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Ni Hao Y'all

when east meets south

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Sunday Snapshot: {celebrating}

Today is my birthday.

One year older. But wiser? Not so sure.

Last night we went out to celebrate.

Just me and my man. No kids. No diaper bags. No strollers.

No waiting for the hostess’ mouth to fall open at “table for 10 please.” 

It was just the two of us.

We had a lot to celebrate.

Last week was his birthday.

Today is my birthday.

And tomorrow marks 13 years since the day we met.

In a bar dance hall.

Evidently he spotted me across the room. In my cowboy hat and ridiculously tight Rockies.

It was a country western bar, folks. In the middle of Texas. And I was working a 13 stall barn in my back yard during the day, so I was sort of a cowgirl.

And it was 1997. Need I say more?

Anyways, he asked me to dance.

And I said yes, as I did most offers to dance at that dance hall. I love two-stepping. And it was the kind of place where dancing was just that. Dancing.

This particular song turned out to be a waltz. Which wasn’t my favorite step, honestly. But the song was a great one, I love me some George Straight.

You Look So Good In Love, to be exact.

So we danced.

He was out to impress and worked hard to show off his waltzing skills. I, however, wasn’t interested in his skills. I just wanted to dance. And so when I asked him to take smaller steps, and he, er, didn’t comply, I politely declined his offer to dance a second song.

And I walked off the dance floor.

Because, I wasn’t looking for a husband.

I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend.

I wasn’t even looking for a date.

Chris was in town for a week, visiting a college buddy. This friend had watched from the sidelines at the ‘swing and miss’ and thought it was probably time to leave.

Chris didn’t think so.

He walked up to our big group of ladies and asked me again. This time much more humbly.

I accepted.

And I’ve been saying yes to him ever since.

We went on a few more dates together. When I could manage a babysitter.

Then he went home, far away. 22 hours by car.

He wrote me letters.

He called me every day.

My girlfriends thought it was crazy. That he was ‘too good to be true’. That I was nuts for even believing that our relationship might actually become something.

Two weeks after he left, he told me that whenever I was ready, he wanted to marry me.

As only God could fashion, Chris was called up for a 45 day-stay at a training base. Three hours from me.

He drove in every weekend. And he’d take me dancing.

On one of those drives to go dance, he made a different turn. He pulled into a tiny airport, with one lone single airstrip. 

He got out of the truck into the cold December night and got down on one knee.

And asked me to marry him.

And that’s where our love story really begins.

*********************************

This is going to stand in for my usual Sunday Snapshot this week. Because it’s my birthday, and I can do that if I want to, right?

So, link up when you’re ready…. the inlinkz will be open now through Monday night to account for the holiday weekend. Hope you all have some wonderful plans to celebrate the 4th of July, I know we’ll be watching lots of fireworks and eating lots of bbq and potato salad, if things go my way ๐Ÿ˜‰

My favorite Snapshot from last week was Nancy’s from Ordinary Miracles and the Crazy 8. About her oldest daughter, her post was lovely, and beautifully transparent. And there is some seriously cool sun-flare goin’ on in her pictures.

Ni Hao Y'all

To join in this week, just copy the code under the Sunday Snapshot button and paste it into the body of your Sunday Snapshot post where you’d like the button to be displayed. Once you hit ‘publish’ it should show up just fine ๐Ÿ™‚
Then add your link below.
To do this, go to your blog. Click on the title of your new Sunday Snapshot post. The new url in your browser window will be a direct link to your Sunday Snapshot post. Copy that url and paste it into the inLinkz window below. If it’s just a general link to your blog, I’ll have to remove it. And I hate that.
New to Sunday Snapshot? Click here to learn more.
Happy 4th of July, y’all!

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07.03.10 · marriage, Sunday Snapshot 50

Comments

  1. Eileen says

    July 3, 2010 at 5:36 PM

    Oh, I loved that! It's like Pioneer Woman, without the cattle ranch.

    Reply
  2. Amy says

    July 3, 2010 at 5:49 PM

    Happy Birthday, and Congratulations on finding happiness when you weren't even looking:) Great story.

    Reply
  3. Katherine says

    July 3, 2010 at 5:52 PM

    Happy Birthday, gorgeous! Thanks for sharing the story, it was so fun to read. Hope your family has a great fourth!

    Reply
  4. Lori says

    July 3, 2010 at 6:36 PM

    Oh my gracious, that took my breath away! What a riveting story of romance at its very best…you had me hooked on every single syllable.

    Happy Birthday!!

    Reply
  5. Chinamama says

    July 3, 2010 at 6:54 PM

    Happy Birthday!!! I loved your story!!! It is too good to be true!!! That was soooo sweet. Now I have a few questions… Were you married before? What made you start adopting from China after you already had 4 children? Whose idea was it? Would you go back again? Can you tell your story about your wedding and show pictures??? Sorry for so many questions.

