Looking back

I didn't get to post yesterday, because it was PROM and I was busy taking pictures. Prom isn't much of a distant memory for me, I was there just two years ago.. but I already love looking back at my old pictures and memories. Of course, yesterday really had me thinking back and I wanted to share some of our history.

This picture is Nathan and I waiting for the sunrise, which happpened to be at 5:43 AM that day. Sweetest, most perfect start to the perfect day.

This picture is of Nathan cooking me breakfast. He still loves to cook, and he is surprisingly good at it. I wish I could just throw things together like he does. [Isn't he cute?!]

This is one of my favorite pictures from my junior prom. I was so proud to be going to prom with my date in his Class A's, just like I am still proud of him today.

And, there is just something about a man in uniform ;)

I'm all about memories since Nathan has been gone. We have so many memories, good and bad. I am constantly finding myself thinking back to them.

Just driving around my block brings a rush of memories. Before we were officially together, Nathan was my best friend. Before he was my best friend, I was mildly infatuated with him. My friends and I used to argue and joke about which one of us would get to marry him. Funny how things work out ;). During my freshman year, Nathan moved onto the street below mine.

I was envied for this, even though he didn't know I existed. Oh the days of being boy crazy!

We eventually met, and became running partners. I still remember the first time we met to run together. Of course, Nathan didn't have a shirt on, and thank God it was dark when I noticed this. I could still show you that exact spot where I was standing, and make the same face of utter amazement just by thinking about him now. I have never liked running as much as I did then.

I still remember the smell of his house, and I'll always associate that smell with him. You could smell it on the street as you were running by.

By that winter, I had spent a lot of time at his house watching movies. We became riding buddies for away football games, and I had heard him sing everything from Kelly Clarkson, to Josh Turner (my fave). During these rides, I fell in love with his voice, which still gives me goosebumps today. The epic ice storm came, and we spent our days 'ice skating' down the streets, and jumping on a trampoline full of snow. Our tradition of watching the Super Bowl together began, and in February I learned for the first time how much he hated scary movies. We went to watch The Messengers, and he hid behind me the whole time. That night I met his dad and I was given his class jacket. <3. By this time I had planned his birthday party and vandalized his house many times. In May we went on our first real date. Nathan took me to see Shrek 3 just a few days before he left for BCT. The night before he left is the source of my next memory on our block.

The turning point

At this time, we had still never officially dated. Nathan had barely worked up the nerve to kiss me on the head when walking me home. The night before Nathan left for Africa and BCT, I brought him a letter and the pictures of us I had collected over the months prior. I'm still not sure how I came up with the courage to do what I did next, I still couldn't be within 100 yards of Nathan without wondering if he could hear my heart racing.

Before I say this, prepare to laugh. This will probably seem so naive and innocent to you, but it was a big deal for us.

After many hours of debating [yes, hours.. literally] I kissed him on the cheek for the first time. And left.

We said our final goodbye the next morning before school started, and I was so relieved when he wasn't disguisted with me for my 'actions'.

Looking back now, I can't believe how much of a big deal this was. But this is where things really began. I can't drive down that street without passing that spot and giggling. According to him, this is the act that it took to open his eyes and see that we weren't just friends anymore. Because of that kiss, things changed. And my very first letters (which I still have) started coming from Ft. Benning, GA.

I still remember when the first phone call came, at Country Mart where I worked. The place where Nathan thought it was funny to come in and go through my checkout line, just to watch me fumble with their groceries out of nervousness. That phone call started plans the plans to roadtrip with his family to his graduation.

After Basic, things weren't a fairy tale immediately. We dated for a couple of weeks and broke things off. When school started up, we had a class together - Humanities, which was NOT Nathan's specialty. In this class, things started back up. We are both hardheaded, and stubborn if you can't tell by now. By September Nathan was 'needing' notes - which he later admitted he was didn't, he was just using this as an excuse to be together (And men say we're complicated!) and in October there was a turning point. I knew something had changed when Nathan wanted me to come watch House with his family.
On November 7, 2007 we became 'official'. Every free second was spent together, and even times we weren't free. I felt like a princess every night Nathan walked me home, and then again when he would call me as soon as he got home. We would fall asleep on the phone, so we could 'sleep together'. I had roses and notes left on my windowsill, and one night I was surprised at work with a dressed up boyfriend and another rose, just because I was having a bad day. During this month, Nathan told me he loved me for the first time, and bought me a dozen roses for the first time.

17th Birthday Roses

How he walked into my work..

It was the beginning of a first love, and it was strong, untamed, and sometimes a little crazy. I'm not sure I should share this now, and I'm hoping it has been long enough that it can be seen as a cute memory.

This is Nathan, on my bedroom floor. I told you our love was crazy, kindof like a wildfire (thankfully, it has turned into a more controlled, everlasting flame). He would actually sneak into my room and then sneak back before school, just so we could be together at night.

Anyway, we had our rough times but they were alawys outweighed by the good. We wouldn't be where we are today without those trials and errors. This is just a small look into the beginning of our love story, I hope you enjoy the history of us as much as I enjoy remembering it.

As much as I cherish these memories and pictures now, I will treasure them even more in 50 years. I can't wait to make new memories with him and our children for the rest of our lives. I promise to do another entry like this then. I cannot promise, however, that we will still be this aDORKable then :)