I Remember When....

**The DaTiNg YeArS**

i remember when it was october 1996 and you walked up my driveway and i saw you for the very first time....i remember when we spent night after night after night playing racquetball together....i remember when you would pick me up in your old chevy truck....i remember when i "moved" from sitting in the passenger seat to the middle seat right next to you....i remember when you gave me an ASU sweater and hershey kisses the night before i left to go to idaho for thanksgiving....i remember you giving me a real "kiss" that same night....i remember when i'd listen to ThirtyThree by the smashing pumpkins over and over and over again....i remember when i'd be playing women's softball and i'd constantly look for you to see if you'd come to watch me play...i remember going to english class every morning and talking to gayla about you....i remember you and larry bringing me dinner one night at my work...i remember playing rugby in the irrigation at mesa high the night before you left on your mission....i remember when you left on your mission, you turned around right before walking into the "tunnel" and looked straight at me....i remember you calling me, telling me that it was okay that i had just sent you a dear john letter....i remember a month later, me writing another letter, begging for you to take me back....i remember the kiss we shared in fountain hills, overlooking the city, the night you came back from your mission....

My cute hubby and I will be celebrating 9 years of marriage this Thursday!!! If you count the time we were dating, and while he was gone on his mission...we've been together for close to 11 years!!!!

Some entries from my journal (parts of them), BACK IN THE DAY!!!!!

October 5, 1996....I went on a date today with Nathan Chapman. He is a total hottie!! (totally laughing at that now) Neither one of us are conversationalists, so it was kind of hard, but he's NICE!! (teehee)

October 14, 1996...Well, last thursday me, diane, larry and nate went and played racquetball. Then Saturday me, gayla, nate and aaron were supposed to go to the haunted house, but nate had gone w/my brother on a campout with the scouts and didn't get home until like 7pm. He called me and said he was too tired! I was pissed AND sad at the same time...and my mom made me go to the store with her and when I got back, dad told me to call Nate...he said "I took a shower and am feeling better, wanna go play racquetball?" (hmmm, our dating life consisted of only playing racquetball i think!!!)

October 27, 1996...Well, i've still been hanging out w/Nate. Friday night him and larry came to my work and brought me dinner. Last night me, him, diane and larry went and saw a movie and then ate. it was fun. I don't know whats going to hapen w/me and Nate. Larry says he totally likes me and stuff but he doesn't act like it! And he never calls me, I ALWAYS have to call him. me, him, gayla and larry are going to the fair on tuesday.

November 14, 1996...I still do stuff w/Nate all the time. It's cool. He's so cool and cute! I love doing stuff with him! We play racquetball alot and stuff!

December 20, 1996...I don't know when Nates going to send in his mission papers. I'm still dating him, we do stuff all the time and i always talk to him. He's so awesome. He is the nicest guy i've ever met! He is always a gentlemen, opens my doors and stuff. I love being with him, we're always together!

December 25, 1996...Nate came and brought me a Christmas present. He got me some raspberry lotion that I like and also got me a white teddy bear with a gold necklace and bracelet! I was totally shocked! He then came with me, dad and corey to the desert to shoot and take the dogs. When we got back, dad asked Nate to stay for dinner. After he went home, we were bored, so me, corey and clancey went to Nate's and played ping pong and basketball.

(skipping ahead a bit)

March 17, 1997....Nate hasn't sent his papers in yet. he just finished getting them all ready. So i'm sure he's gonna sent them in soon, if he hasn't already done it. A lot of people are saying we're gonna get married when he gets back. It would be great, but I don't know. it's a little early and I'm a little young to know. I guess we'll just see what happens!!!!

June 22, 1997...Life is hard, i'm just now realizing that Nate is leaving. I don't know what I'm going to do with my life when he's gone. It's gonna be so hard for me when he leaves, heck it's hard already and he hasn't even left. Everything is happening so fast and soon he'll be gone. I've been thinking and I want so much for Nathan to be my eternal companion. But I don't know, maybe it's just YOUNG love.

It's hard for me to think that we've been together for so long...married for NINE years!!! We have both grown and changed so much over time. We have had our ups and downs, and I'm sure we will continue to do so....but there is one thing that will NEVER change, the COMPLETE LOVE I have for this husband of mine. No one could make me more happy, no one could make me feel more special, no one could make me feel as wanted. I still feel giddy when he calls me on the phone or texts me, I still melt when he looks at me a certain way, and I still love it when he simply just HOLDS my hand. Happy Anniversary babe...I love you with all my heart!!!!