Our Story...

Over a month ago, my sister did an awesome post on her blog about her "love story" with her husband. I'm going to steal the quote she included, because I think it is SO good...

“Tell your story. Tell it to your kids, your friends, your brothers and sisters, but especially to each other. The more your story is implanted in your brain, the more it serves as a hedge against the myriad forces that seek to destroy your marriage. Make your story so familiar that it becomes part of the fabric of your being. It should become a legend that is shared through the generations as you grow a family tree that defies all odds and boasts marriage after marriage of stability, strength, and longevity.” (Jerry Jenkins Hedges: Loving Your Marriage Enough to Protect It".)

As soon as I read her story, I knew I wanted to do the same on my own blog. So, on our 9th anniversary, here we go:

"The Smookie Wookie Love Story" : Part One

Before I begin the story, let me just say that there are very few moments in my life where I remember every single detail of an event. Ask my sisters...I have the worst memory ever. But, I truly do feel like God has given me a precious gift in the memory of the night I met Mark, and so many other early experiences with the man who is now my husband. As cheesy as it sounds, I really do remember back to the moment we locked eyes, and it was like all else faded away, and he was all I noticed! I'm not kidding!! I can't believe I'm even typing this!! But, I really do imagine God up in heaven just smiling down as He finally brought together two people who He was preparing for each other all along. His timing was perfect, and I still stand amazed at the way He spun our story. Okay, back to the story...you can all stop gagging now. :)

In the middle of my junior year at ACU (early '97), a group of us were hanging out at Will Hair Park on a Friday night. This was one of those "Abilene" things to do when you needed random entertainment. I needed to use the bathroom rather badly, and EVERYONE knows that you don't use the bathroom at Will Hair Park...so, we were debating about which fast food or grocery store we should run to. My friend Laura Bullard said, "Hey, you can go use the bathroom at the Sig Shack, since it's right around the corner from here". My response was "There is no way someone is going to be home there on a Friday night!" To which she said "Oh, believe me, Mark will be home."

Let me back up a couple of steps and explain something. Mark lived with three other guys who were either seriously dating someone or already engaged. I knew all three of his roommates, AND their girlfriends. But, I didn't know Mark at all. I had heard his name, but never knew his face.

So, we jumped in Laura's truck, and headed to the Sig Shack, where I was fully expecting an empty, dark house. We knocked on the door at around 9:00 pm...and lo and behold...Mark WAS HOME...all alone!

Now, remember back to what I said---I remember this moment so clearly, it almost freaks me out. :) He was shirtless, wearing jeans. I was wearing a button down khaki checked shirt that was WAY oversized with jeans (yes, it was as cute as it sounds:). I remember us shaking hands and both of us finally realizing who the other person was, after knowing names for a while. I remember thinking he was QUITE the cutie. I also remember his NASTY bathroom with towels hanging everywhere. And, I remember saying goodbye, and thank you for the bathroom stop.

Fast forward to the following Monday. He was on my mind, although I wasn't sure why. I had not even had a conversation with the guy before! But, of course, we run into each other at chapel. (For those non-ACUers, that is the perfect place to flirt after meeting someone on campus. :) Now, out of all the things Mark could have said to me, he chose to say this: "Hey Chelsea! Good to see you again! You can come use my bathroom anytime." Hilarious. I just laughed politely and that was that. (I'm sure my roommates and I had a good time laughing at him later...)

Now, things get hazy around now...I can't remember if I ran into him much before Sing Song hit, but I remember that we did have a couple more conversations over a few weeks time. He tells me now that he would actually watch for me in chapel since he sat up high, and I sat on the floor. He would then rush down to "run into me" and casually say hello. That really cracks me up, because I was oblivious to that!

Then, he called me on the Thursday before Moody Weekend to ask me out for Friday night. Ummm...a little late notice, buddy! I had to decline (against my will) because Sara and I had 100 Eskimo costumes to make!! (Remember that, Sara?!) Anyway, he still talks about me dissing him for our first date.

His next attempt is also a funny story. The weekend of Sing Song was snowy and nasty outside. Friday night's performance was over, and Jenise and I were headed out to my car for the first time in over six hours. Of course, my car is CAKED with ice and snow, and we had no way to get it off. Literally within seconds of us arriving at my car, Mark drives by. He stops and offers to scrape my car, which I gladly let him do. He then asks where we're headed...I probably should have seen the "hints" in that, but I said we were going home. So, he says goodbye and we head home. NOW I know that the real story is this:

He looked for me after Sing Song because he wants to ask me to go get coffee. He doesn't find me, but notices my car on his way out of the parking lot. He gets the great idea that he will help me get the ice off, and then that will lead into asking me out. So, he rushes HOME to his house, grabs his ice scraper, and comes back to campus quickly to "run into me". He does just that, scrapes my car...and then gets dissed again. Poor Mark!!

After these instances, it became quite obvious to both of us that we were "interested". We would flirt when we saw each other, give long friendly hugs, and do the usual short conversations. I told him just today that I clearly remember introducing him to my sister, Cassie, when she was visiting me at the very end of school. Mark told me that he had decided not to take the ACU job that he had been offered, and that he would probably be moving to Dallas after his graduation. I was bummed and told him so. After he walked away I told my sister "I'm going to date him someday". It was literally something I knew deep inside my heart. We both knew we were interested. We both knew we would eventually do more than occasionally flirt. But, it wasn't God's timing quite yet.

The last time I saw him that year was at his graduation. He was covered in Hawaiian leis and looked quite cute in his cap and gown. :) We did yet another friendly hug, and he quickly introduces me to his family. (I don't really remember that part, but he does! I do vaguely remember meeting his mother, because of their strong resemblance to each other!)

Fast forward through the summer, to fall of my senior year. It was Bid Night at around 11:30. I was president of Siggies, and was running around with my head cut off trying to get our precious Squigs to do what they were supposed to do with the Sibling pledges. :) Enter Mr. Handsome Hubby onto the intramural fields. And, suddenly I could care less about my squigs or anything else going on. We gave HUGE hugs to each other and tried to catch up in about 5 minutes on what life was like for each of us after three months of not seeing each other.

Again, I had the same feeling I did before. YIPPEE I saw Mark, the guy I'm eventually going to date! Weird, I know. He was no longer even at ACU! But, the feeling was just as strong.

Three weeks later, I come home from class to a blinking answering machine. It was Mark's voice, asking me to go with him to the homecoming musical. All of his roommates were coming in town and taking their wives, and he needed a date. I literally ran around the house screaming, and then promptly found my yearbook to show my roomie Angie what he looked like. Even though I had a very busy weekend already in place for homecoming, I could NOT diss him again. So, I said yes...and, that my friends, was the beginning of our story. Our first date happened in October of 1997, and that in itself is a funny story.

But, man, this is getting really long!! So, I'll be back with Part Two. I don't even care if anyone else reads all of this or not...it is still fun for me to "remember when". :)