The Love of My Life

This is my family. I don't really talk about them much. Not because I don't love them, but more because I don't think David really wants to know that I'm blabbing all his information on the Internet. So, I won't get into specifics, I'll just give you the essence.

First off, David's sister Melissa is married to my brother Hugh. That's basically how we met. Our families were getting together for Christmas after they got married and David was there. I was 17, he was 21. At that time, he was just getting out of the military and starting truck driving school. We "dated" long distance for about 6 months...lots of letters and phone calls. He even came down and visited me in Key West. To the left is the only surviving artifact from this period. We went to the county fair in town and took pictures in the photo booth. On a side note, for those of you who know me, I know you're thinking that I look exactly the same as I did when I was 17, and for that I thank you! Back to the story... I broke it off for a variety of reasons. Neither of us took it well.

He did his thing, I did mine. We saw other people and had serious relationships. I went to college, he went to college. When your family is connected like ours is, you never really "escape" the other person. You always get an update as to what they are doing, etc. During this time period, we had several encounters...all of them awkward. I must say that most of that was my doing, but it was awkward for him too.

He got a job teaching, I got a job teaching in two different states. My family traveled to MS every vacation we got because my grandmother was still here. This particular year, my grandmother died and we didn't have anywhere to stay, so we spent Christmas with my brother Hugh, Melissa, and their two kids. David happened to be there with his family. We spent about 2 or 3 days together and basically we agreed to give it another shot. I went home, he went home and we "dated" long distance again. Three months after the Christmas reunion, he came down for spring break and proposed. Two months later he moved to Key West. His mother died just days of coming to KW so he came back for the funeral. Afterwards, he came back to KW and stayed with my parents until we married that November. This is our engagement picture. (I know...I don't age, right??)

That was almost 13 years ago. We lived in Key West for 8 years, and have a daughter, Raelynn, who is seven. We moved to Mississippi about 5 years ago when my parents decided to move herer too. We wanted to be closer to family. David's father and step-mother live about an hour away and we see them weekly. Living here is very different than what I was used to, but I think I've adjusted well.

I love my husband. He is so smart and talented! There isn't anything he couldn't do! He loves me and treats me so well. I am very blessed!