The Story of Us

Being Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be nice to enlighten readers on the story of how I met my Prince.  I would also love to learn about how you and yours met as well if you care to link up below.

Once upon a time, in a land far away…

If I were creative enough, I could write our story in this manner, but I’m not.  So I will tell you in my own words how I met my husband.

Todd (my Prince) and I met (online) in December of 2005 through a website by the name of plentyoffish. Cheesy, right?  It doesn’t matter. This is our story.

I was the one who wrote to Todd, and he did not respond back in a timely manner.  So what did I do? I messaged him again!  Word on the street is that he thought I was a bit crazy.  Well, I was (and still am a bit nutty!)

Once he finally wrote back, we found that we had a lot in common.  We both were extremely family oriented, we had the same mannerisms, he was just as corny as I was (maybe a little more,) he got my sarcastic humor, we both used peroxide as mouthwash, and we both drove the same make and model vehicle.  You know, the important stuff! *grin* Late January 2006, we met face-to-face.

After 6 months of dating, Todd proposed in a gorgeous suite overlooking Niagara Falls.  Shortly after the proposal, fireworks went off…literally.  Niagara Falls has a fireworks display on the weekends in the summer.  We walked outside and saw the great show overlooking the Falls. 

Ten months later, we were married in a private ceremony with immediate family only at a gorgeous B&B in Amish Country before going to Alaska for our honeymoon.

This may sound like everything was all roses (I prefer lilacs,) but what the fairytales don’t tell you is about how difficult it can be for two completely different people to come together as one.  The first three and a half years of our marriage were tough.  I’m not talking about spats over who left the kitchen cupboards open or the toilet seat being left up.  I’m talking really hardcore marital issues in which we talked about the “D” word.  With some help of a counselor, we were able to work through our differences, and we are on the road to our 5 year wedding anniversary in almost 3 months!  I have been reading marriage books over the past 4 months, and one question from The Five Love Languages was, “If only people ______, there would be less divorce.”  My answer was (and still is) tried!  It is so easy to call it quits when things get tough, but it is so much more difficult to actually do something about it and try to make the marriage better. 

I think about all that I would have missed out on if we called it quits a year and a half ago.  Having someone there to take care of our pot bellied pig when he was sick, and someone to cry with when Squiggy passed away three weeks later. The time and energy Todd put into trying to nurse Squiggy back to health warms my heart just thinking about it.  We would have missed out on some pretty awesome trips to Warren Dunes State Park (MI,) Miami, Presque Isle (PA,) Orlando and going to the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.  We would have missed raising a puppy and chickens together!  We wouldn’t have had the experience of nearly being hit by fireworks on the 4^th of July and camping in the back of the Rondo together.  I would have had to have gone to the hospital by myself when my niece was really sick and when my father had medical issues.  These are just a few moments that popped into my head – there are hundreds more.

But in the end, I have realized that I am one lucky ogre (I {heart} Princess Fiona) to have a Prince that goes along with my crazy ideas, treats me well, is hard working, extremely loving, and family oriented.  As the saying goes, “The worst days with you are better than the best days without you.” 

Here’s to a wonderful Valentine’s Day with lots of love and happiness!

This post is linked up with MrstoMama.