding website right after we got engaged:

Michael's parents came to my house to visit and attend my church Living Pictures Easter play. Little did I know they were also delivering my engagement ring to Michael. Later that afternoon, Michael called me upstairs. He told me that I was in trouble. Thinking nothing of it, I ran upstairs and found him grinning next to an Easter basket. I laughed at how excited he seemed to be over an Easter basket. When I started going through the eggs, he took away a large pink egg with a bow on it. That was my first clue that he might be proposing. I refused to let myself get excited though. There was a DVD in the basket. He had put together a slide show of all the pictures of him and me over the last two and a half years. "My Girl" was playing in the background. We watched the DVD, and then he gave me back the pink egg. By this time, I was so nervous, I couldn't open the egg. He got the top off for me, and then I looked inside to see a beautiful, sparkling diamond ring. I just stared at it in shock. Then I looked up to see him down on one knee. He asked me to marry him. Of course I said YES!

The day we were engaged: April 15, 2006

It's a Love Story: Continued

So we left off on Monday with Michael having initiated the DTR (Define the Relationship) discussion which ended in us officially become a couple, going "steady" if you will for those older readers out there. This was the Fall semester of my Freshman year of college at MSU and Michael's Sophomore year. Michael was my first boyfriend since early my sophomore year of high school, so this was all fairly new ground for me. Our dating basically consisted of MSU football games, BSU functions, outings with our friend group, and cooking dinner together. We just enjoyed each other's company doing whatever it is there was to do.

Oddly enough, the thing that began to irk me about our relationship was that we really didn't fight. Whatever I wanted, Michael did his best to do. I must confess that there were times I purposefully tried to make him mad just to see what he would do, but he never got angry with me. Looking back, I think I was just a little freaked out because I liked him more than I was ready to admit and was subconsciously trying to sabotage the relationship. You see, I had this idea that I would go to college and be this whole new person. This new person would date lots of different boys, but all of a sudden I was in this exclusive relationship. It just wasn't what I had envisioned college to be like. Blame it on TV, blame it on my high school experience, whatever you blame it on, that is what I thought college should be like.

So after eons of debate, which I am sure my room-mate Lauren and friend Ginny tired of hearing, I was finally presented with a turning point. I am not sure who said this to me, but someone finally said, "Mary Beth, if you are so unsure about this relationship, break up with him". So again the debating in my mind begins. I finally reach a potentially life-altering decision.

The week before Thanksgiving break, I sat down with Michael on the couch in his trailer and broke up with him. Ironically, I told him that I didn't think it was right to date someone you could not see yourself marrying, and I didn't see myself marrying him. Looking back, the situation was crazy. I'm sitting on the couch balling my eyes out breaking up with him, and he is soothing ME rubbing my back!! I was the one hurting him! I should have seen right then what a wonderful man I was letting slip through my fingers.

Again, ironically, we ended up in the same place that night. All of our friends were mutual. When he left with a close friend of mine to get some dinner, I felt a pang of jealousy. I think that was when I began to realize I had made a huge mistake even though I wasn't ready to admit it. Shortly after, everyone went home for Thanksgiving break. I thought this would be helpful because we would be apart and could move on. I didn't really ever give myself a chance to do that. I think we talked everyday. That was probably the only time I wasn't crying!

When I finally admitted to myself that I really cared about him and didn't want to be apart, my biggest fear was this: his family will hate me forever! What boy's mother could ever like the girl who broke her son's heart? I was wrong on that note too. At least, I'm pretty sure the Ketchums love me.

We ended up arranging to watch the Egg Bowl together with other friends, Ginny and Jay. We all ended up back at my house after the game to watch a movie. Michael and I sat on the "chair and a half". By the end of the movie, we're holding hands under the blanket. A good sign. He leans over and whispers, "Does this mean we're back together?" I nodded and said, "we'll talk about it later".

Obviously, we got back together and haven't been apart since.

