This will be my first blog entry, because it is one of the most significant things that has happened in my life. I hope you all enjoy this blog and many others. I apologize now, because I tend to be a very long-winded, detailed person... So continue on, if you wish...
Back in 2005, I was dating a guy... Things were okay at the time, but we eventually broke up after a little over a year, but during that time, I met Wes (my husband)... He was in a wheelchair due to a SCI (spinal cord injury) that he got while home on leave (He is a medically retired Marine due to his motorcycle accident. He saw me and saw that I had a tag on the back of my wheelchair that said "Hot Wheels". He called me over and we chatted about different things about being in wheelchairs... He had a girlfriend (Andrea) & I had a boyfriend (Mitch), so after awhile of talking, we parted ways... We never exchanged numbers, or any contact info. I thought I'd never see him again.
Two years later, I had gotten 3 new roommates. One of the roommates was named Kelli. Kelli was telling me she had a friend who was her sister's ex boyfriend that is also in a wheelchair. He was moving to California in about 4 days, so he was going to stop by and say goodbye before he moved away. When he shows up, it's Wes! I didn't immediately remember him, but we hit it off, and about 2 days later, we were talking and I realized it was the same guy I had met in 2005! He asked me out on a date during this time, and I accepted. I drove to his place and he took me to The Cheesecake Factory. It was the best date of my life, but as nice as it was, I wasn't expecting anything out of it, because he was moving. What was the point? Well, we spent as much time together during his time left in TN. After our date, I even went back to his place and I helped him pack. We spent a day or 2 together after that and then he moved... I thought, "Well, that was nice, but there is no way anything will really come of it", although I really liked him. The day he was moving, we said goodbye and within the day of or day after, I received some beautiful flowers and a bear. I was hooked! He was so romantic, which is something I had never truly had before him... But even still, I thought... "Well that was sweet!"... but I still wasn't sure he would continue to stay in contact with me.. About 2-3 weeks later, he tells me I should come visit him in California. Sends me money and says "Buy a plane ticket and nice dress. You're coming to see me in California"... So I had to explain to everyone around me... "Yeah, you know the guy I hung out with for 4 days??? I'm going 2,000 miles away to spend my Fall Break from school with him." Everyone thought I was crazy, but I knew if I didn't go, I would never know what might have been.... He even went as far as to write my mom a letter telling her that his intentions with me were good and that he would take care of me. My mom kind of wasn't sure what to think, but she let me go. One of the best decisions of my life. We had an amazing time, and during that trip, he asked me to be his girlfriend, and I accepted on October 28, 2009. One of the best, most fun & romantic 5 days of my life.. I liked him A LOT at this point, but I was skeptical. I had my heart broken so many times, that I just wasn't sure if it could really last, but I knew I wanted to try. We made it work. After those 5 days, we spent a month apart, and then spent a month together, and split up my Christmas Break up between TN & CA... Another amazing trip... and during the time we were in TN, I don't exactly remember what he said, but I had this "Oh my God, I'm in love with this guy" after 2 months of being together, in the middle of a bookstore I start crying. I was so overwhelmed, I called my mom and she says "Well, why are you upset?" and I think I was just overcome by emotion. I eventually told him, but even still, I was scared.. but we were making our relationship work. During the time while we were in TN (at least I think it was this time).. My parents were meeting Wes for the first time, and I remember looking at my step-dad and saying "Well?" and I got a "thumbs up".. So I knew they approved. Our longest break without seeing each other was from Jan '07- Mar '07. He came out to be Best Man in his best friend (Ryan)'s wedding. At this point, even his best friend could just tell that Wes would end up moving back eventually after seeing us together. Then, after a few days together, he went back to California. I was at a crossroads, not sure what to do. Either: Enroll in summer school (which I DID not want to do), or try to get a job that would be enough to pay my rent (which was going to be hard to find in a short period of time). Wes then says "You should come to CA and work with me at the place I'm at doing office work." I didn't think there was ANY way my family would let me move.. After making him call my mom, and tell her what were thinking about doing, she AGREED! She said she know I'd be happier there with him than where I was at during that time, so I moved... 2,000 miles away from my whole life. Got out of my lease, put as much as I could without, in storage... He came up to help me and I did it! Another one of the best decisions I had ever made. Plus, I knew that if we could live together, then things were going well, and if they didn't, then it was a temporary thing and I had a backup plan and most of my stuff was still in TN, so I could always move back. It was literally the BEST summer of my life. I finally let go of all of the fears I had about the relationship working out, because it was. August of 2008, we moved back to TN together and got an apartment together in the city we are still currently living in. My birthday is at the end of August, and we invited Wes' dad (Paul) & step-mom (Caryn) for dinner at my parents' house for my birthday dinner, and I overheard Caryn and my mom (Valerie), talking about us and I heard Caryn say to my mom, "I think we're going to be in each others' lives for a long time." I'm not sure if they even would remember that conversation or if they knew I heard it, but it was amazing & reassuring to see that in the short time, that family & friends had seen us together, they knew we would last.
After a little over a year (and lots of waiting on my part, and lots of ring shopping together), he proposed on November 3, 2008. We were going on our weekly "date night"... and we were going ring shopping (again)... and I was just thinking "I wish he would just do it already". He tries to take me to Tiffany's (even though we had already been once) and it was closed... So he says, "Let's go to the bookstore before dinner..." (The same bookstore I had realized I was in love with him in). I grumbled and complained because I was hungry and grumpy, because we had already found a ring we both loved at Jared's... but I hesitantly followed him. All I wanted to do was EAT... He pulls me into a corner of the bookstore, gets out of his chair, gets on one knee and proposed, and of course... I ACCEPTED! He had even respected my wishes on how I wanted him to ask my parents and my grandfather's permission before he did it, and they absolutely agreed. Needless to say, that was the best trip to the bookstore ever! We have been happily together going on 6 years and married since November 28, 2009 (4 years, so far).
I can honestly say he makes me a better person, we balance each other out. Complete each other (as cliche as that sounds).. and I've been totally head-over-WHEELS in love with him ever since and our love grows stronger every day.
MORE TO COME ABOUT US, OUR LOVE & LIFE TOGETHER & OUR FUTURE LATER...
<3 Linds <3
