7.31.2013

My Last First Date

Yesterday, Stephen and I celebrated the three-year anniversary of our first date: July 30, 2010.

Is it a tad cheesy that we like to relive the memory of that day each year? Yes, probably. But for us, it was that date that changed the course of our lives forever. (Funny to think that an evening of Cajun food and a movie could be so life-altering, huh?)

He picked me up five minutes early at my apartment that night and I remember (quite literally) feeling weak in the knees, like I needed to sit down and catch my breath. He was the most handsome man I'd ever seen and he was standing in my living room.

The conversation that night came easily. The laughter, abundantly.

At one point during the movie later, he slid his hand across the arm of the seat and grasped mine.

And for me, it was game over.

I wanted to hold hands with this man every day for the rest of my life.

And, thanks to the good Lord, I can.

..................................

I sat on the couch writing this post last night, trying to sum up just what July 30 means to me.

I looked at the bouquet, which S had brought home for me yesterday afternoon, sitting atop the kitchen counter. I looked at the various framed photos of the times we've shared, all lining our mantle...the same mantle that served as the backdrop for the night he proposed to me.

I looked down at the ring he gave me; a beautiful, emerald-cut stunner with baguettes, just like the style of the Harry Winston I'd always coveted, but never told him about. The ring he designed himself, the stone selected by hand. Just four months after we'd met without my having a clue.

And my eyes drifted down to the bump on my stomach, serving as a "desk" for my laptop. The sweet, ever-growing bump holding our precious baby girl, who we'll meet in just a few weeks. Our daughter. Half him, half me; all miracle.

My goodness. So much life has happened in just three July 30ths.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13

30 comments:

  1. Such a sweet post!!!! Happy first last date anniversary:)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful story!! I love your writing Leslie <3

    ReplyDelete
  3. oh my goodness i got the chills. you two are just SO sweet!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a beautiful story...fills us single gals up with hope! Y'all are amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. So happy for you that July 30, 2010 happened :) I still have the email you sent me after I commented on your engagement post...your words gave me hope then and they still do, even though I'm still praying that my last first date will get here soon enough. xo

    ReplyDelete
  6. Awww! LOVE!
    xox
    giedre
    www.walkingdotphotography.com
    ps. Also: four months?!? The man works FAST! :D

    ReplyDelete
  7. Awww! LOVE!
    xox
    giedre
    www.walkingdotphotography.com
    ps. Also: four months?!? The man works FAST! :D

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful love story and so well written! Congrats on 3 years well spent!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Such a sweet memory! You guys are going to be such wonderful parents to your precious little one:) So excited for you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is so sweet, I loved this post. You are going to be an amazing Momma, and wonderful parents.

    ReplyDelete
  11. So, so so sweet!! Y'all are adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  12. this is beautiful! what sweet memories the two of you have, and only more to come with that sweet baby of yours.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love this! Such a sweet post. It is amazing to see the way the Lord changes our life each year.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I can't wait to have my last first date it sounds incredible. To think it all started from a blog too!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love, love, love!

    ReplyDelete
  16. So sweet! And just so you know it's not strange, my husband and I still remember Aug 20th, our first date! It's a great excuse to make the day a little extra special. He reached over and held my hand during the movie as well. We have now been married for 21 years. God is so good.

    ReplyDelete
  17. So sweet! And I love that you celebrate your "first date" anniversary. My hubs and I celebrate our "Engagiversary" way bigger than our Wedding Anniversary. For some reason, it's just a very special day for us!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful post! You gave me goosebumps!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Beautiful post! You gave me goosebumps!

    ReplyDelete
  20. This is so sweet, Leslie! You've got me teared up! SO happy you've found such a sweet love!

    ReplyDelete
  21. oh girl... you had me in tears at work. Such a precious story!

    ReplyDelete
  22. this almost made me cry and gave me so much hope at the same time!

    Y'all are precious!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I just got engaged and have felt so overwhelmed ever since. this post lifted that fog of anxiety and made me remember what it's really all about. so lovely. thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  24. i know my post partum hormones are running rampant, but lord have mercy - this had me boo-hooing! it never ceases to amaze me how God plans our stories. our love stories, our life stories, our faith stories.
    jeffrey and i were just talking about this this the other night. we had our first date the summer before i started 9th grade. and seriously, who would have thought that we'd be where we are now? teenagers sharing our first date and now married with three precious girls... we could have never planned it, but HE knew all along. happy anniversary to you and stephen. may there be many, many more! xo

    ReplyDelete
  25. This just made me cry. You two (three!) are so precious!

    ReplyDelete
  26. This just brought tears to my eyes, such a sweet story!

    ReplyDelete

What'cha got?