The Man I Love

Four and half years ago I met Nathan. I had just started college and my friend and I were hanging out with some fraternity guys we had just met. We were at lunch and Nathan walked to the table and sat down. He was introduced as "Nathan, the president of our fraternity." I said hi and went back to eating. Never giving it another thought. He was a senior and he had red hair. (I had never liked red hair before him.) My friend starting liking Nathan. She wanted me to get to know him a little bit and put in a good word for her. So I started trying to be friends with him. A few weeks later my friend was already dating someone else. One night I got a text message from Nathan that said, "I need you to call me when you get a minute." so when I was free I called. He said that he needed to talk to me and asked me to come to his room. I came up and when I got to his door he opened it and said, with a hand gesture toward a chair, "Will you please have a seat?" I thought..."What is going on? He is so serious." And that is when Nathan asked me to go out on a date with him. I asked him if I could think on it. I had to make sure my friend would not be upset for one and I called my mother to see what she thought.

I was so nervous on our first date. I had never been on a real date before. (I wasn't allowed to date when I was younger...and yes my sister dates now. A lot has changed. haha) I enjoyed our date but wasn't sure if there would be more. But he called the next day, and the day after that, and kept calling and asking to spend time with me. And from then on, we were together. Nathan always knew we would get married from the beginning. It took me a little longer. Like I said, he was a senior and I was a freshman. Part of me was afraid that the distance would get between us after he graduated. But he never stopped believing. And I'm so glad he was right! :)

My relationship with Nathan has changed drastically since we first started dating. Looking back, it's hard to imagine that was us. (I had strayed from a lot of my Christian values.) In college we spent a few nights a week in the bars. Note: And while I have no problem having a few drinks...you will not catch be throwing up because of alcohol ever again! Anyways, back to the point. When we are driving down the road and Addison is fussing and Nathan and I are taking turns singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and doing the hand motions, I can't help but laugh at how far we've come. When we are standing as a family in church and singing praise and worship, I can't help but thank God for bringing us to this point.

Nathan is still very much that serious man who asked me to have a seat. He is mature and wise waaay beyond his years. He is a successful business man and continues to move up in the company he works for. (At this rate he will be running the whole thing in a few years!!) I am so proud of his accomplishments. But that isn't why I love him. I love him because of the man he is, not what he does. No matter how busy he gets, he makes sure that Addison and I know that we are number one on his list. His new years resolution was to, "Be More Romantic to Me"!! How could I not love that?! He is such a wonderful father. When he is reading a story to Addison or singing American Grace to her, it makes me tear up every time. I get to see the silly side of him that no one else really sees. I love that no matter how bad a day I have had, when he comes home and gives me a hug, for that moment nothing matters. He makes me feel safe. Every time he leaves the house he kisses me good-bye and each time he reutrns he greets me with a kiss. I love that even when he doesn't understand some of the choices I make, he supports me. I love that he stands up for breastfeeding in front of his friends. Nathan makes me feel beautiful and when he looks at me, I can see in his eyes that he truly believes it. He is so strong. He always believes that everything will work out. He encourages me to pray more and seek God. He is so tough, but so sensitive at times when I need him. He is my best friend.