It's Just an (a)Typical Love Story...

I always wondered when I would get around to sharing this story, and now I know! The Queen Bee herself tagged me to play her fun love story game and share with you lovely readers how the BF and I came to be. It's quite interesting, actually... (don't you just adore a well placed elipsis?)

During the summer of 2006, I began an internship in Charlotte at an industrial foundry (don't worry, I still rocked my pink, green and pearls despite the lack of AC and the heavy machinery all around me). I was introduced to my future darling on my second day of work. I knew immediately that we had a connection (I know you know what it's like to just hit it off with someone), but I didn't think anything more because (1) I was tying up some loose ends from a long term relationship and (2) said person was 15 years my senior, and despite the funny stories I tell, I color inside the lines at all times. I follow all the rules, and dating someone that much older than me wasn't even a concept I could grasp.

At the time one of my coworkers informed me that off-limits friend was struggling mightily. You see, his father was gravely ill in a hospital an hour and a half away from Charlotte. Not-Yet Boyfriend would leave work everyday to spend 30 minutes with his dad in ICU and then return home to an empty house (you see, this Insta-friend lived alone, had never been married, had no significant other, etc). My heart ached for him, and I decided that the only remedy would be homemade goodies and Scripture.

The next day I brought some Paula Deen Caramel Apple Cake (heaven in your mouth) and a card inscribed with the Word for him (I didn't know his religious affiliations, but I really felt led to write this particular verse for him). He approached me the next day and thanked me profusely for the words God had spoken to him through my pen and explained how much he needed to read that. After that moment, we became immersed in the Lord together. I would text him verses each time he was at the hospital, and I supplied him with a regular supply of scripture cards. We spent everyday together working and began to get to know each other personally during that time as well. I was so attracted to the heart of this man, but again, I was conflicted, and I knew he was too.

When Nearing-Closer-to-Being-Boyfriend's father passed away, I was heartbroken. I had never met him, but I knew the fierce love and prayer that had been given for that man. BPB was crushed, and we both wept. It was around that time that I knew my feelings for him and his family that I had never met were too hard to ignore. I think he knew too. When we finally acknowledged our feelings for one another and the turmoil we felt, we prayed fervently together and separately wanting to hear what the Lord had planned for us. We both felt an extreme peace about being together - age difference and external judgements aside.

Almost 3 years later, I cannot imagine what my life would be like if I hadn't met this remarkable person who has turned my world upside down. We have been through so much together already, that I don't even know what a stronger foundation would look like. We have weathered an intense firestorm waged by my family in disapproval over our relationship, and if I didn't have such a firm belief and affirmation in our relationship, it just may have killed me.

You see, I have always been a girl that needs her parents' approval (particularly from Little), but when they expressed (forcefully) their feelings about Boyfriend without meeting him, I finally put my foot down. I naively believed that if I put up such a fight they would realize how much this meant to me, but instead I was told I was being misled by Satan. Harsh and highly offensive words. It's been an emotional rollercoaster, by I have such a greater independence and confidence in myself now that I realize that my own morals and values are enough to guide me. My gut decisions and relationship with God are my own - not anyone else's to guide, interpret or judge.

Miraculously (and finally), Boyfriend was allowed to accompany my family to our Christmas Eve service this year, and he and Little met for the first time. The encounter went better than expected, and I even received an email last week from Little suggesting that we all get dinner/drinks together and clear the air and remove the elephant from the room. Change might actually be a-comin'.

Regardless of all of that drama, I value the love story that Boyfriend and I share. We have a deep appreciation for the connection and depth of our relationship. In many ways, he's not the person I would have pictured for myself (I never would have imagined I would be in love with someone 15 years older than me), but in so many, many others ways, he is everything I've ever dreamed of and more.

This is B's favorite picture from my Christmas/Housewarming party. It isn't mine.

We went crappie fishing. So much fun! We had great luck with my pink pole.

This is my favorite picture from the Christmas/Housewarming party. He disagrees.