A year is such an interesting concept. In some ways it feels like the longest year. In other ways it seems to have flown by too quickly. Last year I was at my parents the Wednesday before Thanksgiving helping prepare food for the next day and I decided once again to log onto my Match profile. I didn't have much hope for finding love, but every few months I tried to at least try to find a date. Most times the guys that I were interested in were not interested in me. And then I saw a profile with this picture:
My thought was that he was adorable. And I knew that he wouldn't be interested in me.... He was Hot! Maybe he would like a 33 year old!! But I still wanted to say hi, but I wasn't going to waste time with a long message since chances were slim that he would respond back. So I wrote, "You are pretty cute!" That's it!
The back story on his end was that he had recently gotten divorced and his ex-wife encouraged him to get on Match and start dating. They were friends and she helped him out by taking his photos for his profile and she even helped him write some of his messages. In fact, she wrote the first message back that asked me out. He was nervous and didn't know what to say! Turns out in his message he asked if I know the Layton's. And of course I knew them.... Great family friends. So at the same time I was calling Kathy Layton to get the scoop on this guy and Joey was asking Casey about me!!
I remember spending all day of Thanksgiving wondering about our first date and wishing it were sooner. It was a lunch date for the next afternoon...Black Friday! And he was excited about meeting me. But not excited enough to cancel the date he had on Thanksgiving night with ANOTHER girl, but he promised me that he was thinking about me! And then the day was upon us....
We met in the parking lot at Starbucks in Layton. I was so nervous that when I got there I had to go in and pee.... :) and then I saw him in his car. We drive the same kind of car!! Crazy! And then we met and went to eat lunch at Corbin's. It was quiet and we were almost alone in the restaurant. Everything was perfect. At the end of the date he said that he was new to this dating thing and that he would like to see me again. I of course was so excited that he wanted to see me again, but I figured like most men he would get back to me and that it would be a few weeks. NOPE!! He asked me out for dinner for the next night. And I can say that everything was magical! We felt like we were supposed to be together. Neither of is could quite understand the ease and comfort of our relationship. He wasn't ready to be in a relationship. He had just gotten divorced. And I was always warding off commitment. There was always something that would make me pause in relationships, but for some reason things just connected like neither of us have ever experienced. Our families were very skeptical when we got engaged a month later. And who would blame them? Our friends thought we were crazy! And now I feel such gratitude. I am grateful that Joey didn't let me push him away. I am grateful that Heavenly Father intervened and brought us together. I am grateful for our friends and family for being supportive even though they all doubted. Now we look back on everything. We had thought about waiting until summer to get married. I know that things happened how they did for a reason. If I had gotten my diagnosis before I was married I would have been tempted to tell Joey to run! He wouldn't have... And I wouldn't have wanted him to, but I would have wanted to climb in a hole and protect him from having to go through this. There was a higher power at work and I am grateful that things aligned and that we are now spending our first Thanksgiving together. Despite dealing with cancer, we could not be happier. We have grown so close and the past year feels like a lifetime together.
Last Saturday we had our first Thanksgiving with MiKell and Moe. They went to so much work and everyone was there. It felt so nice and it felt like my family. I was so grateful for my first Thanksgiving with my new family. The kids were loud and crazy. The ladies sat and chittered away while the boys were playful and punks!!
This week we headed up to Boise to see Joey's dad and stepmom, Laila. I was excited to finally meet my Boise family. Joey drove up Tuesday morning and I flew in in Wednesday. This is my low immunity time so I had to wear a face mask in the airport and on the plane. I felt like a dork. The morning before I flew out my mom took me up to Huntsman and they did my first expansion! I didn't feel a thing and now I can be grateful that I have some boobs!! I feel pretty good. A little quesy and food tastes odd. I've lost 7 pounds in a week. The mouth sores from chemo make it hard to eat. And I'm just really tired.
This was the first Thanksgiving away from my family. And I miss them, but yet I find them in little things each day as we spend Thanksgiving in Boise. I see an Amarylis bulb and think of my mom. I am making rolls for dinner... My mom's way! We watched the parade with Laila which is exactly what my mom and I would be doing followed by the dog show.
Joey went hunting with his dad and I think that is so hot that I have a husband and that he is off hunting!! And our gorgeous dog Coco got to show her daddy what she has been learning in hunting school for six weeks. (Which I guess she failed because she are the birds and they said she was a hard student because her mama spoils her!) She is only 18 months and will continue to improve. But I'm not sure that I'll quit spoiling her!
We got to spend time with all of the extended family this afternoon. It was Grandma Katie's 87th birthday today.
And honestly everyone was so kind and welcoming. I can't wait to see them again. It feels like home away from home. I miss our kids, but feel so at peace. I just feel very grateful for everything that has happened in the past year.
Happy Thanksgiving! I have so much to be grateful for this year.
Our song.... "Come to Me", by the Goo Goo Dolls: (Makes me cry! Love you Joey!)
I'll be kind, if you'll be faithful
You be sweet and I'll be grateful
Cover me with kisses dear
Lighten up the atmosphere
Keep me warm inside our bed
I got dreams of you all through my head
Fortune teller said I'd be free
And that's the day you came to me
Come to me my sweetest friend
Can you feel my heart again
I'll take you back where you belong
And this will be our favorite song
Come to me with secrets bare
I'll love you more so don't be scared
When we're old and near the end
We'll go home and start again
I caught you burnin' photographs
Like that could save you from your past
History is like gravity
It holds you down away from me
You and me, we've both got sins
I don't care about where you've been
Don't be sad and don't explain
This is where we start again
Come to me my sweetest friend
Can you feel my heart again
I'll take you back where you belong
And this will be our favorite song
Come to me with secrets bare
I'll love you more so don't be scared
When we're old and near the end
We'll go home and start again
Start again
Today's the day I'll make you mine
So get me to the church on time
Take my hand in this empty room
You're my girl, and I'm your groom
Come to me my sweetest friend
This is where we start again, again
Come to me my sweetest friend
Can you feel my heart again
Take you back where you belong
This will be our favorite song
Come to me with secrets bare
I'll love you more so don't be scared
When we're old and near the end
We'll go home and start again
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