Can you believe it? A decade!! Rocky and I started officially dating on Valentine's Day and we got engaged two years later on Valentine's Day! It is a very important day, to say the least.
Our first date occurred earlier that week before Valentine's Day. The weekend prior to Valentine's Day we went rock climbing with some friends. I knew that this man was a special man after talking with him during the ride to and from our climbing spot.. and I wanted to get to know him better..A date was going to have to take place. ;-) Being the forward person that I am I asked him out. Yes, I asked him out. He said 'no' because he already had made other plans with some friends of ours. Okay, that won me over even more..I mean, some people might have changed their plans if something else came along..but not him. I admired that.
So, don't believe for a second that I gave up. Oh no no...I asked him if he'd like to come over for dinner at my apartment later that week. I had discovered that he had never tried cous-cous and well, I had to make that happen for him. I had also discovered through research that pumpkin seeds are good for the prevention of prostate cancer, so I had to share that bit of health news with him. Whoa, talk about jumping the gun a bit early, huh..already concerned about the health of his prostate. ;-) He laughed. Yes, I have always been a bit health nutty.
So, he said 'yes'.. YAY!!
The dinner was great, maybe not very filling, but great mainly because of my fabulous company. We had toasted pine nut cous-cous with salad, and of course some pumpkin seeds. He seemed to tolerate it well.
After we ate we were going to go play some roller hockey (Rocky was going to teach me how, as I had never played before). Unfortunately, it was raining so the game was cancelled. No worries...he brought the goals, sticks, and puck into my garage and he taught me how to play there. We talked and played, and talked and played some more. We were in the garage for hours. It was the best, most romantic date I had ever had!!
Let me share a bit of the first official-boyfriend-girlfriend date, and then the engagement in case you are unaware..
Let's go back to Valentine's Day 2001..I was working at the Village Market at SAU. Rocky went through my line (I have no clue what he was buying) and before he payed or after (can't recall) he pulled out of his coat pocket a rose, but the stem got caught in his jacket so when he pulled it out, all that was left was a beautiful rose and a stub of a stem. Oh, this was precious. So precious!! He also set out a CD of music for me that he put together...love songs and the such. I still listen to these songs to this day, and am brought back to those moments in memory.
So, this was when we became official...also the night of our first kiss, which (okay, prepare for too much information here) lasted for I'd say an hour. No joke. It was magical!
Now fast forward to Valentine's Day 2003...The night he popped the question!
We were going to go camping at Chilhowee State Park at the little spot where we had camped together for the first time ever (just the two of us). Now, it had been pouring rain for a long time and that night (it was a Friday) there was a flood warning issued for our area. I thought we might just bail on camping...you know, with flood warnings it just made sense. But, we went anyway since we would be hanging out in the back of Rocky's truck (he had a camper top on the back of it). And Rocky was persistent we go. ;-)
So, that is where it happened. He had it all set up..candles, toasted pine nut cous-cous, the works...it was beyond sweet. And then came the box..Let's back up for a moment...
Some time prior to this (some time during our two years of dating) I had heard about a couple who got engaged, but instead of giving an engagement ring, the man gave the woman a wooden chest for storing things of significance of their lives together. I thought this was an amazing idea. Rocky apprarently took note of this. ;-)
So, back to the engagement night in the truck while camping...
So, he pulls out a beautiful little cedar box he had made just for me. It had the initials in it, 'KBC'. I looked at the box and was a bit puzzled..I thought maybe he had forgetten that my initials were 'KYB'. Hmmm..surely not. ;-) He said that he was hoping those would be my initials. My new initials with my married name. I opened up the pretty box, and the amazing smell of the cedar was breathtaking. Inside the box was a rose, with a stubbed stem (awww..how cute!) as well as a ring box. He slipped the gorgeous ring on my finger and asked me to marry him. The sweetest moment. My heart melted. There I sat with this incredible man and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me...I couldn't believe it! Oh, and I said, 'yes!!'
Now...fast forward five more months ...July 6, 2003. The day we got married. (I wanted to get married on Valentine's Day, but couldn't stand the thought of waiting that long to get married to this man)
A beautiful day. A day unlike any other. I often think about that day and have been doing so much more so lately. I think about the look on his face as I walked down the isle. It was amazing!! I think about our special back breaking kiss (you had to be there)...let's just say that we put all other wedding kisses to shame. ;-) I love him more today than yesterday.
Our first date occurred earlier that week before Valentine's Day. The weekend prior to Valentine's Day we went rock climbing with some friends. I knew that this man was a special man after talking with him during the ride to and from our climbing spot.. and I wanted to get to know him better..A date was going to have to take place. ;-) Being the forward person that I am I asked him out. Yes, I asked him out. He said 'no' because he already had made other plans with some friends of ours. Okay, that won me over even more..I mean, some people might have changed their plans if something else came along..but not him. I admired that.
So, don't believe for a second that I gave up. Oh no no...I asked him if he'd like to come over for dinner at my apartment later that week. I had discovered that he had never tried cous-cous and well, I had to make that happen for him. I had also discovered through research that pumpkin seeds are good for the prevention of prostate cancer, so I had to share that bit of health news with him. Whoa, talk about jumping the gun a bit early, huh..already concerned about the health of his prostate. ;-) He laughed. Yes, I have always been a bit health nutty.
So, he said 'yes'.. YAY!!
The dinner was great, maybe not very filling, but great mainly because of my fabulous company. We had toasted pine nut cous-cous with salad, and of course some pumpkin seeds. He seemed to tolerate it well.
