Chris and I actually met the summer before our freshman year at University of Evansville, but didn't realize it (we'll get to that part :) ) when we "reconnected later". Our story wouldn't be complete without mention of Brandon, who I met the first Friday night at Student Christian Fellowship. After SCF, there was free mini golf for all freshmen/newcomers, so there was a giant group. My friend Jess and I went, and while playing, talked about our plans to head to Dante's (a party one of the fraternities was putting on that night) when Brandon overheard and asked if I wanted to meet up with him there. Being a silly girl, I giggled and said yes.
Brandon and I "hung out" for about a week, then realized we really just needed to be friends. A week or so later, fraternity rush/Passover took place, and after I got back from the event, I had an IM from Brandon saying "Party at FIJI at 10!!" I headed over there that night, and met Marc. (Yes, this is quite a winding way to get to Chris and I :) ) Marc and I ended up dancing and hanging out the whole party.
The next day, I got an IM from Marc saying he'd gotten hurt, and he'd feel better if a pretty girl came and kept him company and took care of him. Again, being the silly freshman girl I was, I giggled and went to hang out. Marc and I "hung out" for a week, then dated for two. While Marc and I were dating, I went to one of his Intramural Soccer games, and it was FREEZING! His Greek Little showed up with this cute guy who had hot tea. I asked if I could just hold it, and he handed it over, even told me I could drink some of it if I wanted. I ended up giving it back to him, though by that time it was luke warm. After awhile, Marc and I broke up, but still hung out, and Chris (the tea guy) and I started hanging out- watching football and the like.
On November 11, at like, 2 am after a party, Chris asked me out. We were basically inseparable. By December, we knew we wanted to get married, but kept that too ourselves. We knew lots of people would think we were nuts. It got to the point where, if one of us was there, the other was too. People just started to expect it. In fact, there was one time I wasn't there, and one of his FIJI brothers asked Chris if we were ok! It was so funny.
Chris and I were together about a year and a half when we started looking for rings. We found one, and he ordered it, but told me I wasn't getting it yet. We continued to date, and I probably drove him nuts about that ring. The summer before our senior year, I went to Mexico for a study abroad for 5 weeks, and he was in Mississippi for summer REU program and Southern Miss for 10 weeks. It was such a long summer! He planned on coming to visit me for a week on his way home from USM since we hadn't spent any time together since school had gotten out.
When he was visiting, we went and did something every night. On Thursday, he took me to Panera (my fav!!), then we went to the lake and sat on the dock. After a while, we decided to go play on the playground, because hey, I'm a kid :) After we played a while, and took plenty of pictures, we walked around. Chris was acting all funny, and I pretty much knew why. We had talked about when we were gonna get engaged, and I had told him I thought it would be cute to get engaged on a playground, so yeah. He got down on one knee, and I didn't even give him the chance to ask :) We went home and cuddled on my parents couch, and before they went to bed, Dad was like "let me see it, I haven't gotten to see it yet". I didn't even say anything to them! How perceptive of my dad :)
The reaction when we got back to school was great. So many people told us it was about time, and we just laughed. It was great planning our wedding, and though he was adamant about some details (had to have cake, not cupcakes, wanted the vows a certain way, and so one), he pretty much let me have free reign (MONKEY CAKE TOPPER!). It was the happiest day of my life. I love him more than anything!
We didn't get a honeymoon yet, because a week after the wedding, we moved from Michigan to Mississippi! I fall more in love with him every day, and am so happy I get to to spend my life with him :)
