The Beginning...

Josh and I met via two friends who decided we needed to go on a blind date. After checking him out (he calls this stalking) on facebook, I decided he didn't look like a serial killer (and was actually very handsome) and sent him a "friend request". He accepted it and we started talking via messages and then eventually on the phone. We probably talked for about two weeks for a couple hours a night before our official blind date. I was SO NERVOUS! We scheduled our date for a Friday afternoon lunch (March 25, 2011). That seemed like a pretty low-key, no pressure date. I remember pacing back and forth across my apartment while I waited for him to pick me up! He pulled up in his brand new jeep to pick me up (I'm convinced he bought this jeep just for our date). I met him in the garage and he tried to shake my  hand. For some reason, I just hugged him instead! We went to lunch in Monroe at The Waterfront Grill. He ordered a steak sandwich, I order a salad (and ate 1/2 of his steak sandwich). Then, we decided to go to Toys R Us! Strange for a first date, I know. My son's 2nd birthday was the weekend after that Friday and I needed to get him a gift. We had so much fun in the toy store. We sword fought, we played soccer, we basically acted like teenagers! Josh ended up buying Reynolds a tee-ball set, which was a big deal considering I had never bought my son sporting equipment. When it was time for our date to end, he dropped me off at my apartment where I discovered my fish had bit the dust. He helped me have a fishy funeral before he left! We ended up going on two more dates that weekend. The following Monday after our dates, I received a dozen roses with a note that said "Can't wait until next weekend! Josh"....he had pretty much won me over.
The next few months flew by. We had some great ups and some pretty good downs. We both had been previously married and we both carried some pretty serious baggage from our past relasionships. We both were single parents with totally different parenting styles. He had Savannah, who at the time was 12, and Payton, who at the time was 6. I had Reynolds, who at the time was 2. It took a lot of work and a lot of talking through the night to see eye to eye on a lot of issues. But, I think we both always knew that we were made for each other. I'm so thankful we both went through so many heartaches or I do not think we could ever really appreciate each other. In September 2011, Josh popped the big question! The rest is history...


The proposal.....yes, he really did propose to me via text message. For the record, he was sitting right beside me when he did it!

Josh, Savannah, and Payton

Reynolds & I

One of our earliest pictures together! :)