Once upon a time, I had a job. At that job, there was a student teacher intern. That student teacher intern had a boyfriend. Her boyfriend had a friend, and that friend was tired of being single. (And the green grass grows all around, all around, and the green grass grows all around... Barney singalong, anyone?) So this friend of the boyfriend if he knew anyone he could set him up with, and the boyfriend said, "Yes, her name is Little Miss Sunshine".
So we drank some coffee. We talked about stuff. It was fun. Pretty general first date stuff. (Side note: first dates are socially wacky between differing backgrounds/expectations and nerves and first impressions.) Afterwards I was talking to my mom explaining my "on the fence" dilemma. I mean, shouldn't I just be head over heels, love at first sight, walking on clouds, and all that other stuff people say? Always, but especially at moments like these, I am thankful for a reasonable, level-headed, smart mother. She told me straight away I was being ridiculous and that of course I should go on a second date, and probably a third and fourth before I even thought about making some kind of "decision".
I've lost count of what number date we're on. What I haven't lost track of is how considerate and sweet he is, the way he loves adventure, or the priority he puts on prayer. He likes to read, he can fix anything, and he's taller than me when I'm in heels.
It's ironic, in a way. Ever since I was little, I've tried to plan out (read: control) my life. I remember writing "life plans" that included living on a farm with my three best friends and raising all kinds of livestock and doing craft projects. (I was a weird kid, ok?) In high school, it was all about the SAT. What score could I get? What schools could I get into? What major should I choose? It's funny because at each lifestage, there are a different set of questions. It's not as if you wake up one morning and think, "Gee, I'm all out of questions.". In respect to guys, it's usually been the same way. I pick one I like and then set to figuring out what I can do to get them to notice me. Ha.
This one wasn't like that, and it kind of freaked me out. We met on a blind date, so I already felt behind in the scoping out/mulling over/stalking process! The funny thing is, it just happened. Out of the blue, in from left field, the dark horse in the race - I didn't plan it, couldn't have written it, wasn't trying to make it work. I don't know what's going to happen or where we'll be in five years. And I think that's ok. That's what I get for having Type A tendencies - a lesson in God's providence.
So... once upon a blind date, I met a guy, who knows a guy, who dates a girl who I worked with last year. And the rest is history.
Much love,
Little Miss Sunshine
Spring turned into summer (but since summer in Phoenix doesn't end til October, it was still summer), and nothing had happened. The boyfriend of the student teacher intern who worked at the school where I worked last year brought it up again at the end of the summer. He had asked me about it in the spring, and I said "Sure, why not?". He asked me again in the summer; and I said "Sure, why not?. (It's how I get roped into most of my adventures.) So he gave away my number...
Fast forward a few days - he texted me. I thought he was super funny and a little ridiculous. We were scheduled to go on a double date with the friends next Wednesday, but he asked if I wanted to get coffee on the Friday before as kind of a pre-date. I said, you guessed it, "Sure, why not?".
Well, we did get coffee, but I'll tell you right now, it wasn't love at first sight. That sounds harsh and rude, but I say it as a sort of caution to those who would say that you should really "click" (whatever that means) on the first date. (I used to be one of those people.)
So we drank some coffee. We talked about stuff. It was fun. Pretty general first date stuff. (Side note: first dates are socially wacky between differing backgrounds/expectations and nerves and first impressions.) Afterwards I was talking to my mom explaining my "on the fence" dilemma. I mean, shouldn't I just be head over heels, love at first sight, walking on clouds, and all that other stuff people say? Always, but especially at moments like these, I am thankful for a reasonable, level-headed, smart mother. She told me straight away I was being ridiculous and that of course I should go on a second date, and probably a third and fourth before I even thought about making some kind of "decision".
We already had the second date scheduled, so we went dancing on Wednesday. If you know ANYTHING about me, you know dancing is right up there with breathing on the list of life essentials. As it happens, the man could dance. That was in his favor... a lot. He asked me on a third date that night. I said yes. He kept that song on repeat. He would ask me out, and I would say yes. In fact, it's still happening. And let me tell you, this guy is a good date planner.
About date 7 he decided he was tired of just taking me on dates, so he asked me to be his girlfriend. This time, it wasn't "Sure, why not?". This required a yes. And I gave it to him.
It's ironic, in a way. Ever since I was little, I've tried to plan out (read: control) my life. I remember writing "life plans" that included living on a farm with my three best friends and raising all kinds of livestock and doing craft projects. (I was a weird kid, ok?) In high school, it was all about the SAT. What score could I get? What schools could I get into? What major should I choose? It's funny because at each lifestage, there are a different set of questions. It's not as if you wake up one morning and think, "Gee, I'm all out of questions.". In respect to guys, it's usually been the same way. I pick one I like and then set to figuring out what I can do to get them to notice me. Ha.This one wasn't like that, and it kind of freaked me out. We met on a blind date, so I already felt behind in the scoping out/mulling over/stalking process! The funny thing is, it just happened. Out of the blue, in from left field, the dark horse in the race - I didn't plan it, couldn't have written it, wasn't trying to make it work. I don't know what's going to happen or where we'll be in five years. And I think that's ok. That's what I get for having Type A tendencies - a lesson in God's providence.
So... once upon a blind date, I met a guy, who knows a guy, who dates a girl who I worked with last year. And the rest is history.
Much love,
Little Miss Sunshine
