Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Our Love Story (Her Story)

I feel like I am so out of touch with all of you. I haven't had time to sit down and catch up on all your blogs. I will have to sit up really late a couple of nights this week to visit. Please don't give up on me...I'm thinking of you...there's just not enough time in a day and my blog list is growing!

Thank you all so much for the comments on Jason's story. Today, I will share with you my side of the story. :) (All of these pictures were taken after we were married at different points...we didn't have a camera while we were dating..I guess).
The only one we could find was the picture from my prom (on Jason's post).




Our Love Story (Her Story) - By Tammy

I had also dated some guys within our church, but never felt any of those were the one for me. I have to say that I do have a quality that can serve me well or not-so-well and that is a streak of stubborness. In this case, I guess you could say it served me well. After dating these others, I had set my standards of dating and finding "the one" high. My mom was praying with me and I wasn't settling for any less! I was looking for a sweet, genuine, treat-me-like-a-queen, Godly kind of guy (and if the Lord was willing...it would be really nice if he was really cute too). He had to click with my family too!

I didn't have any idea that anyone was playing matchmaker with us. Nobody clued me in, so I never even knew (at the time) about Jason's first visit to our church. I don't remember seeing him then. And at this point, let me explain about the guy he saw beside me at church on that first visit. We used to date, but didn't anymore. I had been trying to make it clear that we were only friends. Since I was the church pianist, I would lay my Bible and purse in a pew...then go to the piano. Everytime, he would proceed to go sit beside my stuff. That left me with two options...either pick up my stuff and move it and myself to another pew (which I felt was rude and non-Christian-like) or just sit down and hope for the best. I never wanted to hurt his feelings, so I would sit down and move a "safe distance" over (you know to give him the message) and he would inevitably do the whole-stretch-his-arm-across-the-pew-thing. To anyone behind, I'm sure it appeared we were together with his arm on the pew behind me. That is what Jason saw and these ladies knew the whole truth! :)



The second time he visited I remember well. Yes, I was in a blue terrycloth dress and I was very red! lol! My best friend and I had laid out in the sun for 3 hours and we both looked like lobsters! I even had water blisters on my face! Jason and I were introduced and I thought immediately that he was such a sweet, gentleman-like, confident guy (and he was handsome too). I loved that he was taller than me too! (I'm 5'7" and I always wanted a guy to be a good bit taller than me...he's 5'11"). We talked awhile there at church, then he came over to our house after church. It was very common for us to have folks over after a service for fellowship and food. We would all sit around playing music, singing, and talking...adults, youth and kids alike. He fit right in immediately! He sat beside me on the piano bench and sang right along. I remember playing "Love Me Tender" at some point and he and I singing it (that was a little awkward) but I really felt so comfortable with him. I learned later he felt the same way and pretty much knew that was "it" for him and that he thought I had the longest toes! Yes it's true! lol! He said they wrapped around the piano pedal! (He's always teased me about that).


Later that week, he invited me to go skating with his youth group from church. He had a wreck on the way and was late getting there (everyone was ok). He had to go back and get his dad's truck. Now the thing about that was that it was just the one seat and it was Jason, me, his sister (Holly) and her boyfriend....four of us in that truck. So I was sitting pretty close and I wasn't sure how comfortable I was with that. Then I remember on the way home, we dropped off Holly and her boyfriend and my mind was racing as what to do...Do I move over (Then he'll think I don't like him) OR Do I stay here which was really close because we were packed like sardines in there (It seemed way "too forward" for me). So I decided to scoot over just a bit and not all the way. I think in the end it was the wise choice as he really respected that decision. :)

I knew I really liked this guy. We could talk, and talk, and talk...and our values were exactly alike. We were both looking for the same qualities in a mate. He opened the door for me and was so sweet (and still does the same to this day..ALWAYS). I can't honestly say that I knew at that moment he was "the one" because I had to see if he was as genuine as he seemed.


After two weeks, I knew Jason was the guy I'd marry. I never doubted that he was "it" for me, from that point. God had sent me the one he created for me! We dated for almost 2 years. Jason told you about the engagement, so I won't go through that again. My family loved him! My brother loved him. He said he was a nice change to some of the other guys because he treated him so well. It was very important to me that my family loved him too!



I dreamed of a December wedding, but in the end, it just seemed too far away! So, we moved it up to July. We were married at 8:00 in the evening on July 31, 1982, in the church that we met. It was a simple wedding and I do remember my daddy asking me right before he walked me down the aisle, "Are you sure? It doesn't matter how much money we've spent...we can stop this right now." I couldn't have been more sure about anything.



We will be married 27 years in July and I can honestly say that I love this man more today than on our wedding day. I never thought that was possible, but it's true. He's always treated me so well and loved me unconditionally. I look forward to writing the rest of the chapters of Our Love Story. And....I will always be grateful for two ladies that knew we were right for each other and helping it along.... :)



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In a post later this week, I plan to answer some homeschooling questions asked on the comments of Homeschool Open House. I was going to answer them privately, but I thought there might be others out there wondering about some of these same things. So stay tuned! And thank you for all your visits and comments! I enjoy them all so much!

24 comments:

Simply Shelley said...

Beautiful story,I would say a match made in heaven. I loved seeing all the pictures. Thanks for sharing....

Blessings,Shelley

Karen said...

This is so sweet. I have really enjoyed reading about how you met each other, and all of your pictures. Maybe I will post our ~love story~ one day...we were introduced to each other by my great-aunt. She introduced us as "Isaac and Rebekah"--you know, like in the Bible! That's how sure she was that we would hit it off...and she was right. We've been married 20 years this year. Thanks for sharing your story. Have a great day!
Karen

•♦•©The Olde Weeping Cedar •♦• said...

