love story, part 1: se7en years ago

February 12, 2011

Today is my church's annual Valentine's Breakfast. Every Saturday that falls directly before or on Valentine's Day, the men of the church cook breakfast for the women of the church. We greet them at the door with a rose, escort them to the dining area, cook for them and serve them. The women take this opportunity to fellowship with one another as they're being pampered. We even have childcare all worked out for them. The men get to hang out while making breakfast, so really it's a win-win.

I began participating in this event in 2006 (my first Valentine's Day at the church). Though I enjoyed helping out in 2006 and 2007, the event has been a lot more meaningful for me since 2008. Polly was still in college during Valentine's Day 2006 and 2007. She didn't arrive at the church until the summer of 2007. We got married in October of that same year. Polly has enjoyed the last three Valentine's Breakfasts. Today will be her fourth. I use Valentine's day to dote upon her personally, but I enjoy her being present as we bless all the women in the church (even the widows) on this day. I know Polly looks forward to it each year.

This year, I am looking forward to it even more than in the three years prior. The reason: this year, I will have two girls present at the breakfast. As most of you know, our little daughter made her grand debut into this world on January 22. She is three weeks old today (man, time is flying by already). Genevieve won't get to enjoy any of the delicious breakfast (well, not directly anyway; she will get to enjoy it indirectly as she is nursed) but she will likely be the focal point of the event. She will undoubtedly be passed around the room all morning long.

The joy of the event today is really just symbolic of my life. I am happily married to the woman of my dreams with a beautiful little girl (I've always wanted my daddy's little girl). If I were given the option to go back and re-write my life today, I would not do it. I am exactly where I want to be with whom I want to be! God has been extremely good to me.

Today is actually a fitting day for me to be so excited about the way my life has turned out to this point. One of the biggest decisions that impacted my life occurred exactly seven years ago today.

February 12, 2004

I had just successfully asked Polly to be my Valentine. We were set to go on our first date ("love story, part 3" will cover this on Monday) in only two days. Polly and I had a mutual liking for each other for quite a few months at this point. We had hung out in a group setting, but had yet to go on an actual date. I had used much creativity in asking her ("love story, part 2" will cover this tomorrow). I was very excited.

I had yet to have a serious relationship at this point in my life. I think I was afraid of commitment. And for me, an old-school individual, dating is a commitment. My longest relationship prior to this was one month in high school. I ended that relationship when I realized that I wasn't really ready for commitment. There was one girl between high school and this point that I was serious about, but things never worked out and we never actually dated (by dating, I mean boyfriend-girlfriend...we are still friends by the way). I simply refused to have a girlfriend until I knew I was ready to commit and thought marriage was a possibility. I was also afraid of rejection. I had experienced a couple instances that I interpreted as rejection to this point and did not like that feeling at all.

That's why my feelings on this day were so foreign to me. There was something about Polly. The feelings I had for her were different than those I had ever had for any other girl. I thought she was incredible. She was beautiful, funny, smart, thoughtful and loved God. The truth is: I was still afraid of commitment. I was also still afraid of rejection. But for the first time in my life, something scared me even more: the thought of losing her.

At the end of the day (quite literally, actually) I just could not take that risk. I knew what I had to do. With more butterflies in my stomach than I had ever experienced before, I decided to man up and do what I knew I needed to do. Even though it was pretty late in the evening, I called Polly. We met in Zimmerman and sat on the steps leading from the second to third floor (this location will mean something to some of you) and talked. We talked for quite some time if I remember correctly. I put my heart out there. She could have crushed it that night. But she didn't. By the time my head hit the pillow that night, Polly and I were officially dating. We were boyfriend and girlfriend. We never looked back.

Seven years ago today, I finally stood up to my fears and made one of the best decisions of my life!