Happy 5 Year Anniversary...

My darling Nate....

I don't remember the first time I saw you. I just remember that Mike came back to school, and that you had come back with him. I remember I had a photo assignment to shoot some of the back to school events and the soccer game. I remember walking up to 3 adults and a child, and I leaned over to take a picture of a beautiful little girl in the sun..... Your leg is in the background, and I had NO idea at the time that little girl would some day be my flower girl, someday be my family.

I remember how you and Mike started joining us at our lunch and dinner table, and sitting with us in Chapel. I remember once walking with you to lunch from chapel, and we talked about something mundane. You were older than me by 3 years... you weren't even a possibility. I remember seeing your smile for the first time. You had just cracked a joke and had gotten up to leave from the table, and your face lit up, and I remember thinking, "wow, his smile is beautiful...."

And then it started like this....

I was driving past the Missions building in my black camaro. You were coming out of the Missions building, and I was making a quick stop in the finance building right next door. As I was getting back in my car, you walked over, stuck your head in my car, and looked everywhere BUT me. I thought I was cool. I thought you were checking out my car. You asked me to come to the park with you and your niece later on in the week. I said yes.

Later I foundout that you HATE camaro's, you are a Mustang Man, and that you didn't look at me b/c you were nervous.

I remember being really nervous before the first few of our early dates. But as soon as you came, I was comfortable, and we had fun. At the park we talked about our families, how we were raised. What we wanted to do with our lives. I watched you non-chalantly change Lauren's diaper, like it was nothing....

I found out later that you asked around about me... making sure you knew first what my Major was before asking meout. You wanted to make sure I wasn't going into the Missions Field, b/c you knew you weren't called there. There were even guys coming up to you to ask about me, but you smoothly deflected them....

Then you asked me out on a real date, dinner and a movie. You picked me up, sporting a hair cut. The only haircut you have ever paid for,until very recently. We went to Fatz Cafe. When we finished we went out to the parking lot, and your car wouldn't start. Turns out it needed a new Alternator, and you changed it right then and there. I knew I had just met someone very special, a renaissance Man, someone who fit my bill. The car was fixed, and we went and watched Double Jeopardy with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd.

We developed our relationship through walks around school and simple dates with coffee. And even a night playing in the mud with Mike and Steph.

Fall Break came, and I was taking a long weekend Missions Trip to Philadelphia. You came to see me off, and as I was getting in the van you whispered in my ear~

"I love you"

It was the first time I had ever heard those words, like honey to my soul. I got on the van, and just giggled with my girlfriends for hours!

When we came back, I got nervous about a girl who was hanging around you too much. Waiting for you to finish work, and coming into dinner with you. Walking you to a couple of your classes. Nope, I didn't like that at all. You calmed my fears, by telling me one night... "where is she right now? Now... where am I? Here with you, where I want to be."

We didn't even have a first kiss for the first couple of months. You, Mike, Melissa, and I had gone hiking on a part of the nearby Appalachian Trail. That night as we looked at the stars, you gave me such a tender kiss... and then a second, a third. It was so charming, so captivating.

We still had our walks.

One night we had just gone to dinner, and we were sitting on a blanket at Broken Bridges. I finally said those words myself, the words I spoke the first time to anyone...

"Nate, I love you"

Your face lit up, and you kissed me ferociously.

We knew we were getting married to each other by Christmas.

Less than a year later, we were back on Broken Bridges, haven just eaten at Fatz Cafe again. The moon was huge over the water. You slipped a ring on my finger, and whispered how you were so happy that I was going to be your wife. Its something I still joke about today... that you never asked me.. you just assumed.

Our engagement was 9 months long, and we got married on May 26, 2001. My dad officiated. I walked down the isle, suddenly shy to look at you, I looked everywhere else. You had eyes only for me. As soon as we stood nest to each other, you clasped my hand and rubbed it gently.

We swore Forever.

We Promised Love and Family.

We became One in His eyes and our Family's eyes.

It was a simple wedding, but it was one I loved, and worked hard to pull off. It rained so hard that day. Good luck, some people say. We walked in with a Harpist playing, a surprise from my dad. To our embarrassment, she played "As we Make Love tonight" We were embarrassed b/c we had remained chaste thus far, and now we were aware of what was coming. Our reception was fun! We had our favorite meal served to everyone... Roast beef, red potatoes, green beans almondine. We had Carrot Cake as our wedding cake.

I tossed my bouquet, and we got in the car and drove 6 hours to our honeymoon house in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. That week was one of the best in my life... beach, seafood, shopping, fun!

Five years later, here we are. We have a family. You gave me the best part of you, and together we made Seth, my most precious gift. We have had quite a 5 years haven't we? Fireworks and tenderness. You chose a difficult woman (at times) but, boy, do you stick with her. You often apologize first, and you truly mean it. You selflessly rub my back a few nights a week, for an hour at a time. You cook food for me, and help me clean, and you get up and run to the store in the middle of the night, if I need you to. This year was a difficult one, adjusting to ministry and to having a baby.

We still have some issues. But that's OK. We have the rest of our lives to figure them out.

Nate, I love you, I cherish you, I adore you. Happy 5 years Nate. And here's to 65 more!

Yours~

TigerLily