5 years with Nathan

On September 28th, 2004, I went on my first real date. I had liked several boys but they were never really my boyfriends because I wasn't allowed to date growing up. (Apparently my parents changed their minds years later when Jessica came along! lol) I went to dinner with a guy that I had become friends with in college. He was a senior and I was a freshman. I remember being nervous but trying to play it cool of course. He was a really nice guy and I liked the way he made me feel like a lady. But because I had just found my freedom, I had plans to go on several different dates before getting tied down. When he asked me out on a date I was a little surprised because I didn't know he liked me and I really hadn't looked at him in that way. But because I wanted to finally have a first date, I went. We had a good time and then the next day he called again, and the next day, and the next. Suddenly an unexpected first date turned into my boyfriend, my fiance, and now my husband. Since that first date, I don't think a single day has gone by without at least a text, email, or phone call. (Even when he was in the Bahamas and paid a guy $20 for a 5 minute phone call!)

Looking back over these past 5 years so much has happened. We've come so far! Things were simple and fun in the beginning. We were in college "living it up". Then we had to be long distance for a year when he graduated and moved back home. That was really hard on me and a test on our relationship at times. After a year of driving 6 hours every weekend, I moved to Conyers. After 8 months, we decided to move to Thomasville. The day before we moved, he asked me to marry him! We got married on July 7th, 2007. Started trying to get pregnant on our wedding night and exactly two months later we found out I was pregnant! Moved into the house we built in March of 2008. Now here we are with a 16 month old, the Great Dane I've always wanted, plans for another baby in the not too distant future, and plans for another house! Things are not nearly as simple as they were, but we have so much more to show for our hard work. We are very blessed!!

Nathan Blaine Gamble is the love of my life. He is my best friend. I'd be lying if I said that he didn't make me want to pull my hair out sometimes though. :) Sometimes the things I love about him are the things that drive me nuts. Overall though, I'm a pretty blessed woman. I'm in love with a man that I can trust will never leave me or cheat on me. He believes in my dream of being a stay at home mother. We still have so much fun together. (Even if after 5 years he doesn't believe me when I tell him EVERY night that I honestly don't like being tickled!) Nathan is an amazing provider for this family and works very hard with hardly any complaining. He puts his family first. He is a simple man who cares very little about spending money on fancy things for him but never hesitates to buy me things if he thinks I will like them. He embraces me being a sassy girl and even smiles when he realizes his daughter just might beat me in that department! I could go on and on, but overall, lets just say he's great!!

Last night as we were pulling into the garage the song came on the radio that played as we were announced as husband and wife. We walked down the steps and through the crowd to the horse drawn carriage that awaited us while we heard, "Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this..." And when I heard that song and reminded Nathan when it played I started crying thinking about that moment. And then I was laughing at myself for crying. And I said, "I feel so silly for crying and I don't know why I'm doing it. I'm sorry." My man pulled me close and said, "Don't be sorry, you're perfect!" And then I cried a little more. :)

Here's to many more Mr. Gamble!!!