THE NIGHT I FELL IN LOVE

The next significant point in our relationship comes in what I think was February. I am old now, and my memory is fading! HAHA. Either way, it was shortly after Christmas in 2004. We had been dating for four months (we didn't start over at the break-up...just pretended it didn't happen!). Michael was staying at my house for church the next morning. For some reason, I got this great idea to play 20 questions or something like it. We just kept taking turns asking each other ridiculous, funny, and serious questions about the past, likes, dislikes, dreams, and the future. Somewhere around 2 AM over a piece of chocolate cake, I knew I was in love with this boy. I'm not sure when he knew. You'll have to ask him.

Come back tomorrow for: It's a Love Story: The Proposal!

PS: That problem earlier in the relationship of Michael never arguing with me--don't have it anymore! He definitely doesn't let me get my way all the time anymore, which strangely is one of the things I love about him!

Top 10 Reasons Why I Said Yes

In no particular order:

1. Look at that handsome face (his blue eyes in particular):

2. He is a State fan. (My Daddy raised me right!)

3. My family loves him!

4. He will be an AMAZING Father to our children one day.

5. He makes me laugh even when I'm mad at him.

6. He moved all the way to Texas so I could follow my dream.

7. He spoils me, but he also keeps me in line.

8. He cooks--better than me most of the time!

9. He does the laundry (more because he is afraid I'll shrink his clothes than to be nice!)

10. He works hard to take care of me and plan for our future.

okay so 10 isn't quite enough...

11. He watches silly girly movies and shows with me.

12. He listens to me when I'm babbling on and on about things I'm sure he thinks are trivial.

13. He loves his mama.

14. He likes to go out and do fun stuff that we've never done before.

15. He is super smart.

Okay, I'm sure you're tired of me singing Michael's praises, but just a couple more:

16. For some crazy reason, he loves ME!

17. He loves the Lord and wants our home to honor Him.

The Love Story will continue tomorrow! I ran out of time today!

Happy Anniversary Michael!

I look forward to many more with you and am excited to see what the future has in store for us!

It's a Love Story: The Beginning

I decided as a prelude to our 2 year anniversary tomorrow, I would write a post about "our story". Our Sunday School teachers highly encourage us to write down our "love story", so that we can review it later on down the road when we hit a rough patch. I'm not sure exactly who all reads this, but for those of you who don't know, I hope you enjoy.

According to Michael, we met for the first time at BSU Basic Training at Mississippi State University in August of 2003. I was attending as an incoming Freshman, and he was there helping out as a Sophomore. He claims to have seen me from across the room, nudged his room-mate, pointed to me, and informed Brandon that there was the girl he was going to marry. All before even knowing my name or shaking my hand. He then proceeded to introduce himself to me, of which I have no recollection. So much for first impressions I guess.

So, school began and gradually we ended up hanging out in the same friend group. We had a mutual friend, Ginny, who introduced me to the group. My first significant memory of Michael is this: the aforementioned "friend group" was traveling to Columbus (my hometown) to have a home cooked meal at Ginny's house. I rode over with Ginny. I had previously mentioned to her that I needed to swing by my house to pick up some laundry I had left there the previous weekend (yes I know--spoiled, but Daddy does like to do laundry!). She just flat refused to take me. Luckily, this nice blonde guy who was with the group said he would take me by there. Blonde guy=Michael. I was a little sketchy about this because he really kinda was a stranger, but I needed the clothes and there would be two other people with us. So I go with them and we got by my house to pick up the clothes. Then on the way back to Starkville, he plays Kenny Chesney's "Good Stuff" for me probably 3-4 times. I really liked that song. That night Michael programmed his number in my phone as MK and so it would show up first on my phonebook list.

Side note: the other two people in the truck with us that night were Michael Luke and Krystle who were not dating at the time but are also married now.

Continuing...a few days later, I am talking to my daddy. He asks me who that boy was that brought me by the house the other day. I said, "I don't know, which one?" He says, "that blonde one who didn't stop staring at you the whole time y'all were here. Are you dating him?" I said, "no dad, I don't even remember his name!" Dad says, "well I think he likes you". Daddy's so smart.

Memory number 2: I am not sure if this comes before or after the evening in Columbus because I wasn't aware this was Michael until we had started dating. Anyways, after a football game, the friend group had assembled at Michael's trailer (which to me was Brandon's trailer at the time) to watch a movie. I had acquired a migraine and didn't think I could make it to Columbus driving by myself. My dear sweet brother agreed to come pick me up and drive me back to Columbus. I remember falling asleep with my head resting in some sweet boy's lap waiting for Stephen to come...turns out that was Michael.

