A Big Year

2008 happens to be a big year in Randy's and my relationship. It was 15 years ago that we met and began dating. We also celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary this year.

We met in February of 1993. I was in the 11th grade, and Randy was a wise old senior! We attended different high schools, but met at church. It was at our high school trip to Mexico in April that we began talking a lot more. During a movie at this tiny church in Ensenada there was a little Mexican girl sitting in my lap and she asked if I was single (she was about 6 or 7). I said that I was, and she promptly picked up Randy's hand and put it on mine. I was horribly embarrassed! I think Randy was embarrassed too, and we laughed about it later. I had never been bold with boys that I liked, although I had some close guy friends. I just never saw myself dating any other high school boys... they were really immature and I just didn't have time for that! For the next couple of months we saw each other at events and talked. We had a few casual group dates, and had our first "alone" date on May 31st in San Francisco. It was a daytime exploring trip. We decided to "go out" on that date (I love those junior high and high school terms for being boyfriend and girlfriend... and I realize I'm so not ready to navigate this with my own kids!).

The next 5 years were a bit up and down. We did break-up for 13 months while in college. It started when we were long-distance, but even continued after Randy started attending Biola. Since we were so young I think it was a really good time for us to be apart. We both explored other relationships/friendships, although we remained good friends. In November of 1995 we started dating again. I knew that this was the real thing. I think Randy knew we were the real thing even when we were broken up. I just had to make sure for myself.

We got married in July of 1998 after I graduated from college. By most people's standards we did get married really young. We have changed a lot these last 10 years, but we still complement each other. We still have fun together. We make each other laugh, and we really understand each other. Now we have kids, careers, and a lot of responsibility. I think we lighten each other's loads, though. There are struggles, of course, but we take care of each other and provide that support that is so necessary. We are almost at the point when we have known each other longer than not... that will happen in the next two years! Crazy!