25 Years Ago...

Twenty seven years ago, I started my senior year in high school-ouch! It hurts to say that because I sure don't feel that old!!! But, I figured I better start at the beginning, even if it does sting. That was the year I met my husband Kevin. We both had a short day schedule and were graduating early (in January) because we had all of our credits needed to graduate.

We had 3 out of 4 classes together that year. We had been attending the same schools since 5th grade and never ran into each other or met each other until that year. His mom worked with my mom-sort of. My mom was an aide on a handicapped kids bus, and his mom drove bus for the regular ed kids. They knew of each other, and were acquaintances My grandma also drove bus for the same school district and she knew Kevin's mom-sort of-as well.

Neither one of us worked very hard in our classes our senior year because we knew we already had it made. That left lots of time for goofing around and getting to know each other while we were hanging out with our groups of friends.

In January, Kevin left for Navy boot camp, and I left school to work. I had given him my phone number and address-just in case he wanted a "pen pal" while he was in the Navy ;). I didn't hear anything from him, so I went on with my life and friends.

Toward the end of April of that year, I got a phone call for a guy who knew my name when I answered the phone and he said "Hi Kim, this is Kevin." I asked "Kevin who?" LOL! I honestly forgot about him, and never expected him to call!

He was calling to ask me out! We set up a date for a couple of days later, and went out to the movies, dinner at a Chinese restaurant (that is still in business), and a walk in Maybury Park. I got the worst blisters on my feet from all that walking!!!

We saw each other a few more times while he was on leave and then he left to go back to the Navy. We both wrote tons of letters and he called me once a week. Every time he had leave he had 15 days and we spent every waking moment together. As we got to know each other more, he was calling 3 or more times a week for at least an hour or more. We talked about everything.

After a year of long-distance dating, he came home on leave again (on May 7th) and I picked him up at the airport. He wore his full uniform just for me. We went to his sister's house and he proposed!

A little more than a year after we were engaged...on June 4, 1988 we got married in a little tiny Lutheran church in Hamburg, Michigan. Our colors were dusty rose and silver-so eighties! We had 3 bridesmaids and 3 groomsmen. My brother was the ring bearer and a girl I used to babysit, pushed his wheelchair up the aisle.

It seems like just a few years ago some days, and others, it seems like a lifetime ago. I know I sure don't feel old enough to have been married for 25 years, and to have a 22 year old son and 19 year old son! I still feel like I did when we met-kind of. We have had a good life, and have been so very blessed by God throughout our marriage.

I got a huge surprise delivered to me at work today a dozen, gorgeous red roses! Since Kevin isn't one to send flowers ( I think I've gotten flowers 3 or 4 times our whole 27 years of being together),it was a really big deal to get these!

When I got home, he brought in one of the wooden band boxes that I got last weekend, and told me I couldn't store it anymore on the shelf in the garage because that is where his pop goes. As he set it down on the table in front of me, he opened the lid and inside was a small gift bag. In the gift bag...a small wrapped box. My first thought was Godiva chocolate.

It was so much better! Inside was a beautiful ring! My husband, who is known far and wide for being cheap, and having cobwebs in his wallet, went to a jewelry store and bought me an amazing ring for our Anniversary!!

I was so shocked! He said he wanted me to take it back and get one I really loved, and he knew if he didn't buy something, I would back out and not get around to it. He reminded me of an Anniversary when our boys were little and he bought me a heart shaped necklace with diamonds and I returned it for a cooler-because it would benefit the whole family-and I felt selfish getting that money spent just on me.

This time around, I am not allowed to not get something just for me! We went to the jewelry store together, and kind of picked something out, I am still in shock, and needed some time to think it over to figure out what I want, so I returned the ring he got (he encouraged me to-he told me to get what I wanted), and got a couple of ideas of what to get.

I want a 3 stone ring, and I think we are going to use my original diamond as part of the setting. It still keeps the sentimental value, and it will help keep the cost down. Now I just have to get the courage up to go in and place the order!!!

We spent so much time at the jewelry store, we only had time for a quick dinner before we needed to be at home for the group of friends who came over for volleyball. We had our 25th Anniversary dinner at Burger King!!! We are going to go to a nice restaurant on Saturday, when we won't have to rush.

What a day! Here's to another 25 years! :)