30 Days of Thanks: Day 14

12 years ago, sometime around this date, Mickey and I had been dating for about three weeks and the three magical words came into our relationship. That’s right, we said our very first “I love yous” three weeks into dating. But, we knew then and we still know now. 12 years of being together, 11 years of being married, having lived in two states, having lived in five different homes and now with two amazing daughters. It was already love then and it’s even more so today.

A recent photo of Mickey and me, taken on our 11th anniversary by the very same photographer (and now friend) who shot our wedding pictures:

(Photographs in this post by Falco Photography.)

I am thankful for my wonderful husband, Mickey. 

It all began on October 24, 2000 when a very shy Mickey walked into my office. A good friend had recently moved and he was looking for her former office and somehow wound up in mine. We talked, picked on each other a little bit and he was on his way. I shot him a quick email – some one line quip, don’t even really remember what it said. He wrote back with some other quip and a joke about why my email signature was so long.  We emailed a few times and in the context of one of his longer emails that afternoon, he buried in a brief mention of him having a softball game that night and if I wasn’t busy I could go. Something like that. I simply wrote back and asked what time he was picking me up. 😉 I did go to his softball game that night. It was a 9pm game and I was the only spectator in the stands. So, I did what any reasonable mid-20’s girl at that time would do — I sat and talked to my friend on my cell throughout the game. He took me home and we wound up talking until well past midnight. (And, we both had to be at work EARLY the next day, not to mention.)  That was our first date. Simple, easy going and…well…perfect for us! As I’ve already said, three weeks later, we knew and exchanged those three amazing words that we’ve said countless times since. We got engaged on May 13, 2001 and were married on October 27, 2001. From a work-related starter conversation to being married in one year and three days. Here’s to Divine Intervention, no doubt about it!

There is a lot to love about Mickey. It would be incredibly difficult to sum it all up in a blog post, actually. So, here is a glimpse of what I love and adore about this husband of mine:

• Even when I have bedhead, pillow marks across my face and breath that could knock someone out, he will still say I’m beautiful. That’s some serious love, people.
• He plans amazing surprises and dates for us. I am hard to surprise and he has found ways to do that many times.
• He is a completely awesome daddy. These girls are seriously crazy about their daddy and, well, they should be. He is the best daddy I could ever have imagined.
• He is a wonderful provider. Mickey is a small business owner and works hard for our family.
• He respects my “me” time. There are times when I just need time to be alone and quiet and he gets that.
• He has a strong faith. One of the first things I knew and respect about Mickey is that he is a man of God. He has a great faith and exemplifies that for our family.
• He never hesitates to help someone when help is needed. He has an amazing heart!
• We can be silly together. I love having inside jokes and such that are just our’s to share.
• He would go on the Amazing Race with me if we should ever actually enter and get chosen.

Suffice it to say that this list is FAR from complete. I don’t have enough blog space to write all the wonderful things about Mickey. I am so glad that God lead that Michigan-raised boy into this Georgia-raised girl’s life. Rather than two world colliding, we have had two paths intersect to go through this life together. And, I couldn’t be more blessed and happy.

I love you, honey!
Kelly

This is a scan one of our favorite wedding photos:

And a similar pose on our 11th anniversary:

I am one blessed girl. 🙂