The Story of Us

With Valentine's Day right around the corner & so many great love stories floating around in blogland currently, I decided to share our story. I'm linking up with From Mrs. to Mama & if you want to read some great stories, go check out the link-up! I've never blogged about how Ben & I met and fell in love. Why not have it down on "paper" forever? 

Meet the 19 year old version of me. I was a sophomore at Ole Miss. At this particular stage in my life I felt kind of broken. At the beginning of my sophomore year I was recovering from an eating disorder (never blogged about that either. weird.), enjoying my freedom a little too much of living in an apartment with friends, and trying to be okay with being single. After a string of not so great guys, I decided I was done. My solution to the guy problem? Buy a dog. A really frackin' expensive dog at that. I thought all I needed in life at that moment was Jack. 2 months later I met...

20 year old Ben. He was a junior at Ole Miss and a pharmacy major. My friend Melissa was dating his roommate & best friend, Collin. We sat in this horrible social studies lecture class 3 days a week and throughout the class she BEGGED me to meet Collin's roommate. I said no probably a gazillion times. I had Jack, remember?! Finally, after weeks of this, I agreed. Begrudgingly. 

One Friday night {in November of 2004...makes me feel old} Mel and I got ready together & headed over to their apartment. I was wearing my pink converse (very UN-Ole Miss), carrying my 4 month old chihuahua puppy, and a Newk's cup full of some fruity adult beverage. Just keepin' real. 

I remember feeling very awkward since this was an arranged meetup, multiple guys calling my sweet dog a "rat" throughout the night, spilling my large drink all over the carpet in true Laura fashion, AND being intrigued by the cute shaggy boy who was really quiet because he had to "study."

After we officially met, Ben asked me out on a date 2 weeks later. Before that date, I went home for Thanksgiving and told all my girls about him. I told them that I had just met Ben once but I had a feeling something would happen between us. 

For our first date we ordered Chili's takeout and ate at his place. We really talked and got to know one another. That first date was all I needed to be hooked. I knew he was different.

Ben totally balanced me out. He made me feel special & loved. He loved my dog...THAT was a huge deal. His mathematical ways helped me survive every single college math class I ever took. Ben wasn't your average crazy frat boy. He was actually the opposite and I loved that! 

We started officially dating in December 2004. I knew I loved him in January. I am now a believer of the saying "when you know, you know." So true!

In the 3 years we dated: we went to lots of Ole Miss football games, spent lots of time in the Grove, watched lots & lots of LOST on dvd, had many fun nights on the Oxford square, spent tons of time playing with the kids I babysat, drove back and forth between Atlanta & North Alabama a bunch, went to the beach, & I heard more sports talk than I ever thought possible. 

Ben proposed in March of 2007. Best surprise ever! We had gone to a Lakers game in Memphis, gone on a carriage ride through downtown Memphis, and then walked to the top of the Peabody Hotel. He asked me to marry him as we were looking out over the city and it completely took me by surprise! I pretty much freaked out & it took me about 5 minutes to realize he was serious...then I of course said "YES!" 

We got married on July 19, 2008 in front of a beautiful historic home in my hometown. *sigh* It was perfect. You can read more about our wedding here. I wish we could relive our wedding day every year...would that be a bit much?! 

It has been a crazy 7 years but I have loved every minute of it! We've moved to a new city, built a house, started new jobs, acquired 3 dogs, found a church family, and had a baby! I love that I get to share this adventure of life with my best friend by my side. When I am a spaz, Ben calms me down. When I don't want to stand up for myself, Ben pushes me to be brave. When I am feeling like a huge pregnant whale, Ben knows what to say to make me feel pretty. Ben is the hardest worker I've ever known & is SUCH a great dad. I fell in love with him all over again when Grayson was born. 

Our love has changed and grown a lot in the past 7 years. But? It just keeps getting better.