Let me start at our beginning. I met my husband on the internet on November 3, 2003. I wasn't looking for a serious relationship, because I was just coming out of an abusive one. My fooling around on the internet was just a way to pass the time. Then, I met my wonderful husband. I was leaving a horrible chat room, and he was coming into it. As I was about to close out of that room, he typed, "What's going on in here?" I was compelled to answer him, a complete stranger. I look back now and realize that I could have missed him if one more second, even a tenth of a second had passed. Anyway, back to the story. I told him to save himself and get out while he could. LOL. We started to send private messages back and forth, and this led to a 15 hour conversation. We only stopped long enough to grab something to eat (we talked while we ate) and to go to the bathroom (I wasn't taking him there with me just yet!). At the end of our first conversation, we both already knew that this was something that was meant to be. There was no denying the unbearable need to be together. He told me he loved me that night, and I replied with the same answer. We just knew! The problem was a rather large one however. He lived in British Columbia, Canada and I lived in Georgia. We were 3500 miles away from each other, and both of us knew that had to change. I went to visit him that Christmas, and he introduced me to his family. My family was a nervous wreck, they thought he may be some kind of axe murderer. I was more comfortable, because I had talked with him via webcam many times, and I had also spoken with his family members. I wasn't really worried, until I got on the plane. While on the plane, I started to freak out a little...ok, a LOT! I almost changed my mind. I was not really scared that he would hurt me, I kind of knew better in my own mind. I was scared that he would reject me, and I was scared that we would not work out in a face to face relationship. I met a sweet lady on the plane who was traveling with her little girl. As we talked, I told her my story. She calmed me, and she promised to stay with me as long as it took to feel comfortable and safe. I was such a nervous wreck as I stepped off of that plane. I looked and looked for him, but just knew that he wouldn't show. At least it was his money that paid for the ticket! As I was loading my luggage onto a cart, I felt someone cover my eyes. At first, I was alarmed, but then he spoke. I melted right into his warm, protective embrace. I turned, and at that moment, right in the middle of that airport, we shared our first of millions of kisses. I knew that there was no danger, I knew that my feelings were only growing stronger, I knew that I could release my "body guard" to carry on with her own daughter and vacation. I tried to track that woman down to invite her to my wedding many years later, but apparently it is IMPOSSIBLE to get the name of someone on your plane regardless of the reason. I even begged them to contact her and give her my information. NO CAN DO! I have wanted so much to thank her, because without her, I may have chickened out. We left the airport that night and spent an amazing week hanging out together. This was the first time in my life that I had really and truly experienced snow. It was beautiful and amazing. Leaving after that first week was difficult, well more than difficult. We both cried and held on as long as we could before I had to board my plane. I wanted to move their, I wanted him to come home with me, I wanted to never leave his side. We spent the next several months of our relationship talking on the phone and internet. Then, he flew me up again in March. He took me to the beach, proposed to me, and of course I said YES! I know, I know...we were moving very fast. His sister threw us an a small engagement party with the yummiest chocolate and strawberry cake. Then, I left again. It was harder this time. I had to go home, because I was in college. Missing too many days would have gotten my classes dropped for sure. I knew that I could never become a teacher without my education...so nothing I could do except leave. After the semester was over, I flew up again to spend the summer with my wonderful fiancé. It was nice to know that for the next three months, we wouldn't be paying $1,000+ on phone bills. We lived in an apartment that looked like it belonged in the 70's, and we barely had any furniture. In my mind, however, it was the most wonderful place on the planet. I will talk about my experiences there another day. At the end of the summer, I had to go back home to continue my schooling. By this time, we had grown a much deeper attachment, and our need to be together was strong....I don't know what other words I can use to make you understand just how deep and strongly we felt for each other. We had originally planned to continue this pattern for two more years until I finished my schooling. Then, I was going to move there. Not happening! We could not separate at the end of the summer. He declared he was coming home with me if I would not stay with him. I threw my plane ticket in the garbage, we rented a car, I threw my cat (who I brought with me, because I never leave her behind) and our dog (who Sean's dad bought for us to keep me company while he worked) in the back of a rented Grand Prix. We traveled diagonally across the U.S. stopping at many amazing places. During that trip we laughed, we smiled, and we cried. We were gaining so much, but he was losing a lot too. That trip home was filling with memories that will last forever. When we got home, we stayed with my dad for a few weeks, we moved in with my uncle Billy (who was recovering from a stroke), and then we got married on August 12, 2004. We will be celebrating our 9th anniversary this year. I still love him just as much now as I did then, if not a little more. We are not perfect, but we are strong. We have disagreements, but we work through them. We have both had difficult pasts, and we cope together. I love him and he loves me. After we got married, we were only missing one thing. CHILDREN! That is when things got challenging and difficult. Stay tuned for the next update!
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