    Sharyn

    Reply
  6. Kim says

    July 3, 2010 at 9:15 PM

    Stephanie,
    So cute! My daughter's Ninth Birthday is today too! And we are celebrating too! Also my husband proposed to me at an airport. We were sitting on his hood of his car watching the planes land and take-off (we were parked near the strip) and he got down on his knee. I guess we have some things alike. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  7. Sheila says

    July 3, 2010 at 9:20 PM

    First, Happy birthday Stefanie! Second, aaawwwww…that is soooo sweet. I love guys who just KNOW…I love them so much I married one also. He proposed after 4 weeks, bought the ring after 2! Thanks for sharing ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  8. Suz says

    July 3, 2010 at 10:18 PM

    Happy Birthday! Hope you had a wonderful day!

    Reply
  9. Suzy says

    July 3, 2010 at 10:39 PM

    Awwwwwwwww! Happy Birthday! I think yours is, hands down, the BEST love story (short of the Bible, you know).

    Reply
  10. Virginia says

    July 3, 2010 at 10:41 PM

    Happy Birthday! And what a great love story. I also wanted to thank you for posting the link to the Tea collection with the promo code. I was able to snag a dress for my girl for 13 BUCKS! I love me a good bargain.

    Gin =)

    Reply
  11. Carla says

    July 3, 2010 at 10:49 PM

    Happy Birthday!! Haven't heard anyone mention *Rockies* in years!! lol
    Glad y'all got a date night!!

    Reply
  12. Janet and Kevin says

    July 3, 2010 at 10:54 PM

    What a sweet story. Happy birthday you two!

    Janet and gang

    Reply
  13. Coleman's A to Z says

    July 4, 2010 at 1:05 AM

    Ahhhhhh…..I love a happy ending! ๐Ÿ™‚ Happy Birthday to you both.

    Reply
  14. Tina Michelle says

    July 4, 2010 at 1:23 AM

    Happy Birthday to the both of you!! What a lovely dancin love story!

    Reply
  15. Football & Fried Rice says

    July 4, 2010 at 1:56 AM

    Wow, pretty girl. I actually teared up. Cause I know how tough life can be. How tough LOVE can be. How sometimes things CAN seem to good to be true, and then God, in all His God-ness, shows up just in time to prove that HE is God and WE are not ๐Ÿ˜‰ And he makes the perfect love story……..

    Happy Birthday and I hate to ask, but what are Rockies?

    xoxoxox,
    Sara

    Reply
  16. Patricia/NYC says

    July 4, 2010 at 1:59 AM

    What a beautiful, sweet, romantic story!! Gave me a few goosebumps too!

    Happy Birthday to both of you!

    (yeah, city girl here, what ARE Rockies??)
    Hugs!!
    Patricia

    Reply
  17. Ashley says

    July 4, 2010 at 2:13 AM

    what a wonderful love story:) a wonderful beginning….

    blessings and more birthday wishes my friend! Ashley

    Reply
  18. trina says

    July 4, 2010 at 2:48 AM

    Happy Birthday!

    Ok..want to see old pics of your cowgirl days. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  19. Goodness and Mercy Mom says

    July 4, 2010 at 4:42 AM

    Doesn't God write the world's best love stories? (And you do a great job telling yours.)

    Happy birthday, Stefanie! Thanks for the blessing you are to so many.

    Much Love,
    Kathie

    Reply
  20. Sophie says

    July 4, 2010 at 5:28 AM

    Happy birthday Stefanie, how do you always manage to look so beautiful with all those kiddos??
    Beautiful love story, what a great guy you have and of course he's equally as lucky to have you!

    Reply
  21. Nancy says

    July 4, 2010 at 8:15 AM

    Thank you so much for sharing this intimate story. True love is such a heavenly gift. Happy birthday to both of you and savor the love.
    Nancy
    PS- Thx so much for picking my Sunday Snapshot! I'm flattered! It's been fun reading through all of them!

    Reply
  22. Debby says

    July 4, 2010 at 11:42 AM

    Happy Birthday Stefanie!! That was a great story…no matter what else is posted on Sun Snapshot, in my books, you win this week!!! My parents have a very similar love story & they will celebrate 50 yrs together in 2011.

    Reply
  23. Tracee says

    July 4, 2010 at 12:46 PM

    Happy Birthday! I just have to know WHICH dance hall. Being a Texas girl, I believe I've visited them all…and our meeting and falling for our guys are so parallel it's crazy!

    Reply
  24. Jen says

    July 4, 2010 at 1:01 PM

    What a beautiful story – and happy birthday!

    Reply
  25. Jewels of My Heart says

    July 4, 2010 at 1:02 PM

    Happy Birthday! What a great story.
    and they lived happily ever after….

    Reply
  26. bytheriver says

    July 4, 2010 at 6:22 PM

    SWEET!

