Our journey begins...

The Designer is about 6 months younger than I am. He was 1 grade level behind me in school. I met him during my Junior year of high school. By the time we started officially dating, I was already making plans to attend college out of state. I couldn't let a boy change my plans. Could I? Well, that is exactly what I did. I decided to go to the local community college while he finished his last year of school. We discussed attending an out-of-state college together at that time. During his Senior year of school, he was granted a large scholarship for a local college. It was significant enough that he couldn't turn it down. He was significant enough that I couldn't walk away, so we stayed local.

About 1 1/2 years after we started dating (about 2 years after we first met), he mentioned marriage to me. He didn't ask me to marry him, but he asked what I would do if he did propose marriage. I freaked out. I was 18 years old. Marriage was not something that had crossed my mind. Besides, all of the relationships I had any personal involvement in ended in divorce. Marriage wasn't something I planned to rush into. I told him absolutely no way would I say yes if he proposed. He said he couldn't imagine it either. We didn't talk about it again.

That following summer (June 15, 1995 to be exact!) he had a special dinner planned for us. He made reservations at a beautiful restaurant. We ate dinner. He was nervous, distant even. He was about to start a new job and I knew he was anxious about that, so I didn't think anything of it. We enjoyed our dinner and ordered dessert. Just before dessert arrived, The Designer got down on one knee and proposed. He really proposed! What?!?!?!?! I freaked out. I cried. I laughed. I was confused. How could he do this? I didn't answer him! I froze.

Moments later a driver arrived at our dinner table and escorted us out to a limo. Yes, a limo! The Designer had enlisted the help of his brother and cousin for his master plan. They showed up, took The Designers car and planted it at the beach. The Designer had a plan with the limo. First, he needed to hear me accept his proposal. After the shock wore off, I did. The limo had a few set stops. The first was my moms house. The Designer wanted to tell everyone in one evening and then go to the beach to watch the sunset. My mom said that the minute she saw the limo pull up in front of the house, she knew what was happening. She cried at our news, but wished us luck and sent us on our way to my dad's house. He wasn't home! Bummer. We then went to his families house to tell them. They were excited. We then went to the beach where his brother and cousin had set up a tent at the state park. We sat and watched the sunset. We talked about our future plans. We laughed. We cried. We prayed. Life was a whirlwind, for sure.

Not long after that I moved out of my house with my mom and sister and moved into the basement of The Designers house. Of course, his room was upstairs, but he spent most time down in my room. Life was good. I had compromised all of my goals, decisions, etc., but at the time, it felt okay. We set our wedding date for exactly one year from the date we were engaged...June 15, 1996. Just 2 months before my 20th birthday.

About 2 months before our wedding, we rented our first apartment together. It was small. It was charming. It was our first "home." We loved it. We were all settled in before our wedding.