Two years ago today, Stonewall and I became husband and wife. This is how it happened.
Stonewall and I met for the very first time when we were...13, maybe. Neither of us really remembers much about our first meeting. Our fathers bowled on the same bowling league team and one time our families had a picnic together. I don't remember if Stonewall and I had an actual conversation at that time or not. We were 13, after all. I do remember Stonewall and my two stepbrothers spent a majority of the time playing video games and my sister, stepsister, and I hung out with Stonewall's sister, Danielle, and sang Shania Twain songs. Oh, and we made fun of Stonewall's jock strap that was lying on his bedside table. Once again, 13... So that was that.
Fast forward 10 years...
My dad was still good friends with Stonewall's dad and by now, with Stonewall, as well. So one day in June, I believe, they went golfing and after golf my dad and Stonewall had a few drinks at the bar. By the time it was time to go home, Stonewall had one too many and he went back to my dad's house. While he is there he saw my senior picture:
And decided he HAD to meet me because, according to him, "You were HOT!" Little did I know that all summer long Stonewall and my dad were trying to find a way for Stonewall and me to meet. Well, it did not happen.
Fast forward again 5 months...
By now, Stonewall had pretty much given up on meeting me. He figured it wasn't going to happen. Until one fateful Thanksgiving evening...
My dad and sister had made plans to go bowling on Thanksgiving (2005) evening and my dad invited Stonewall's family to join us. According to Stonewall, he had no idea that I was going to be in attendance that evening. As it were, sometime during the first game, I waltzed into the bowling alley and into his life. Okay, that's a lie. I did not waltz into the bowling alley...I sulked into the bowling alley. I did not want to be there and my sister had to practically drag me in.
Yes, I was a major b***h for the first half hour. I sat at a table and gave anyone who came within 10 feet of me the stink eye. Apparently, my dad kept whispering to Stonewall, "Go talk to her." Eventually, I got the stick out of my a$$ and started talking to Stonewall. I don't remember the first thing he said to me. Although, I'm sure it made me laugh because that was one of the first things that attracted me to Stonewall...he made me laugh. That and, if I remember correctly, I kicked his butt in bowling.
After bowling, we went out with my sister and a bunch of her friends. We spent a huge part of the night talking. I drove him home and after making out in his driveway he said to me...Nope, never mind. I can't tell you what he said because he would kill me for telling you, but I can tell you, he's luckyI didn't get super insulted and never spoke to him again. However, he redeemed himself when he sent me a text message that said, "Are you home? I've been waiting to go to bed until I know you're safe." I thought that was really sweet, so when he called and asked me out two days later, I said yes.
We dated for about three weeks and then he had to leave to go to Iraq. He spent a few weeks in El Paso, so we were able to talk on the phone every night. A few days after Christmas we were saying goodbye when Stonewall said, "I'm feeling like just saying goodbye isn't good enough any more." And I said, "Okay." And he said, "I love you." For the first time. And my smile was so big he probably could have seen it through the phone.
We spent just about the first year of our relationship in separate countries. Stonewall was able to come home on leave in June for two weeks. On the last day of his leave, he ended up in the hospital with paracarditis. We had about two more weeks together before the doctor gave him the go ahead to go back to Iraq.
While Stonewall was deployed we talked as often as we could. I sent him letters, care packages, and emails all the time. Every night before I would go to bed I would take a picture of myself with my phone and send it to him.
Stonewall's deployment ended two months sooner than we expected and he was home by the end of September. Of course, we had talked about getting married because even though we hadn't been together for very long, we knew we were it for each other. So that was why on October 17, 2006, Stonewall proposed!
I knew it was coming, but I didn't know when, so I was completely shocked when it did happen. I thought my mom and sister and Stonewall's mom and sister and I were going out for a girl's night. We went to dinner and then we had tickets to see the musical "Disney's Beauty and The Beast." We were standing in the lobby of the theatre waiting for the doors to open when someone suddenly grabbed my from behind and spun me around. I was shocked to see Stonewall standing there dressed in his Dress Blues and our dads and Danielle's (Stonewall's sister) fiance standing behind him.
As the theatre crowd formed a circle around us, Stonewall got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said, "Yes!" And accepted the most beautiful custom-made ring I'd ever seen. The entire crowd started clapping and cheering.
Originally, we started planning a wedding for January 2008. However, we were then told that Stonewall's current deployment was scheduled for December 2007. Fearing that my groom would be unavailable for a January 2008 wedding, I made a command decision and bumped the date up to March 24, 2007...a mere five months and one week away.
As all of you who have planned a wedding before know five months is not much time to plan a wedding, so we got started immediately. We found our venue, but March 24, was not available. However, March 17, 2007, was available, so...St. Patrick's Day, it was(When I said in my profile I became a wife on the luckiest day of the year, I literally meant the luckiest day.)!
During the five months between the proposal and our wedding, we did what most couples in our situation have already done: we got to know each other. While Stonewall was deployed we talked a lot through email, letters, and telephone calls, but you can only get to know a person so much this way. There was a lot we still had to learn about one another.
