Love-the memory

Did you know that this is the same calendar year as the year 1993? And the year 2004?

I know this because those are special years in my life. 2004 was the year Anna was born.

And 1993? Well that is the year I got engaged and married.

Let me take you back.

February 13, 1993 Stephen is home from college and we are going on a date. He asked me to make reservations at Tommy's Seafood (thank you FB friends for reminding of the name of the restaurant. We both felt pretty dumb!) I did. I got a manicure and wore my favorite black dress that my friend Annie had made me. The jacket was a little low cut. And the skirt? Well, it was pretty mini. He and I both loved that outfit.

We headed into the restaurant only to find out that they had no record of our reservation. No big deal, they made room for us. Stephen had my Bible in his hand, I didn't exactly understand but who was I to question?

Sometime during the dinner, (neither of us can remember when it happened? Was it before dinner, after, during, we don't know. How lame are we?) he gave me my Bible and in it he had written:

Julie,
We counted it joyful when we faced trials. We have learned patience through the testing of our faith. Now let us be mature and complete. May we never forget what got us here so that we will not lack anything. beginning with your answer to the question, Will you marry me.

I cried. I said yes. And the couple sitting next to us congratulated us. It was sweet and tender and ABOUT TIME!! No, just joking, it was the right time. Not to late, not to soon.

My life verse is James 1:2 Count it all joy. Stephen knew this and proposed using the verses from that chapter. We had them read at our wedding.

We then went to my house, his house, my aunts house, his aunts house, and showed off my ring, and well, just talked about us. It was a great night.

The next day was Sunday. Our pastor announced from the pulpit that we were getting married. I like to think the congregation clapped but I don't know that for sure. But I remember it that way in my head!

We took a walk after lunch that day and decided on a wedding date. 6 months from that very day. August 14, 1993.

Then he left for school, I cried and got a fever blister. It was ugly and I made sure to get some medicine to prevent that from happening again over the next 6 months!

We still try to celebrate Valentines Day big. We used to go away for the weekend. Now, we just get a babysitter and eat somewhere where we can spend a lot of money on good food. This year, Samuel was our babysitter. It was strange, but it felt good to leave our oldest child to watch our 3 younger children while we went and celebrated the weekend that meant so much to us.

Happy Valentine's Day to you!