Half a Decade

November 20, 2006 It is amazing that FIVE years ago I met this young lad... This picture was taken the weekend we were 'official,' what a little looking guy! I will never forget seeing Brad in Ludington in his blue Gordy's shirt and then come to find out that he goes to West Ottawa two months later! Talk about crazy, but I guess it was worth the wait and unknown!! 

Also known as the guy in the red sweatshirt I took 

F-O-R-E-V-E-R to accept his invitation to go out with him. I turned him down four times and then finally I just decided to go for it and see what happened. Our first date technically was going to Pizza Hut, but he had to my parents first so he had to come over, talk about nerve-racking. We ended up renting The Sentinel  but getting there meant driving through a horrible thunder storm which was quite eventful and still something we laugh at today.

Chicago

Every year now we go to Chicago to celebrate. It it nice to take the train for the day and explore the city hand in hand and take time away to do something for ourselves. I have found it is so easy to take for granted the people you love in your life and Brad and I make a point to plan our Chicago trip every year. We always make sure to do something a little different every year so far we have done Shedds Aquarium, Navy Pier, Willis Tower, and Blue Man Group. Yet we always make sure to walk down Michigan Ave and hit up our favorite stores (mind you we NEVER buy anything) you will find us sitting on every couch in Crate & Barrel, walking around playing with every gadget in Apple, smelling chocolate in Hershey's, eating in the Water Tower, checking out snowboarding stuff and our most recent eating a celebratory cupcake at Sprinkles! YUM!!

This year we are going for a whole weekend!! Friday morning we will take the train and explore the city like always and then take a second train to stay with Matt and Betsy for the weekend!! This years adventure consists of hitting up the Science & Industry Museum!! Cannot wait!

Now the semi-cheesy part of this post comes out, we have pictures from every year around November 20. Ready. Go!

Year One

Year Two

Year Three

Year Four

 Distance

Seeing Bradley for the first time after six weeks of him being in Virginia.

Distance has always been a factor for the two of us, luckily we have college to keep us connected. However even then we face challenges. I will not say that distance is easy by any means but it can make you stronger in the end. Which some days I have questioned why we are always pulled apart, but I guess that's the beauty of us because regardless we have found a way to be resilient and face the distance head on. Between baseball, internships and me being two years younger in school we have had our fair share of time apart. But I guess on a positive note we have both seen some interesting places along the way, without him spending a summer in Virginia I wouldn't have got to go to Washington DC and without him working for the Tigers, well I wouldn't have got to see all the behind the scenes action. Aside from all the perks distance has made us closer in some way shape or form despite the numerous arguments and frustrations felt along the way. All I can say is thank God for e-mail, skype, texting, cell phones, ProFlowers, U.S postal service, and packages!!

The past five years have been a bundle of craziness!! That is probably a fairly large understatement, but it will do for the point that is being made. Although not known at the time Brad came into my life with perfect timing. He has held my hand through so much and as a couple we have gone through a great deal of lose and trials and injuries/surgeries. All of this has brought us so much closer and ultimately lead us to l-o-v-e!!

Brad has done so much for my life. He has the ability to make this belly laugh I don't often hear come out, he knows how to push my buttons to really piss me off, he has a way about putting me back in to reality or perspective, I often times over plan and get caught up in life's annoyance that I lose sight of who I really am. Within the past few months he has done a really good job of sitting and talking with me through frustrations burdens both him and I face as a couple and that both of us as individuals face. He pushes me even when I'm not wanting to be pushed aka working out...just ask him about my work out regimen...all I can say is thank God his roommate is patient enough to deal with me in the weight room, lets just say Brad and I do not see eye to eye when working out/ being competitive. Brad has shown me to love whole hearted despite whatever life throws at you, he has always believed in me and helped me through the most trying of times and some of the best times. He knows when I need a laugh, he knows when I just need to cry and he knows the right time to step in and offer a hug. Overall he is really great guy, I think we make a pretty good match. We challenge each other, we do not always see eye to eye, we argue, we get frustrated, we get annoyed, but we love each other. And despite all the ups and down we continue to love regardless, and we work hard to make our relationship strong and full of love.