Every Love Story is Beautiful... But Ours is My Favorite

Dearest Kreg:
 I didn't find a Valentine's Day card this year.  Not for lack of trying :) you know me.  It's hard to find the right words to sum up how much I love you and how thankful I am that you are MY Valentine FOREVER.  Our story never ever gets old or boring!  I thought it might be fun to reminisce a little about the past 6 years and tell you a few of my favorite memories of us.   

I'll never forget the first time I met you! I still can't believe I was brave enough to introduce myself.  After a semester of running into you and watching you from a distance, I finally found it in me to say, "hi, I'm supposed to meet you.  I know your sister."  :) Kim, I will always be in your debt! 

Our first official picture together :) You came out to visit me August of 2006 after a summer full of texting each other :) I was SO excited to introduce my Lenny's boy to everyone!  The time we spent together that week was PRICELESS.

This one cracks me up every time I look at it.  I'm sure you probably know why :) I'm SO glad you came out that week!

The following 3 months were I'm convinced, the best way to begin our relationship.  You were in Italy & I was in Colorado.  We spent lots of time writing facebook notes to each other, spent lots of money on international phone calls, a lot of time thinking & planning & deciding & a little bit of time finding ourselves.  

When you got back, you flew in to Colorado to spend time with me & drive me back to Harding for the spring semester.  I picked you up from the airport & we listened to "our" song together for the first time & you asked me to officially be your girlfriend! I can never listen to that song without remembering those feelings :)

Harding was such a special place for us!  It was the perfect setting for us to start our lives together & it will always have a special place in my heart.

I LOVED getting to know your romantic side! This was one of the first times I remember thinking, "I LOVE this boy.  So much."

Remember when that girl sent me the nasty message telling me my face was ugly & I wasn't nearly pretty enough to be your girlfriend?  I learned so much about "us" that day.  I will ALWAYS be thankful for the way you see me.  I know you think I'm beautiful (and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks) but that isn't why you love me.  You love me for the right reasons.  That day I decided I would happily spend the rest of my life with you!

One of my very favorite dates was the scavenger hunt you sent me on! I learned random tidbits about you as I drove around Searcy following your clues and collecting my coke bottles!

The coke bottles led me to you at one of our favorite places {the farm} for lunch with two of our favorite people {Mamaw & Papaw}

Later that day we went to "our spot" & just lounged.  Remember those kinds of Saturdays?  Those are few & far between these days, huh?

It was the infamous day that the bird pooped on you while we lounged... haha! I still can't believe he did that.  He had it out for you :)

  
That was such a fun semester! We made so many memories that I will cherish for many, many years.  

"3 swings & a ring" :) this was a big deal!

I spent that summer in Searcy! I was working & taking classes but I really couldn't imagine being away from you all summer.  I remember you taking me to the lake at Heber and I was too afraid to get in the water... because I couldn't see what was in it! HA! You worked on me & I finally gave in.

We went to Disney World & Cocoa Beach that summer with my family! One of my top 10 vacations ever :)

Your 21st birthday weekend was another of my favorite memories from that year :) My first trip to Dallas! We saw the Lion King and ate at Texas de Brazil!  I'd be up for that again ANY TIME. :)

Ready for our fancy evening!

Razorbacks game :) I had to be able to call the Hogs to REALLY be your girlfriend :) Passed the test. Flying colors.

OH, and I had to be able to handle a .22 rifle.  Little did you know how good I was :) Passed that test. :)

Okay, the bell tower... now it's getting serious :) little did I know, you'd already asked my dad's permission to marry me!

That Christmas Eve, you flew in & surprised me.  As I was opening my present from you, you snuck around the corner. You asked me to marry you :)

I think that day began the official whirlwind known as "us." :) We haven't really slowed down much since then, have we? :) That semester was full of school, work, wedding planning, & wedding showers! It went by SO fast!

I know I've told you many times, but the day I married you was like a dream.  It didn't feel real!  Everything went so smoothly and everyone was so happy & excited! We couldn't have asked for anything more!

If our wedding day was like a dream, our honeymoon was equally dreamy!  We MUST do this again some day :) I would just LOVE to have another chance to lay on the beach, eat, drink, sleep & get to know you all over again! Worry free.  Just us!

I am SO glad we took that trip to Italy that summer!  Seeing all the places you were in when I fell for you was so special!  This place will always be connected with you & me in my mind!

I loved putting our first place together!  Our little apartment on campus was just perfect for us!  Everything we owned was so new and fresh and crisp! 

That fall our life was turned UPSIDE DOWN with a positive pregnancy test :) Was there any way we could have possibly known how much our little Westin would enrich our lives?  Yes, we learned the very definition of "fear" and it will always be in our vocabulary!  But I know neither of us would have it any other way.  I'm so thankful that you are my boys' Daddy.  I'll NEVER forget the first diaper you changed! Oh, my.  I'm so glad its on video :)

Westin is ALWAYS ready for you to come home! You are his best bud.

Milk & Cookies buddies!

This past year has been a crazy one for sure! Our lives are full of sleepless nights & long days.  But I always feel SO blessed that I'm the one you come home to at night.  I love the little moments that make every day SO blessed. I love your work ethic & the drive you have to provide such a good life for our sweet family.  I am BEYOND thankful to be your wife & your valentine! THIS KIND of love is what I dreamed about.