Our Story: How it all began

(here's a picture of us at Sam's going away party)

I've decided to do something a little different on my blog. I know a lot of people, but I don't really know them. I don't know there story and how they got to the point they're at today. I always enjoy hearing people’s story’s, so I thought I would write ours out. I’ve wanted to get some of this stuff wrote down anyhow, so I thought I would share it with you all. I hope you enjoy learning about our life and all that has taken place to get us here. There have been a few twists and turns, but God had been with us every step of the way. In some of the circumstances, it was only later did we realize He was perfectly orchestrating the details of our lives to get us to the point we are at today. He loves us more than we can imagine.

How it all began…

I’ve known Sam since I can remember. I was probably 5 or 6 when we met his family. We’ve been friends with his family for many years. He started coming to our church when he was in high school. Sam is 5 years older than me, so he was friends with my older brother. Another connection we had is that my best friend growing up, Stacy, is his cousin. And her older brother and Sam are best friends. I can remember many times when I was younger seeing him at my friend’s house. I can remember one particular time at my friend’s house stomping Sam’s foot with a roller skate. He had it coming though J With the age gap; he was more like an older brother to me.
We grew older and the age gap didn’t seem so big. I’m not sure what happened that made me begin to look at Sam in a different light. I can just remember that right before he graduated college in December 2002, I began to think the world of him. I never told anyone of my feelings for Sam; I never thought he would be interested in Nikki Whited. When he graduated, he spent time living at his dad’s house while looking for a job. He was around a lot more and I really enjoyed talking to him. That winter he had been sledding with Stacy and he said something about his dad saying something to the effect that he would like to see Sam and I get together. Then he asked her what she thought about it. When I found this out, I was thrilled. Could he possibly be interested in me? He was just so great, I couldn’t believe it. I was 18 at the time and I had never had a boyfriend and never been kissed. I was so glad I saved myself for Sam. I was still living at home and worked at a vet clinic and loved my job.
Time went on and nothing happened. I was attending a young adult group at a church in Kokomo with my brother and I invited him to come along and he did! Every week we would go to the meeting, get a frosty after and go to the leader’s house to hang out with others from the group. This went on for quite a while and our friendship grew and grew.
I knew even then that we would be married someday. I knew he was the one God had for me and I didn’t mind telling people about it. I can remember telling my mom and even some of my co-workers that I knew we were going to get married.
In March we went to a True Love Waits concert together. He bought me CD and we went out for pizza after. Even though we weren’t dating, he was always a gentleman and paid for everything. I thought after that, it would be no time before he told me his feelings and we would officially become a couple. Well, I guess he wasn’t as certain as me. Time went on. I took every opportunity to be with him. I even had it arranged to walk back down the isle with him at my brother’s wedding in March. We had a couple people tell us we made a good looking couple. I thought so too and was hoping that Sam was getting the hint J We continued to hang out and grow closer. We had a lot of meaningful conversations on our rides to and from Bible study. He was having a hard time finding a job and considering joining the air force. He would ask me what I thought of it. I wasn’t in favor of it, I certainly didn’t want him moving away, but I tried to remain objective. He finally decided that he would join. The day drew near that he would have to leave for officer’s training and still nothing was happening (this was in May). I was dying for us to talk about our relationship, but I didn’t want to bring it up, he’s the guy. One night, only three days before he would leave for OTS (officer training school), he invited me to go to dinner at his mom’s house. Shortly before we left, his mom asked if we were an official couple yet. We just looked at each other and couldn’t answer. The subject was quickly changed.
As we drove home, I knew that this was our opportunity to talk. I couldn’t let him leave without telling him how I felt. I told him that I thought we needed an answer to his mom’s question. We talked for a couple minutes and he said that he did want to have a relationship. I was on cloud nine! He took me home and when I walked him back to his car, we had our first kiss. My first kiss ever! Life was good, but it was bittersweet, knowing that he would be leaving so soon. The next three days went by quickly. We went to a movie the next night with my brother and his wife. Neither one of us could probably tell you a thing about the movie. We weren’t making out or anything. Just sitting there holing each other’s hand was captivating enough. We had a going away party the next day with lots of friends and family. He left the next morning, a Sunday. It was very hard. Even though we had only begun our dating relationship, we had grown so close in the last few months and loved each other. We both cried and I was such a mess that I couldn’t even go to church after. I knew then that I would never experience a normal dating relationship, but that we would make a long distance one work.
And so began our dating journey.
(more to come)
(don't worry, I'll still post cute baby pictures too :)