We moved into our first apartment together by the end of October. It was...difficult. Stonewall and I are very much alike in that we are both stubborn, pig-headed, big mouthed, always-gotta-be-right, never compromise jerks. Both of us together in a teeny tiny apartment is a recipe for disaster. We fought...A LOT! However, after 20 minutes of screaming at each other, we would manage to sit down and talk things through. We learned so much about each other during those five months and we learned how to live with each other. And even though we were already in love, we learned how to better show that love to each other. Those five months were definitely a growing experience for the both of us.
Our wedding day, March 17, 2007, finally arrived and with it: three feet of snow!
I had wanted a winter wedding because I wanted to be able to look out the windows at our venue and see snow dotting the ground and on some trees. Well, I got what I wanted except the snow was drowning the trees. (What was even more funny...while planning the wedding, my event coordinator tried to convince me to hold the ceremony outside. When I said no, she said, "But in March the weather is going to be warm and gorgeous. I guarantee it." Apparently, I do need to stick my head up the bull's ass (Tommy Boy reference...anyone? No. Okay...moving on.)) However, this did not stop our guests from show up. Everyone, but eight guests took on the blizzard of '07 to help us celebrate our wedding. It was fantastic! Since snow had been in the forecast most guests actually traveled to our wedding city a day early.
Our wedding was gorgeous and so much more than I could have hoped for. We had family and friends, amazing food, superb entertainment and dancing, a gorgeous wedding party, and an incredible venue with lots of snow. Most importantly, Stonewall and I were finally husband and wife!
My wedding dress! I love this dress (which I believe I've mentioned in (several) previous posts). So pretty and pink!
My something blue.
My gorgeous wedding shoes. (Almost as important as the dress)
The bride!
My stunning bridesmaids
Stonewall with his groomsmen.
Our flower girls and ring bearer.
The photographer was trying to get our ring bearer to kiss me on the cheek, but he was adamantly refusing. Our ceremony took place in front of a fireplace and during the ceremony, the ring bearer kept saying, "Whew! It is so hot!" while tugging at his tie. It was hilarious!
My general attitude about the our wedding was I'll do everything I can while planning to make this the perfect wedding, but on the day of, whatever happens...happens. We'll go with it and laugh because it probably isn't worth stressing over. And when you have kids in your wedding, you gotta be ready to laugh.
The groomsmen waiting to start the show!
This was my bridezilla moment. I was really pretty good throughout the entire planning process, the day before when it started snowing, and all day getting ready. However, once we got to the venue the limo driver kept driving around the parking lot even though we were already 15 minutes late and I was getting antsy and pissy. Then, while getting out of the limo, the limo driver hiked my dress up over my head and got lipstick all over the front of my dress. I was not a happy bride.
We wanted our vows to be just that: ours. So we wrote our own vows:
Today I marry my best friend, my soul mate, and my true love.
I will laugh with you. I will cry with you.
I will encourage you, inspire you, and support you.
I will respect you and cherish you.
I will share the simple times with you.
And I will be with you during the difficult time.
I will love you.
Today, tomorrow, and always.
And kiss the bride he did!
The entire wedding party all together. Stonewall and I didn't want to see each other before the ceremony, so this photo op had to wait until after.
We were introduced as, "Mr. and Mrs. Lieutenant [Stonewall]!" We still call ourselves that to this day. Although now Stonewall would be Mr. Captain [Stonewall].
Our first dance as husband and wife was to "At Last" by Etta James. It was an imperfectly perfect first dance. We had a whole routine and we completely blew it...but we had a fun time blowing it.
This was supposed to be a dip at the end of our first dance. Instead, well...I'm not sure what you call that move.
Our wedding cake with our silhouettes.
We cut the cake in true army fashion. When it came to wedding planning Stonewall pretty much took a backseat...except when it came to the saber. He had to have the saber and once we had the saber I decided we had to cut the cake with it.
We had decided we were not going to be cake smashers. However, once we got up there and we were feeding each other the cake we looked at each other and went for it! That's just who we are. We love being silly with each other. Heck, we're the couple that throws water at one another in the middle of a fight because we need to relieve tension. Anyway, I was helping Stonewall clean off some icing he missed with the napkin.
Our new wedding rings!
The last dance of an awesome celebration!
Saying goodbye.
So our photographer really sucked a$$. In case you hadn't noticed there was not a picture above of just Stonewall and me as the new Mr. & Mrs Lt. This would be because our photographer only took one photo of us and I guess his tripod was broken or else we were standing on a hill because we are leaning to the right. So...in July 2007, we got all decked out again in our purty wedding outfits and finally had some good wedding photos of us taken (but I bet you never would have known if I hadn't told you).
Trying that dip again and finally getting it right!
So that was how Stonewall and I became Stonewall and (army)wife. And now, two years later, we've added a Lil' Mootz and two sweet pups to the family. Not bad...not bad, at all.
Irish Wedding Blessing
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon the fields.
May the light of friendship guide your paths together.
May the laughter of children grace the halls of your home.
May the joy of living for one another trip a smile from your lips,
A twinkle from your eye.
And when eternity beckons,
At the end of a life heaped high with love,
May the good Lord embrace you
With arms that have nurtured you
The whole length og your joy-filled life.
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