Friday was our 5 year anniversary!!! A couple months ago, I asked Keith if I could plan what we would do to celebrate, because I kept getting these random ideas of fun stuff we could do. Like, decorating our van...
... and going a scavenger hunt! So, we were blessed to find a sitter for the boys (all 3 of them! Thanks, Rach and Emily!) and got to go on a daytime date. To start, I gave Keith a wrapped present, which he had to open to find his first clue for where we were going. It was a pair of corduroy slippers. He soon figured out that this meant our first stop was where it all began, East Valley Bible Church. Keith and I taught a kindergarten Sunday School class, and he always used to wear these black corduroy slippers, and I, in my ever-so-subtle way of flirting, used to make fun of him... "Oh, Keith, wearing corduroy slippers to church again?! ::bat eyelashes:: You are so funny!" lol. Yeah, I liked him. A lot. (Still do). It was so fun to relive that nervous excitement feeling, remembering those first butterfly feelings! So, we took our picture at EVBC and, at each place we went to, I gave him a card, encouraging him about something I admire about him related to each memory or location.
The next gift he opened was a Starbuck's card, to be used at the Starbuck's I used to work at, on Rural & Baseline...
Keith used to come in, when I was working and order water. I didn't quite catch on that he was really coming in to talk to me, but whatever! Actually, several months before he started doing that, we bumped into each other at this Starbuck's and he told me that, despite what I may have heard, he did not like me! My response was something like, "Good... I don't like you!" We were both lying. Pretty soon after his regular visits for water, however, he came in during one of my breaks, and we talked for a while, and he ended up asking me out on a date that night...
me with my wonderful iced grande nonfat caramel macchiato
Keith and his tall Java Chip FrappuccinoKeith's next present was a gift bag full of Laffy Taffy. This one was kind of random, it was more to symbolize all our great conversations and laughter we've shared. So, our next stop was at the place we had our first date, a little coffee shop in Tempe that overlooks this beautiful lake. It was my first date ever, and I have to say, it was perfect. It was beautiful March weather, not too hot, not too cold, and we sat at a big table outside, facing the water and really got to know all about each other. We didn't know anything about each others' families, or really life history kind of stuff. It was so funny to look back and remember all those nervous feelings! I was frieking out! I mean, really frieking out! I literally had the thought cross my mind "What would our kids look like if we get married?!" Yeah, did I mention it was my first date ever?! So, I couldn't eat or drink anything because my stomach was in knots, but I ordered a bottle of water just to see if he would pay for it, to make sure it was an official date. Then, I kept tripping over myself and made some lame joke about how it must have been "vodka water" I was drinking. Can you believe he married me?!
Keith's next present was another gift bag, this time full of Hershey's Kisses. He knew right away where we were going... Gililland Middle School, the place we had our first kiss (in the parking lot... so romantic!) This was where we used to meet for church, and one late Sunday night, after church, we were talking in the parking lot about whether we should start kissing or not, and all I remember is saying "I think I'm ready," closing my eyes and hoping for the best. And then frieking out when he kissed me. Ohmygosh! He's kissing me! Ohmygosh! He's kissing me! Yeah, this also happened to be my first kiss ever, too! Good times, good times.
My original plan was to then go to our old apartment, our first home, but we decided to get lunch instead, and then head back home. It was a great day, and so fun to reminisce about all the fun times we've had. It's so easy to forget what our lives were like before we had kids, and it was also encouraging to see all the ways God has worked in our marriage in the past 5 years, and am very thankful for how He has changed us. Keith has been so patient and kind to me these past years, but God has also grown him so much in so many areas! We joke about how he used to give me "sermons" until I would fall asleep over the phone, and now he asks me really good questions, drawing me out and really listening to me and seeking to understand me. When he comes home, often the first thing out of his mouth is "How can I serve you?" and actually wants to clean up and let me relax. He has grown so much with taking care of the boys by himself sometimes so that I can feed Bo or do other stuff. He has become so much easier to talk to about difficult things, and when I bring things to him, I often see immediate change. I could go on and on, but all that to say that I am amazed I get to be this man's wife! I am equally amazed at how faithful God has been to preserve us and our marriage... us being more in love today has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with God! To Him be the glory!