Gradually we started hanging out more and more. I was being fed inside information from Ginny that Michael really liked me, but felt that he couldn't afford a girlfriend at the time. I told her to tell him that I didn't require much. Seriously, at the time, a McDonald's cheeseburger was all it took to sweep me off my feet.

Along somewhere in there is the BSU Barn Party which is held every year on Homecoming weekend. Here is a picture of Michael and me from that night. I think its the first one we have of the two of us.

Once we started dating, I was informed that he got really jealous that night because I danced more with another guy than with him. I was thinking...well it wasn't like you had asked me to be your girlfriend at the time or anything!

FINALLY, he did make his move, but oh did it take awhile. I think it was a Wednesday night. We had been to a flag football game together, and then I had a meeting at the BSU. When he dropped me off at my car, he asked me to stop by his trailer after the meeting. I told him it would be late, but he assured me it wouldn't take long. I got to the trailer around 9:30 - 10 I suppose. Then he asks me do I want to watch a movie. I said "sure, I guess" meanwhile thinking I thought this was supposed to be quick. You all know how I like my sleep. When that one was over, he wanted to watch another. I was thinking, this boy is crazy but I watched another one. Finally, at probably 2 AM, movie #2 ends, and I am adamant that I have to get back to the dorm. Lauren (room-mate) probably thinks I'm dead. He says no, I need to ask you something. I said well ask me then. So he FINALLY asks me if I will go out with him. Obviously, I said yes. He says he was really nervous. I don't know why though, I had told Ginny 100 times to tell him I would say yes!! So then to celebrate, we watched another movie: John Q. And so, on October 15, 2003, the story officially begins...

Michael sometimes reads this blog, so if he disagrees with any of the above information, maybe he will leave a comment.

Sea World

Michael and I ventured to San Antonio for our anniversary over the 4th of July weekend. Our anniversary isn't until the 21st, but I have Practicum that night so we went early. Michael being the "go-getter" that he is had us up and at the park when the gates opened! Turns out this was a wonderful thing. Our action plan was to go to the waterpark in the morning when it was least crowded and then see the shows and other rides that afternoon. The waterpark didn't open until 10:00 even though the rest of the park opened at 9, so we rented a locker and headed to wait in line for the waterpark. Excellent decision. We rode every slide (some twice) and did the lazy river in about an hour and a half. Only waiting in line for about 20 minutes one time. We left the waterpark area and after some first aid to my bleeding thumb (yes I went to a waterpark with my sliced off thumb) we had a nice relaxing lunch. We then spent the afternoon taking in the various shows featured below.

Can't recall the name of this show, but it was something corny about following your dreams. I'm betting all those Shamus are dreaming about the ocean. As fascinated as I was with the performance and these beautiful creatures, I couldn't help but feel sorry for them stuck in captivity. I will admit though that there is CLEARLY some sort of bond between the whales and their trainers. I can't explain it, you just have to see it to understand.

Here we have the show with the sea lions, an otter, and a walrus. It was a comedy. Pretty cute.

We ended with a show featuring the smaller whales and dolphins. This show also had a lot of acrobatics in it. Notice the swing thing that they launched people off of into the water. Pretty cool stuff. (top middle, right middle, and bottom middle pictures)

BTW, I must say that I love my camera. We were not nearly as close as these pictures make it seem, but modern technology is amazing!

For you old timers, BTW= By The Way... LOVE YOU!

DISCLAIMER: The previous posts about our trip home in June make it seem like we didn't see my family at all, but we did. We had a lovely dinner celebrating my mom and Stephen's birthdays as well as an early Father's day followed by an evening of NERTS (card game) with my family that Friday night, but when there aren't any little people around the camera tends to stay in its bag. I also assume that y'all prefer seeing pictures. I know I do anyways.

PS: You can click on the collages to see them much larger.

Update on the thumb...

