Wow it has been 5 years. I can't believe it.. Five years since Eric and I said "I do". I thought since it was our anniversary I would post a blog about "our story". Granted this is just my side of "our story", but my husband doesnt have a blog so my side is all you get.. He has told his version from the pulpit at times. Now I finally get my side out there haha...
Eric and I kinda met on my 25th birthday. I met my friend Shauna for dinner at Chilies and she was eating with friends and I joined them. Eric never talked to me once and I didnt talk to him either. Fast Fwd a few months later...
I went to Chillies with a bunch of people from a bible study I was attending.. Most of the people I didnt know. There was probably a table of 20- 30 people. We were all there for a while.. My back was to the walkway. I was talking with someone (dont remember who) when I felt a presence come in the room. I turned around and looked and saw Eric. I felt like I heard the Lord tell me (in a still small voice) that "there is the man I have for you. He is the one you will marry". I thought wow I am really losing it.. Then I saw he sat at our table. So I asked Shauna who he was.. She said oh that is Eric isnt he cute...?? I said yes he is.. and we never really talked about it again.. I remember thinking man Jess you are becoming flaky.
I had heard of people saying they heard the Lord tell them things like that, and I always thought ya right.. I didnt really believed it happened that way. Then On Sunday after church Shauna and I met people for lunch and we got their last.. There were two sets open. Once was next to Eric.. I sat there and thought ok I know I am wrong about what I heard but I will talk to him and see.. Well I tried to talk to Eric and He basically Ignored me. Would not look at me when he talked only the TV. Then I started talked about the show 24 and he really liked the show so he started to engage a little in conversation but still kinda rude.. 24 was about to have its season opener, and everyone at the table started talking about it.. So I invited everyone to my house to watch it.. Hoping Eric would come of course. He didnt however about 30 other people came. haha
I left that lunch thinking wow I really missed it... Lord he is rude and a jerk and wont even talk to me.. When I was at Lee I didnt approach a guy.. They always approached me. and usually they were really nice and talkative.. So I just thought wow he is a jerk haha... Well I later found out he was kinda in a relationship. (something I did not know) So in the back of my mind I thought well at least I know he is loyal to who he is seeing..
Well a few months go by and I started seeing someone and didnt really give Eric much of a thought after that. I thought well I missed it for sure and the Lord didnt tell me anything...
The relationship I was in ended and I was at dinner with a friend. She had mentioned Eric. In that conversation it came up that he was no longer in a relationship either.. I remember feeling excited. I thought to myself again wow Jess stop it. You didnt hear from the Lord.. He isnt the one for you and you arent going to marry him..
The very next day I was on myspace. Remember my space? Well I was on my friends myspace leaving a wall post and saw a top friend.. It was Eric.. I wasnt sure if I should friend request him.. WE had only met 3 times, and he was rude to me every time...
In the end I did friend request him. We then started talking on IM.. While we were talking he said you know I should have come to watch 24 that one night because I have missed the whole season.. Then I said well my aunt has them all saved if you want to catch up I am sure she will let us use her house. (thanks aunt pam) I went to my aunts house a few mins early and she was so nice she had drinks on the table and snacks and then Left. She left and I thought wow this is so nice of her but the spread on the table is a little much. I was starting to put it all away when the door bell rang. He was early so I couldnt put it up... Oh well..
We watched some 24 and had Pizza that night and great conversation. I thought well he isnt a jerk anymore. lol.
We met a few times a week to watch 24 (my poor aunt) and then one night he took out to dinner. It was the best 1st date I have ever been on.. We had watched all there was to watch of 24 and we had been going on to eat most nights for a break. All these nights felt like dates however I still felt like oh man 24 is almost over we wont have a "reason" to see each other anymore.. However on the last night of 24 Eric made plans to do something the next night or two.. From there we were inseparable..
We were together a lot. We saw each other for about a month a few times a week. Then we made it official. haha We Dated for 5 months. We had alot of fun dating. However we didnt date long.. We decided when you know you know so why wait. He asked me to marry him in September and I said Yes...as if you didnt know.. When we were engaged We were talking about how we knew we were the ones for each other.. I told the story about how he walked in Chilies blah blah.. However I have to admit I doubted it more then a time or two before we started dating (never after).
He shared a time months before we met. He was praying and telling the Lord he needed a wife. He said he felt like the Lord just said a name to him. He said the Lord just said to him Jessica... He thought that was weird... but then the Lord gave him another name Thomas.. I said why didnt you tell me this before.. He said in case I was wrong... I Love how the Lord spoke to us both at different times before we were even together..
How did my parents do with this you ask... Well My mom was very excited. I had a part at her house one night and she came in and saw eric and I sitting and talking and later told me Jessica I saw you two and I just believe you were made for each other.
My dad well .. you know that saying you worry about her meeting the wrong guy and then you worry about her meeting the right guy.. It was a little of that.. He was scared of losing his daughter.. He did however confess to me at the time he believed he was the right one. My parents couldnt love Eric anymore if he was their own son. Eric loves them as well..
We were looking for wedding dates. We didnt want a long engagement we wanted to get married pretty soon.. I wanted to get married in February. I wanted to get married on Valentines day weekend. or at least in that month.. The Reception hall had that date open however the flowers were double the price in the month February because of the holiday.. I also wanted red roses and those were the highest priced for the month.. This lead me to go back to the reception hall and see what dates they had open.
Well they had Jan 20th open and a day in Mid march open... So I went to dinner that night with Eric and told Eric the options. I let him know Feb was out and here are the choices what do you want to do.. He didnt hesitate he said well then Jan 20th.. I said really? He said yes why wait till march lets just do it in Jan.. If that is the date they have then let's do that.. After making sure it was also a good time for his family we decided Jan 20th was our wedding date..
My mom and I planned a wedding in 4 months. It was a little more then a year after we kinda sorta met for the first time. It was 8 or 9 months From our first episode of 24 we watched together.
PLanning our wedding was easy ( i saw that because mom did most of it). I have heard that this can be a stressful time in a couples life.. many arguments can arise. We didnt have one.. We never argue.. Never really did then and dont really do it now.
Our wedding day came and it was perfect! I was so excited and so calm at the same time.. Eric said he was the same way. We couldnt wait to be married.. Yes we had a awesome wedding and rehearsal dinner thanks to our families. However we didnt concentrate on the wedding.. we focused on the marriage. We wanted a great marriage on firm foundation.
I loved our wedding.. I have many pictures of it on my facebook page.. You can check them out. I love to look at our wedding book.. I love to remember the wonderful day it was. Even more then that I LOVE being married to my best friend.. I Love the relationship we have.. I love the Life we have build thus far.
Every year as our anniversary comes we celebrate and reflect our wedding day but all the years in between as well..
I am so thankful the Lord blessed me with such an awesome husband that loves me so deeply and loves our family. He loves the Lord with all his heart and leads our family as an awesome example of a godly man/husband/father/pastor.
