It was a few days until we saw each other again. In fact, I wasn't paying a lot of attention at all. I'd already proclaimed, very loud and clear, that "I would not be one of those girls who married the first boy she dated", something I loathed about the reputation of the church college I was attending.
The next week I needed groceries(I told you....) so I hitched a ride with Eric...MY friend, and Nate's roommate. On the car ride home Eric worked to convince me to go on a date with Nathan. I agreed to go that Saturday...
Saturday was a little over committed :) My roommates and I were heading to a nearby town to visit one of my roomie's family. It wasn't my fault that we were FOUR hours late for my date...when I finally showed up I did feel a little bad, but that only lasted a few minutes. They'd rented a movie to watch...Schindler's List. Really? for a date?
I stayed about 10 minutes.
I realize now that I am incredibly blessed that he followed me. We sat under the stairs of my apartment complex, propped up on the bike racks...and talked for hours. HOURS. And from that night we were pretty much inseparable.
I tried to dig through the garage this morning to find his journal so I could PROVE this story...but, alas...no luck. Take my word for it.
Nathan was obsessive about his studies. Me, not so much. He studied non-stop. As finals were approaching that semester, which was probably only 6 weeks after we started dating(and we'd already talked marriage) he was seriously blowing me off. To 'study'. Bleh. One night I went to the little cheapie Chinese restaurant there in town that catered to the masses of poor college kids and picked up two 'Number 4' meals. I thought perhaps he'd pay some attention to me if I brought food, and it worked! He gave me about a half an hour of attention before I could tell he was getting anxious to get back to his test preparation. Before we threw the garbage out, we decided to open our fortune cookies...I have no clue what mine said. It must have been entirely ordinary. Nate's however, was PERFECT.
Stop searching for happiness. It is in front of you.
Last month I was cruising through my list of errands in Great Falls, kids in tow. We argued over which nasty fast food place would be better...and I made the executive decision: Taco Bell. After we'd finished up, and I was cleaning our table off, I grabbed one of the packets of hot sauce the kids had played with. There was some bold, scroll writing on it that grabbed my attention.
You have chosen wisely.
My mind instantly went back to that fortune cookie. And while the conclusion you might reach from this random tale of coincidence is that perhaps I should stop eating out so much(you're right...I should)...I smiled. Grateful for the 17 years that have been mine.
Today marks the day I chose to marry Nate. I thought I was 'giving myself' to him. My perspective has shifted so much that it doesn't even resemble my 19 year old self. Today marks that day that I struck it rich. Rich in ways that aren't countable to the outside eye...rich in ways that I am forever thankful for.
Nathan Pitcher is the most unromantic person you'll ever meet. He doesn't EVER plan for things to win me over. He pretty much stinks at buying presents. He hates to snuggle and can't take my feet touching him in bed. And, unless I'm watching some sappy love movie, I'm coming to terms with that :) Because other than these flaws....he'almost perfect. He is good. Honest. Constant. Dedicated. Hard working. Faithful. God loving.
Mine.
So happy this man has given 17 years to me. Today I think that I will let my food remind me of one of God's greatest blessings in my life: Stop searching for happiness. It is in front of you. You have chosen wisely.
Grateful he was mine to chose.