Beautiful story, Tammy...you are truely blessed to have found such a wonderful man-and ya know it was "meant to be" when you can fall in love over and over again...and love someone even more than ya thought possible!
thanks for sharing!

have a wonderful day
hugs~Kath

Susan said...

Loved reading your side of the story. Let me assure you, after being married 50 years, love does GROW with time. We are more in love today than ever. It just gets better and better!!
Susan

Never So Simple said...

Oh I love it! This is such a beautiful story. I had to laugh people have often made fun of my toes also calling them fingers because they are so long.

I did receive your email and sent you a rather lengthy one last night. :) I hope you got it.

I finally could comment on Joy's blog. It wouldn't let me her last few posts.

Thanks again for sharing such your wonderful love story with us.

Donna

Lois Christensen said...

Was looking forward to reading your story! Very nice. Loved the pictures!

Sharon said...

What a beautiful story.
I do agree that love grows with time.
I have been married to my sweet hubby for 45 yrs. I love him more each day, God bless me too.
God bless you both.

Anonymous said...

OK you two are just too darn cute!! How wonderful for you both and your families!!

And the pics!!....how I can relate because we have some pics too that are just too funny with the 80's and 90's styles!! You should see my engagement pic!! Ha, the "big" hair and my husband's weird 90's haircut!! Some day, we should do a post on the CS board...that would be a hoot!!

Anyway, thanks for sharing your love story, it is a very nice story!!

Jill from NY

Michele said...

Oh Tammy ~ what a beautiful love story. You two are made for each other...there's not too many people like that around these days!

Thanks for sharing your stories!

Hugz,
Michele

Janene said...

Tammy~
The two of you are so adorable together!
You husband is such a hottie! Is it okay to say that?
You are beautiful too! I didn't think it appropriate to call you a hottie...with me being a girl and all! LOL
Those two stories are so wonderful! I am so glad that you shared them with us!

Mandy said...

Tammy, I enjoyed reading both sides of the story! We've been married 13 years and seeing you say you are even more in love now is such an inspiration.

We were married when I was 19 so I have grown up a lot since then. With the Lord at the center of our relationship, I understand more and more each day what true love is . . . and isn't!

Mandy

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh what a fabulous love story, Tammy. I must confess that my first marriage was not a marriage made in heaven. We struggled from the beginning and never worked at that marriage. However, we have 3 wonderful sons from that 20 yrs.

My marriage to George IS a marriage made in heaven. I cannot begin to tell you the difference in my two marriages. This one is like yours..Our love just grows and grows. AND--we have God at the center of our lives. God truly put us together--and I have never known love like I do now.

Thanks be to God that you made the right decision the first time. Thanks for sharing.

Hugs,
Betsy

Susan said...

Ya'll are such a cute couple. I enjoyed both of your stories. Thanks for sharing them. Have a good evening!

Joy ~ Doodlebug ~ said...

Hi,

Yep, true love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So sweet! Love ya!

Love, Joy =D

Colleen/And Baby Makes Five said...

You guys are still just the cutest couple, Tammy! I so enjoyed reading BOTH sides of the story. May there be many more chapters to come...

Shelley said...

Such a nice love story to hear! And what an example to set for your children! Picking the right person, finding the right qualities, having values and loving each other more as the years go on.

Angie said...

Oh, Tammy..I loved reading your story..both HIS and HER versions...but what I love even more is one of your last lines...I love him even more than the day I married him....I feel the same way about my husband..so I know EXACTLY what you mean....thank you for sharing this with us!

Happily Ever After said...

Hi Tammy,

Thanks so much for sharing your stories. I thoroughly enjoyed reading them. I too am blessed with what I consider a marriage made in heaven. God truly answered my prayers and sent me the man of my dreams. Though both of us had previous marriages that we wish we could forget, God truly blessed us this time. There is nothing like having someone that you love and they love you unconditionally. The pics were great. The dresses brought back a lot of memories. I'd almost forgot about the styles. Thanks for sharing a part of your life that is so special.

Stay happy....Gigi

Tammy said...

Tammy...oh, I almost have tears in my eyes. When I first came over here and saw that your husband had his side of the story first, I scrolled down to read that, and then read this one...I absolutely loved reading about your love story from both your perspectives!

Hearing how you played the piano, it reminded me of the small church I attended when I was a teen...one of my dearest friends just two yrs older than me played for the church. And she ended up getting married young as well at age 20 and I was one of her bridesmaids in 1983. :)

I love you portrayed your courtship with such purity and sweetness...and loved all of the photos!
Wow, you two seemed so young, but then when you show yourself now, you really haven't changed a bit! :)

As far as getting behind in blogging and reading other posts, I am in the same boat right now...that's why I had to catch up with you tonight! But when you can, come on over because I just posted some old teen and childhood pictures...so amazing to look back!
Hugs,
~Tammy (the one who got married a bit later than you did!) ;)

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

Aww you really are meant for each other. Such a sweet and endearing and enduring love story! I wish you 27 more wonderful years!!

Something Nice and Pretty said...

Such a sweet story...I finally found that kind of love late in life:)

Loved seeing all the pics of both of you...beautiful wedding photo too:)
Rondell

Blessed Beyond said...

I loved reading both sides of the story! That was really sweet! What a true inspiration yall are! May there be many more chapters. I loved all the pictures. God Bless yall!
Hugs and Blessings,

Bethel said...

LOVED your love story, both parts! So sweet!

Zaroga said...

A wonderful love story, Tammy. I enjoyed reading both sides.