Six Years

I wish I could be better at Blogging. I always think of so many things I want to tell you all but don't sit down to write them. I started trying to write a post for our anniversary (which was June 7) a while back and never finished. How do you sum up six years of marriage anyway? I couldn't, so what you're getting is only the beginning...the story of how we met and fell in love. That's really all that matters, right?!

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It all started in the fall of 2001. I was getting ready to start my first semester of college at LSU, and Kyle was beginning his second semester of LSU after having gone to Louisiana College for one semester. It was an exciting time for both of us.

How we met:
One day I was at CC's coffee with my friends Rebecca and Leslie. Since school was starting back, the LSU BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministry) was having several events for incoming freshman. One event in particular was the Midnight Scavenger hunt which was held the Friday night before school started. I really wanted to go, but Rebecca and Leslie weren't sure. In the middle of our discussion, Kyle ended up on the phone with Rebecca. For some reason, we had decided that if Kyle would go, we would all go. It was just one of those things to help us make the decision I guess. I didn't know this guy from Adam, but I got on the phone and said, "I don't know who you are, but you better come tonight because I really want to go." Kyle decided to come, so he met us at Rebecca and Leslie's apartment so that we could all ride together. They lived on LSU's campus. I'll never forget the moment he walked through their door. I was standing in the kitchen munching on some spinach and artichoke dip...I remember seeing him and thinking..."Uh-oh...I look like garbage, and this guy is cute." I hurried to the couch so he wouldn't see the old, faded black shorts I had on. I told myself he was out of my league but kept thinking about how cute his accent was (haha...his little country accent.) We went to the scavenger hunt that night and came back to the apartment where some more friends met up with us. I remember eating out of his ice cream bowl, and well, the rest is history....

...and so the story continues...

The following Monday was my first day of LSU classes. I walked into the hallway outside of my Geography class (a class of 300+ people) and who is standing there??? None other than that cute boy from Friday night. I proceded to save him a seat (or at least try) that day and every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from then on. Sometimes I even skipped the class before that to make sure I got there in time to save him one. We would walk out of class together, and one day something happened that broke my heart...another girl walked up and said, "Are you ready?" Off Kyle went to eat lunch with her. Little did I know he was forced into it from some sort of bet he lost, but nevertheless, I was convinced my chances were over. At some point we exchanged email addresses, and I started looking for him to get online. I would block everyone else but him on AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) and listen for him to get online. I would NOT say anything to him because I wanted him to talk to me first. And he did. Since all this was around the time 9/11 happened, we had a lot to talk about. Talking about the president and the recent terror attacks allowed me to learn about some of Kyle's spiritaul and moral values. I was liking this guy more and more. One night, we talked literally ALL NIGHT on AIM. Kyle was supposed to be writing a computer program (yes, he ended up changing his major) and I was suppposed to be studying. The next day, LSU was having a service in honor of the people lost in the 9/11 attacks. I was also leaving that Friday to help lead a Disciple Now Weekend in Lake Charles. We exhanged phone numbers and started talking. We realized we were really falling for each other, and neither of us felt that we were at a point to start dating unless it was a God given relationship because we had both just come out of relationships and were really growing in our walks with God. We decided that it would be beneficial to take some time away from each other (which really just meant not talking on the phone) to seek God concerning our relationship. We decided that whoever came to a conclusion first would contact the other. It sounds strange, I know, but I believe that even in those early days we knew we were on the horizon of something huge. I tried and tried and tried that week not to think about Kyle. I read my Bible more than usual, prayed hard, and really sought God's Will for my dating life. I just couldn't get him out of my head. I called Granny and told her all about what was going on with me and this new guy. I asked her why I couldn't stop thinking about him. She pointed me to a verse that helped me wrap my brain around the way I was feeling.

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9

I realized that it was OK for me to be thinking about Kyle as long as I allowed the Lord's plans to come before mine. He was preparing me for a life long love with Kyle, and although I was focused on my relationship with God, I couldn't help but make plans to be with him.

Sometime the next week, Kyle and I talked. He had, of course, been feeling the same way. We talked about the verse and how it was OK for us to have these feelings toward each other, as long as we submitted ourselves to the Lord. We asked Him to bless our dating relationship, and for real this time...the rest is history!

We dated 8 months (but knew after 5 weeks that we were going to get married) and were engaged in June of 2002. Worked our tail ends off to save money so that we could get married during school. We were married on June 7, 2003. I promise you it would have been sooner if the funds would have allowed. When we got married, I still had two years left of college and Kyle had one. I never thought I'd be married at the ripe old age of [barely] 20. I credit the Lord and the maturity and work ethic of my husband for that working out. Seriously, I am still in shock that Kyle Silvio married me.

Marriage has been everything I thought it would be--and more. It's also been some things I didn't think it would be, haha. The road hasn't been perfect, but it has surely been blessed. I can't believe how far we've come and how much we've experienced together. I started trying to post pictures and then just gave up. There are too many good ones. We've had so many fun times.

I love our relationship...we are SO very sarcastic with each other, but that's just how we show our affection. We like to solve the world's problems...we talk about everything, and it's funny how different we are, yet we are on the same page with most issues. We like our guy/girl time, and we love to be together. These days, we are happiest when we are playing on the floor with our little man. We love him to pieces, but would never trade the time we had together before he came. God has truly blessed our family, and we are so excited that this past year he gave us another family member to love more than life itself. As much as I love little Jackson, my husband of six years is the main man in my life and always will be.

I'm thankful for the Godly husband, father, and friend that God gave me. I'm thankful that through the good and the bad times I know his number one priority in life (after God) is to take care of our family. He is my constant encourager, and I couldn't live without him. Well, sometimes I could, but most of the time he's all right. ;)

SO excited for what lies ahead!!!