    Reply
  27. Julie says

    July 4, 2010 at 6:26 PM

    Happy Birthday!! What a fun love story!! I met my hubs in Texas too!! When I was just 18 and he was 19!! We did a lot of 2 steppin'!!

    Reply
  28. Global Girl says

    July 4, 2010 at 8:23 PM

    Happy, happy birthday!

    Reply
  29. One Happy Momma says

    July 5, 2010 at 12:34 AM

    Happy Birthday Stefanie!

    What a wonderful beginning to your romance with your hubby!

    Blessings –

    Cathy

    Reply
  30. thorman says

    July 5, 2010 at 12:36 AM

    Happy Birthday and what a beautiful love story!! May you have many more years of dancing together!!

    Sue

    Reply
  31. Annie says

    July 5, 2010 at 4:29 AM

    Happy Birthday Stefanie!!! It sounds like ya'll had a beautiful night. You sure do have a beautiful love story!!!!

    Reply
  32. sophieandsage says

    July 5, 2010 at 6:21 AM

    What a great beginning, looks like it was totally meant to be! You two make a stunning couple.
    Happy Birthday Stefanie, thanks for sharing!
    Dianne

    Reply
  33. Ashley says

    July 5, 2010 at 11:19 AM

    so sweet! Happy Birthday.

    Ashley

    Reply
  34. Wanda says

    July 5, 2010 at 1:28 PM

    Beautiful love story. Happy Birthday and Anniversary….and everything!

    Reply
  35. Anna B. says

    July 5, 2010 at 1:48 PM

    I love this story!! And Happy Birthday..to both of you!

    Reply
  36. 3 Peanuts says

    July 5, 2010 at 1:53 PM

    Happy Birthday Stefanie and to Chris too! I love your little story. I love how he knew right away. I love how Chris did not give up even though you refused his second request to dance. I love that he pursued you even though you had a child (some men would have been afraid, right?). God DID send him to you:)

    You seem very blessed with a lovely God-centered marriage and family and really what moe could a girl want?

    Reply
  37. 3 Peanuts says

    July 5, 2010 at 1:54 PM

    Opps meant more. No coffee yet and I ma a terrible typist.

    Reply
  38. Nicole A. says

    July 5, 2010 at 2:46 PM

    Sweet story! I bet it's funny to think about "back then" and "now"! Have a truly happy birthday!

    All the best,
    Nicole A. in OH

    Reply
  39. Sharon Ankerich says

    July 5, 2010 at 4:04 PM

    Happy birthday to a very special person! Blessings to you and your precious family!!!
    Loved reading your story!
    Shay

    Reply
  40. Julie says

    July 5, 2010 at 4:12 PM

    Happy birthday! Hope you had a wonderful day!

    Oh and where and when can we donate what we pledged to AOW?

    Reply
  41. Mom Of Many says

    July 5, 2010 at 5:52 PM

    What an absolutely precious story…I love the way you told it too. And Happy Birthday!!

    Reply
  42. mamatree says

    July 5, 2010 at 6:05 PM

    Happy birthday, Stephanie!!! Thanks for sharing your love story. God's stories are truly always the most beautiful, yeah? =0)

    Reply
  43. Kristi says

    July 5, 2010 at 8:15 PM

    Wow, what a wonderfully God woven story! I too met my man when he lived out of state ~ thankfully just eight hours away…
    And despite how unlikely it seemed, God kept the door open!
    Happy Birthday, and Happy "meeting your man" day!

    Reply
  44. Monica says

    July 6, 2010 at 12:05 AM

    Happy Birthday, Stefanie! Thanks for sharing such a great story and photos.
    Blessings,
    Monica

    Reply
  45. Karin says

    July 6, 2010 at 3:06 AM

    Happy Birthday!! What a great story! I thoroughly enjoyed it. ๐Ÿ™‚ My husband and I had a long distance romance, too, after meeting at a Christian camp.

    Reply
  46. Tammy says

    July 6, 2010 at 3:20 PM

    Love the story! So sweet!
    The 3rd was my Momma's birthday too!!

    Reply
  47. Jenny says

    July 6, 2010 at 3:48 PM

    That was such a great story. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  48. Allison says

    July 6, 2010 at 6:14 PM

    What a beautiful love story! Brought tears to my eyes! And how could Chris NOT know once he met you? You are absolutely beautiful – inside and out!

    Happy birthday Stefanie!

    Reply
  49. Shanny says

    July 6, 2010 at 9:41 PM

    Such a truly sweet story! Wishing you a wonderful birthday Stephanie.

    Reply
  50. Tammy says

    July 8, 2010 at 1:29 AM

    Happy Birthday (belated though it may be as I was on vacation and missed it….sorry ๐Ÿ™ ).

    Thanks for sharing your incredibly sweet love story of how you and your husband met. I love it!

    Reply

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I'm Stefanie. Wife to one, mom to 13. Occasional blogger and t-shirt maker. Wannabe photographer and exerciser. Constant grace-needer and orphan advocator. more
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