After consulting with Dr. Westmoreland about my thumb, I "debrided" it which is a fancy way of saying I got all the scab, crust, dried blood, etc. off of it. This turned out to be a process that took 3-4 days of soaking in vinegar water and wiping at it with gauze. Yes there was lots of pain involved there at the end. I must say though, the result is quite nice. I think my thumb looks a lot better. Initially it was quite sore for a day or two after, but today it felt much better. I continue to soak it each day and wipe away any additional ick that forms there to keep it CLEAN, MOIST, and COVERED per doctor's orders. This event has reminded me of another reason I am ready to move back home: Doctors that you know as people are way easier to trust. As a person who has at least vaguely known most of her doctors outside of the office, going solely on a stranger's instructions about my thumb was very difficult. I'm glad I finally swallowed my pride and talked to Dr. Westmoreland...especially since he had different instructions than the CareNow doctors.

Sorry the picture is blurry. I took it on my phone.

So maybe its not the beach, but...

it's still pretty cool. Relaxing atop the Watermark Hotel, downtown San Antonio, TX, where we celebrating our 2nd anniversary a little bit early. More to come...

The Nieces and Nephews

An attempt at a picture with Kaylea and Clara Beth. I think we were too big for that chair!

Sweet Kaylea and me. I think holding either Kaylea or Andrew monopolized all of my time this trip!

We didn't manage to wrangle Matthew and Andrew for a group shot! Matthew was too busy with train sets, cars, and trucks for pictures!

Happy Birthday Nana!

More pictures from Nana's birthday celebration. In the center are Kaylea and Andrew, the newest additions to the family. Clockwise from the top left are: Jason, Michael, and Todd--all three sporting the shaved look! Michael supervising the coloring with Clara Beth and Matthew. The bottom right, Nana gets ready to blow out her candles with the help of the two oldest grandchildren, but they end up having to enlist the help of Todd and Jason (bottom left). Last but not least is a picture of Matthew smiling for the camera...a rare find!

He's Going to be a GREAT Dad Someday!

In the middle of June, we went home to visit both families. Luckily, it was Mrs. Betty's birthday, so we got to see all Michael's family for her birthday party! These are some pics of Michael playing with Matthew and Clara Beth in the backyard. They are blowing bubbles. I can't wait to watch him play with our own...eventually!

Rangers Game and Casting Crowns

Casting Crowns played a free concert before a Rangers game a while back--at least it was free to those who had tickets for the game. We decided that would be a fun compromise--I get to hear the concert, Michael gets to watch a baseball game. Unfortunately, we didn't get into the park until well after the concert started...

Unhappy Mary Beth because it is so stinkin' HOT here!

Mary Beth pretending to be happy for the camera. :)

Mary Beth's view of Casting Crowns once she got into the Ball Park.

Turns out, instead of listening to Casting Crowns, Kristy and I decided to discuss the deficiencies of the public school system. (Yes its bad in EVERY state apparently...) Once we got into the stadium and to our seats, the sun began to set and the heat relented a bit. Enough for me to tolerate the game at least. :) Michael had a good time I think!

In other news...

We got a new bed! I have been having body aches and pains for a while now, so we decided maybe an update on the bed would help. We set out Memorial Day weekend (wow am I behind on the blogging!) to check out prices and learn a little about bed shopping and ended up with this lovely matress set by the end of the day. We got it at half price...how can you say no to half price?

Warning: The following is not for the faint at heart!

Being the clumsy person that I am, I sliced the side of my thumb off two weeks ago while I was slicing potatoes for dinner. Oh yeah, I was watching High School Musical as well. Silly me. We had to go to a CareNow because we couldn't stop the bleeding. The nice doctor there cauterized it to stop the bleeding (yes that means burnt it.) after giving me three fabulous shots of whatever it is that numbs you up. Since then, I've had very little feeling in my thumb at all. I guess that's good. They say the nerves will grow back. For now, I'm just glad it doesn't hurt. Anyways, I keep it wrapped up in public with this nice bright blue stuff. It really sets off my outfits. Very trendy. Whatever it takes to keep the germs away. At home, I either leave it open or just have a band-aid on it to keep the medicine in place. Anyways, the doctor says within a year, you shouldn't be able to tell anything happened. I don't know exactly if I believe her. We'll see...