After we ate we were going to go play some roller hockey (Rocky was going to teach me how, as I had never played before). Unfortunately, it was raining so the game was cancelled. No worries...he brought the goals, sticks, and puck into my garage and he taught me how to play there. We talked and played, and talked and played some more. We were in the garage for hours. It was the best, most romantic date I had ever had!!
Let me share a bit of the first official-boyfriend-girlfriend date, and then the engagement in case you are unaware..
Let's go back to Valentine's Day 2001..I was working at the Village Market at SAU. Rocky went through my line (I have no clue what he was buying) and before he payed or after (can't recall) he pulled out of his coat pocket a rose, but the stem got caught in his jacket so when he pulled it out, all that was left was a beautiful rose and a stub of a stem. Oh, this was precious. So precious!! He also set out a CD of music for me that he put together...love songs and the such. I still listen to these songs to this day, and am brought back to those moments in memory.
So, this was when we became official...also the night of our first kiss, which (okay, prepare for too much information here) lasted for I'd say an hour. No joke. It was magical!
Now fast forward to Valentine's Day 2003...The night he popped the question!
We were going to go camping at Chilhowee State Park at the little spot where we had camped together for the first time ever (just the two of us). Now, it had been pouring rain for a long time and that night (it was a Friday) there was a flood warning issued for our area. I thought we might just bail on camping...you know, with flood warnings it just made sense. But, we went anyway since we would be hanging out in the back of Rocky's truck (he had a camper top on the back of it). And Rocky was persistent we go. ;-)
So, that is where it happened. He had it all set up..candles, toasted pine nut cous-cous, the works...it was beyond sweet. And then came the box..Let's back up for a moment...
Some time prior to this (some time during our two years of dating) I had heard about a couple who got engaged, but instead of giving an engagement ring, the man gave the woman a wooden chest for storing things of significance of their lives together. I thought this was an amazing idea. Rocky apprarently took note of this. ;-)
So, back to the engagement night in the truck while camping...
So, he pulls out a beautiful little cedar box he had made just for me. It had the initials in it, 'KBC'. I looked at the box and was a bit puzzled..I thought maybe he had forgetten that my initials were 'KYB'. Hmmm..surely not. ;-) He said that he was hoping those would be my initials. My new initials with my married name. I opened up the pretty box, and the amazing smell of the cedar was breathtaking. Inside the box was a rose, with a stubbed stem (awww..how cute!) as well as a ring box. He slipped the gorgeous ring on my finger and asked me to marry him. The sweetest moment. My heart melted. There I sat with this incredible man and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me...I couldn't believe it! Oh, and I said, 'yes!!'
Now...fast forward five more months ...July 6, 2003. The day we got married. (I wanted to get married on Valentine's Day, but couldn't stand the thought of waiting that long to get married to this man)
A beautiful day. A day unlike any other. I often think about that day and have been doing so much more so lately. I think about the look on his face as I walked down the isle. It was amazing!! I think about our special back breaking kiss (you had to be there)...let's just say that we put all other wedding kisses to shame. ;-) I love him more today than yesterday.
I am thrilled to be his wife and am so incredibly blessed to have him as my husband and best friend. I am a far cry away from deserving such a wonderful love...I am so thankful to God for His love for me that He would place this dear man in my life.
Now, understand our life together has not been perfectly smooth sailing..there have been some storms and rough waters, but what couple hasn't experienced those? Some may go through rougher storms, some not as rough, but I do believe all go through some..I mean, it only makes sense because Satan does not want the sacred institution of marriage to continue, let alone flourish and thrive. But, I believe with all of my heart that it is those storms that can make a couple stronger, if they let them and trust God to get them through TOGETHER.
Now, understand our life together has not been perfectly smooth sailing..there have been some storms and rough waters, but what couple hasn't experienced those? Some may go through rougher storms, some not as rough, but I do believe all go through some..I mean, it only makes sense because Satan does not want the sacred institution of marriage to continue, let alone flourish and thrive. But, I believe with all of my heart that it is those storms that can make a couple stronger, if they let them and trust God to get them through TOGETHER.
Rocky's heart is full of love and compassion for others. He is always thinking of other people's well being before his own. He is truly an inspiration to me. These past ten have been filled with love beyond belief. I can truly say that am a much better person for having known this man. Though, I am not perfect, (who is?) I can see how he has influenced and changed me for good. Just being around him and his loving heart is a blessing.
He is an incredible father and husband. Blessed I am.
He is an incredible father and husband. Blessed I am.
I look forward to many more decades with this man.
Happy Valentine's Day, Rocky.
Loved You Are!!!
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Now...for your listening pleasure this Valentine's Day...A couple sappy songs..the first one holds a special place in my heart as it was sung at our wedding. Thanks, Melissa. ;-)
Okay...I'm a hopeless romantic.
Here are some lovely love quotes..
Grow old with me! The best is yet to be. ~Robert Browning
Who, being loved, is poor? ~Oscar Wilde
I love thee - I love thee,
'Tis all that I can say
It is my vision in the night,
My dreaming in the day.
~Thomas Hood
A man is not where he lives, but where he loves. ~Latin Proverb
A baby is born with a need to be loved - and never outgrows it. ~Frank A. Clark
The most beautiful view is the one I share with you. ~Author Unknown
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!
May it be filled with love, kisses, and hugs.
Love, Kelly
