15 years ago, I was 16 and Mondo was 15. We both went to the same high school and he visited my church frequently but I had never seen him...but he had seen me. He watched me dance in drill team without my knowledge. He had his friend at church tell me that he was interested in me. We started talking from there. We talked for several months but never actually dated. I was dying for him to ask me out so I wrote him a note (I know, how very high school of me!) and asked him if he was going to ask me out or not...this was on February 13th. He informed me that he was waiting until Valentine's Day. Whoops. So our dating anniversary is the day before Valentine's Day because I was too impatient to wait. :-)
We dated for 7 years with only one 12 hour break up. No, I'm serious. The night before I left for college we had a long tearful talk. I wanted to see other people since I was starting college and a new chapter in my life. I wanted to make sure he was the one. Poor guy still had one more year in high school and I ditched him. That was the worst night of my dating life. I didn't sleep at all. I cried all night. The next day I drove to Abilene, got settled in my dorm, then drove back to GP to go to a good friend's wedding. Mondo was there. It was way awkward. Do we sit next to each other? Do I even say hi? I desperately wanted to sit next to him and hold his hand and tell him I was an idiot. But I didn't. I said hi and then sat with some friends. By that night, back in Abilene, we were on the phone with each other talking about what a huge mistake we, I mean "I" made and we were inseparable after that.
He gave me the "7 year test" as he calls it. I didn't think he was EVER going to ask me to marry him. I was beginning to wonder if he ever wanted to get married at all. Poor Mondo. I gave him such grief and so did my family. Every anniversary or special occassion I watched for the little ring box but it never came. We went to lunch one day at our favorite chinese buffet place. After that we went to Lincoln Square and ate Marble Slab ice cream at the horse fountain. Typical simple date we frequently had. Until we got ready to go and Mondo dropped down on one knee and said he had something to ask me. All I remember saying is, "You better not be kidding!!" He wasn't. He gave a nice speech that neither one of us really remembers. I was so excited!!! We went straight to my parent's house to tell them. And you know what? My dad already knew! That little turkey had known for a while because Mondo actually went old school and asked him for permission to marry me. Awww! And Dad didn't tell Mom because he thought she might let it slip. She wasn't home so I called her. She was in the check out line at the grocery store. I think I had to tell her 3 times that I was engaged because she didn't believe me. She showed up with 5 or 6 wedding magazines. It was then that Mondo began to wonder what he got himself into!
We got married at our church and honeymooned in Maui for a week. It was amazing. I took some pictures of my wedding pictures so they're not the greatest but it's better than nothing!
It's so crazy to look back at how young the kids are! The little girls are my nieces: Morgan, Madilyn, and Destiny.
I LOVE this picture!! Hilarious!! Look at little Blaine under Mondo...he's 15 now!
Sorry Mondo, had to put this one in there. Look at the emotional little face watching me walk down the aisle. He loves me. ;-)
Here comes the bride.....
Loved that dress. Hmmm...looks like I'm missing a bridesmaid. Summer, where did you go? :-)
Whew, it's all over!
The whole wedding party...well, minus little Morgan. I don't know where she was.
Yummo! I would love some that cake again...so good!!
Groom's cake. See the chocolate covered golf balls on the top?
A little cheesy, I know.
This is another one of my favorites.
Yep, we left in a hummer limo. Mondo was in heaven! Because he was with me of course!
The inside of the limo.
Maui!
The luau. One of my best memories from our honeymoon.
And here we are today...still all kinds of in love. This picture was taken on our actual anniversary. We went to have steak at Chamberlains. Really good!
And what love story would be complete without the children?
5 comments:
That was the longest post ever! And I did actually read all of it-very sweet!
Traci
iin the pic of everyone at the wedding, it looks like Morgan was behind me, but you couldn't see her a tiny thing she was
Loved reading this!! And where WAS Summer?
Summer was sick and left the stage about 5 minutes into the wedding. I had no idea until the wedding was over.
Whoops. Didn't realize that was all captured on film. Sorry about that! I still remember Erin Perkins almost having to wear my dress because I wasn't sure I was going to be able to make it down the aisle! Didn't Mondo's brother get sick too? And btw, how is it possible that you have LOST weight since your wedding and post 2 babies? Just not fair!
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