Our Love Story: LINK UP!

Ok, this is my very first LINK UP! I decided to join for a few reasons:

1. I saw this from Becky at From Mrs. to Mama and thought it was a cute idea, so I thought I'd join.
2. My sister-in-law at O'Leary Love wrote about her love story and I couldn't help but think about and remember all of the wonderful (and fun!) memories about her relationship with her husband, our friendship, and my relationship with my Mr.!
3. I didn't think I would be characterized as a "real" blogger or wife or woman if I didn't write a post on Valentine's Day ;)

Here we go! Let's talk about L O V E, baby!

How long have you and your significant other been together?

Let's see: 6 years, 3 months, 29 days, and about 12 hours (but, really, who is keeping track?)

How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

It goes a little something like this: Girl goes to small college. Boy goes to small college. Girl rooms with another tennis girl who she kinda knows. Boy rooms with Girl's roommate's boyfriend. Girl's roommate says, "Looks like you and Boy will have to spend some time together since Boy's roommate and I are dating!" Girl says, "Puh-lease, don't set me up." Boy and Girl run into each other non-stop during first week of school. Boy and Girl magically sit right next to each other in line to register for classes. Line lasts for hours. Boy and Girl talk non-stop. Girl gets butterflies. Boy gets butterflies. It is love. The rest is history.

If married, how long have you been married?

If my calculation is correct, we have been married for precisely: 1 year, 3 months, 28 days, and about 19 hours

If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?

We got married in my hometown, at the church I went to my whole life. It was a big wedding comprised of all of our loved ones - family & friends.

Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

Oh, do we ever. I will elaborate on one, but list the others: In college I added "face" on the end of names (I know you're thinking, it's a wonder how you found a man to put with your weird-ness), so that gave us Booface (yes, "boo" as in what Usher calls his lady friends). 

List: Lokey, Dweedle-dop, Lokeface, Dano, Boo...

We honestly don't use the typical names (absolutely nothing against them, we are just weirdos and create our own. Also, I tried calling Dan "babe" a couple times and it just didn't roll off the tongue quite like "booface" does.) 

Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

I'm with AG on this one - ONLY 3?!

1. Absolutely loves me for being ME
2. His generosity
3. He lifts me up & builds my confidence with his honest, kind words (even when I don't want to hear the truth)

Tell us how he proposed?

He took me to our favorite restaurant to "celebrate my new job"...little did I know what we were really going to celebrate!

Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

**He gives flowers at very unexpected times and not very often, rather he loves being creative with cards/gifts.

Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

Both. We love to make dinner and rent movies, but also enjoy going out to dinner or trying something new.

Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

Travel to a place neither of us has been. It can be just for a long weekend, a day, or a week. Doesn't matter, just the two of us!

Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

Honestly, probably watch a movie on the couch. We are pretty busy these days (but really, who isn't?!) and relaxing sounds perfect to me! 

Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

We definitely aren't perfect and these little tidbits are things that we try our best to maintain and stay true to:

1. Keep God at the center of your relationship. Talk about your personal relationship with God, talk about your walk with God as a TEAM, pray for each other, and pray for the relationship.
2. I strongly believe in never going to bed angry (Ephesians 4:26).  Talk it out. Cry it out. Laugh it out. It doesn't matter how you communicate it, but do it.

Show us a picture of what love means to you.

My mom will probably kill me, but here's a photo of my Mom and Dad on their 40th wedding anniversary. They have been married for 41 years now and STILL have fun and laugh together. It is great to see them pick on each other, even after all these years :) My sisters and I have had QUITE the role models.

**DISCLAIMER: After I finish this post on my lunch break at work, a bouquet of roses show up in my office! Dan has never gotten me flowers on Valentine's Day (saves them for other random times when I least expect it!), but I did this one! See, what I mean about flowers at very UNEXPECTED times?! Point proven.**

O' Updates

Some updates from the O's (in iPhone picture form. Please excuse the quality) -

      

1. FaceTime Moose 2. Chewing-on-my-sweatshirt-string-learned-by-D Moose 3. Sleeping Moose (yes he sleeps on his back with the covers pulled up...just like a person.)

Drink much? *Disclaimer* I did not drink 3 coffees yesterday. This is just what I've managed to collect through the week. I did remember to take the mugs home yesterday. Way to go, Al! Also, do you see Dan's little head peeking through between the cups?

We bought a cheap-o baby gate for our child. Er, dog. Dan was messing with it and was so happy he figured out the correct way to get locked. Dialogue before this photo was taken: 

Dan: See, Ali, it is really simple. You just find the number, which is '30' for us. Then, you just push down and *CRRRRAAACCCKKKEEED*
Me: *uncontrollable laughter*
Dan just shook his head. I think Moose was laughing as well. Poor guy. Oh well, it actually worked out fine because Moose has been great and we just let him roam the downstairs when we're at work!


I've been traveling some for work (more to come) and this is a photo of Downtown Naples, FL. Before we flew back I was able to head down to 5th Avenue and enjoy some coffee outside (and check out all of the sweet places around).

I also traveled to Los Angeles for work. Unfortunately it was raining and I didn't have enough  free time to galavant around the streets or shops; thus, this is the only photo I took...from my hotel room.

I'm looking forward to date night with the husb tonight. We aren't sure what we're doing yet, but I'm just excited to spend some time together (and usually have a pretty decent time :)).

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right NOW, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." [Matthew 6:33-34]