Our Love Story

In August, I wrote a post titled *Engagement Rings*, saying that this Valentine's Day I would write a post telling the story of my engagement, since it is the 8th anniversary of when my husband proposed :-) I wrote "our love story" for our wedding, so I have copied and pasted it here!

It was an autumn day in 1999 when I met the man I would marry. The sun was shining and the leaves were changing colors on the Iowa State University campus where I was a sophomore.As I followed two of my friends through the line in the Friley/Helser dining hall, I was oblivious that I was about to meet my future husband. If I had known that this lunch was going to be the beginning of a love story, I would have paid more attention to what I was wearing that day, how I did my hair. . . Instead, I casually placed my tray next to my roommate, Sarah P, as Kathy K sat across from her. (I had met both girls in classes the year before.) A minute later, a guy sat down across from me. Wow, I thought, he’s very good looking. His face was smooth and clean-shaven and his short-sleeve shirt revealed tan, toned arms. His thick, dark hair looked as if it had just been cut.

“This is Joe,” Kathy said, introducing my roommate and me to the new guy. Joe’s big, round, dark brown eyes met mine and his mouth turned into a grin that revealed perfectly shaped, white teeth.

I learned that Kathy had met Joe our freshman year because their dorm floors had been “brother/sister” floors. The two groups had become friends and hung out together every week.

Somehow it was announced where Joe was from.
My head snapped up. It was where a childhood friend of mine had once lived! I hadn’t seen Stephanie in several years so I couldn’t let an opportunity to ask Joe if he knew her pass by. He didn’t remember her, but from then on we were hooked in conversation. I remember thinking that he seemed like a truly “good” guy. I could tell that he was shy, but very funny. He was nice, respectful, and polite. I could tell just by looking into his honest eyes that he was someone whom people could trust.

We realized that Kathy and Sarah had finished eating and were waiting for us to conclude our conversation. Joe and I had definite chemistry! :-)“It was good to meet you,” I said, after Joe told us goodbye. His eyes locked with mine long enough for me to feel my heart flutter, and he gave me a smile and a nod.

As soon as he walked out the door, Kathy and my roommate giggled.
“What are you two snickering about?” I jokingly accused.
“You and Joe would make a great couple!” Kathy exclaimed as we walked upstairs to our floor. I rolled my eyes.
“You do look really cute together,” Sarah added.
“Why? Because we’re both short?” I teased to my tall friends.
“Seriously,” Kathy said, “I’ve known both of you for a year, and your personalities are a lot alike. I think we should set you up!”
I couldn’t help but blush. “Well, I wouldn’t mind!” I decided, bouncing down the hall, the rest of the way to my room.

* * * * * * * * * *
Despite my friends’ excitement to set up Joe and me -- they didn’t. Everyone who knew Joe agreed that we’d make a good couple, but it was always put on the “back burner.” Now I realize things happened for the best. I couldn’t date Joe until I was ready.

Over the next six months I only saw Joe a few times. Most often, it was in the dining hall. He always acknowledged me from across the room with a smile and a wave, which made my heart flutter the same as it had on the first day that we met. I was also happy when he said he watched me on the college TV station. :-)

One afternoon I saw him in the parking lot, and I remember feeling a chill run down my spine – like I sensed for the first time that Joe and I would end up together. Until then, I hadn’t taken my friends’ plan seriously. I had spent the school year dating a wide variety of guys who left me with a negative attitude and hopeless of ever finding true love. I apologize to all of the nice guys out there, but at that point I did not believe that any existed. I thought every single male was a jerk so I was very happy not being in a relationship.

But -- on April 7th, 2000, Joe and I were invited to a friend’s birthday party. As soon as Joe walked through the door he smiled and waved to me. We ended up talking for five hours! By the time Joe left, I felt as if I had known him all of my life -- I was so comfortable. I actually felt hope alive inside my heart for the first time in a long time –- as if a part of me really believed that I could trust a guy for once! Joe was so real and simple. He completely changed my mind about men. I felt safe and secure with him. He seemed like the perfect guy for me.

Over the next few weeks, my friends finally helped me out. Twice when Joe visited my floor, they invited us to all watch a movie together.

Then, on April 28th, I was getting ready to go somewhere when there was a knock at my door. It was Joe! He said that he’d been thinking about me and decided to stop by. My heart melted. I didn’t hesitate – I asked him if he wanted to go see a movie the following week.  His face lit up.

A couple of days later when we confirmed our plans, Joe suggested that we go out to eat first. So, on Monday, May 1, 2000 at 6 p.m. we went to The Pizza Kitchens, followed by the movie, U571. After the previews ended, Joe surprised me by putting his arm around me. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven! (Later I found out that his arm became sore and he was in pain the whole time – but he never moved it! Now that’s what I call a man!)

We saw each other three more times that week before leaving ISU for summer break. Once again I took the initiative -- I asked for his phone number, address, and e-mail address! He asked for mine as well and we hugged each other goodbye.

We spent the entire summer e-mailing back and forth. Little did I know that would be the only time Joe would ever e-mail me. :p Apparently he spent, like, an hour writing me one paragraph emails because he is the opposite of me when it comes to writing! So when I got upset in the future due to him never e-mailing me again, he admitted that it had been very stressful that summer, he just did it so he wouldn't lose touch with me!Well, I guess it was worth it because we were official boyfriend/girlfriend when we returned to school for our junior year. We had gotten together five times over the summer - and one of those was our first kiss on June 26, 2000. :-) We'd gone paddle-boating and out for pizza, then rented There's Something About Mary. This time Joe made the first move: as he was telling me goodbye at my door he leaned in to kiss me. :-)

By that October 21st when Joe told me he loved me for the first time (and I reciprocated), I was confident that he was the man with whom I wanted to spend the rest of my life. I still don’t know how I got so lucky. I thank God every day for bringing him into my life, and I constantly tell Joe how important he is to me, how thankful I am for having had the chance to meet him, to date him, and to marry him. What a positive difference he made in my life; he definitely helped me to become a better person. He brought out the best in me and I truly believe that we were made for each other. I am so excited for our future because our relationship just keeps getting better and better.

After twenty-one months of dating, Joe and I became engaged on Valentine's Day 2002 (this pic was taken just minutes after the proposal). It was a Thursday evening during my senior year of college, and Joe had taken me to dinner at Macaroni’s Grill in Des Moines (our first time there as a couple, but after that it became the restaurant for us to go to on all special occasions). When we arrived back to his apartment, Joe told me that he’d made a change to the website that he had been helping me make for a class. So, I typed in the address and a red screen appeared that said, “Andrea. . .” (I scrolled down) “Will You Marry Me?” Below the words were a picture of a ring and a dozen roses. Our song ("Hero" by Enrique Iglesias) played in the background. I gasped and looked at Joe who had bent to his knee and pulled out a REAL ring and REAL roses. It was a dream come true! My hands were shaking as I took the ring out of the brown leather case and slipped the sparkling diamond on my finger. I threw my arms around Joe as I said, “Yes! Of course!”

Joe had called my dads the night before he proposed to ask their permission to marry me, and my fathers happily agreed.

I graduated from college that May (2002), Joe graduated that December (2002) and started his first job out of college near Omaha, NE on April 7, 2003 (exactly 3 years from the birthday party where "it had all begun" for us). We went back to our nostalgic ISU campus to have our beautiful wedding on April 26, 2003. The ceremony was held at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and the reception in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union. Our honeymoon was April 28 thru May 3, 2003 in Sand Key (near Clearwater Beach), Florida. It was paradise!