you take me the way i am

Matt and I met at Six Flags ten years ago this month.
The other night I found myself looking back on that hot summer day in the Texas heat.  I still remember what I was wearing.  I remember how nervous I was to be with a new group of friends full of cute boys and intimidatingly beautiful girls.  I remember looking across our bunching of friends as we all unloaded from our cars and were about to embark on our day of spinning and flirting.  I saw Matt looking a little bit as isolated as I was, and the moment seemed to stand still.  I made up my mind and in as bold a move as any self conscious fourteen-year-old girl can make, I walked across the makeshift circle and asked him, "Want to go on a ride?"  I had no idea just how much foreshadowing life was providing me that day, but as I hopped on roller coaster after roller coaster, slowly getting to know the person behind those sad blue eyes and McNeil baseball jersey, I really began my journey into the rest of my life.  In so many ways, the journey greatly reflected that day at Six Flags, with ups and downs, awkward encounters and uncomfortable phone calls.  Exhilarating highs of first kisses and long-distance conversations that ran into the wee hours of the morning.  Plummeting drop-offs of heartache after experiencing the highs only teenage romance can create.  On that day in July, there were a few rides that Matt did not want to go on with me -- too topsy-turvy.  But that was okay, because I had other friends who were willing to take the ride with me.  That continued to be true throughout the next ten years, as Matt and I would separate for periods of time, either due to distance or circumstance, and I was reminded how blessed I was, and still am, to have loyal friends who love me and bring so much joy to my life.

As I sat there reminiscing on that day, on that moment, on that summer and subsequent semester, I realized that I am living my own little fairy tale.  I married my prom date, I married my high school sweetheart, I married the first boy I ever loved, I married my best friend.

2002

At our marriage ceremony, our sealer talked about how rare it is to find someone who accepts you, someone who accepts all of you.  I know I have many flaws, yet I am so grateful I found someone who loves all of me -- including the flaws.  I love this beautiful life we live.  And I love this man more every single day.

Here's to living your very own fairy tale.