It's a Love Story

Spring always brings up memories for me (and hopefully Justin too). We met in 2004 at the end of March and during April and May our relationship developed into a love affair. Just so I can walk down memory lane again...this is the story of how we met and fell in love....

....Justin and I both attended Bridgewater College, we were freshman at the time...and both had string of bad luck in love. We had many mutual friends but it still took us until March to officially meet. I remember seeing Justin at different times during that year....

The first time I ever saw him, my friend Ashton was looking him up on our school's directory (StalkerNet) and there he was picture and all (a very bad picture BTW). See Ashton had gone to school with Justin's cousin Matt and Matt had told her to look Justin up. I believe this was in November. Flash forward a couple months to one meal I had in the KCC. My group of friends always sat at the same table for every meal. At one of these meals right on the end was a very attractive person I had never met. I asked my cousin Brent who that guy was at the end of the table. I don't remember exactly what was said, but I do know later on Brent told me he knew exactly why I had asked.....

...At the end of March, my roommate Amber was invited to hang out in the boy's dorm while the guys played a poker game....I did something that was very out of character for me and asked to tag along....We went over to the dorm and found our friends Brent and Billy playing poker and Justin too. I was immediately trying to figure out how to get to know this guy. I found out he played baseball and knew I had an "IN." Nothing happened that night, no sparks flew but something was set in motion.

I was always trying to figure out how to be around this guy, I would always tell Amber that we should go hang out in the guy's dorms or spend time with Billy (who lived next to Justin). Well, Justin hasn't always been the most upfront with his emotions, meaning I had no idea what this guy thought about me....I never got any sign that he liked me at all .....so I tried to move on...and I did, kinda and I regret it tremendously.....I could have ruined everything with Justin....But enough about that. I wouldn't even say we had a relationship at this point, we were just talking and flirting. I do remember one time we were in Billy's room and everyone left us alone (Not sure if it was planned or not) but I think this was the first time I thought that he may like me too. But I still wasn't sure.

Justin played baseball in college and was right in the middle of the season, he had a lot of games during this time on Saturdays and many days during the week. One Friday right before a Saturday double-header, the college hosted a Relay for Life event. Justin was on a team with some other guys in his hall, so I went down to his team's tent thinking maybe I could see him ....which was very out of character for me...but that night was a big night in our relationship....Justin did show up and we spent time together just hanging out with some of our other friends. It was a very cold night and I joked with Justin that I could keep him warm...and I did....it was the first night we spent together....and nothing happened, not even a kiss. I told Justin I would come watch him play before I had to go home for the weekend. He told me later he was looking for me in the stands the entire game.

We had many more days back and forth...and we never talked about what was going on or what we were....we were just enjoying what was. We both knew the end of the school year was coming and starting a relationship then would kinda be silly. Amber and I had a meeting one night in a building near Justin's dorm and we headed over there as soon as the meeting ended. Amber was hanging out with Billy and Chance, and I went over and hung out with Justin. As we were getting ready to leave, Justin told me that I couldn't and I had to stay with him. At first I didn't know what to do....but I felt comfortable with this guy and knew he wouldn't hurt me. And so Justin and I spent another night together....and nothing happened, not even a kiss.

I was getting many mixed messages about how this guy felt about me....but I knew I liked him. As I was leaving his room to head to class....I turned around and kissed him for the first time.

The next few weeks went by very fast, we had a very innocent relationship and it was great. I stayed some more nights with him and we ate some meals together in the dining hall. Like I said earlier Justin and I never talk about the future...just kinda lived for the day. I was very loyal to Justin...and had some situations come up that could have changed things. Justin was also getting information about me that could have changed things....my other cousin had told Justin that I was "clingy" and basically I wasn't what he needed...another friend knew what Justin and I had both been through with relationships in the past was afraid we'd both get hurt and wasn't exactly pushing us together.

The day we were leaving for home Justin and I both knew the future of our relationship was in question. We again never talked about seeing each other again....all I knew was that I was going to call him to let him know I got home. I believe this was a Tuesday (5/11).....I pretty much cried the entire trip home because I couldn't bare the thought of not seeing this guy for 3 months. That night we both independently knew we wanted to make this a real relationship. I made plans to go see him in Staunton that next weekend. We had an amazing weekend together and that was the first time he told me he loved me....and I loved him too. By the end of the month we knew this was it...we had found the "One." We spent that whole summer traveling back and forth to see each other.

We dated for three years before we got married on June 23, 2007.

I love Justin more than anything in the world.....when I think about everything that had to happen in order for us to meet and fall in love, I know there is a higher power that has a master plan.... Justin is perfect for me in so many ways and I really do fall in love with him more everyday.