My love story began like so many….in a bar:-)
OK…it was a restaurant too…which my mom always likes to remind people.
I was sitting at the bar with some girlfriends.
The most handsome of boys walked in with a group of people.
I leaned over to my friends and whispered, "I would like you to meet my future husband."
Unbeknownst to me they sent him a beer (on behalf of me).
He then came over to thank whomever was responsible and all my friends pointed to me…I was mortified!!! Serious. I never would send a man a drink!!!
If you know me personally I do not embarrass easily…well…I was truly embarrassed.
The handsome boy talked to me for about 15 minutes and then I gave him an out to go back to his friends.
He didn't take it. He talked to me for the rest of the night.
I would like to add that after he left the bar that night he asked his friend if he had had beer goggles…nice. I am proud to say that his friend said that I was pretty.
Our first date was a week later at a jazz club in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.
After our first date he called my apartment to make sure I got home safely from the subway.
I was hooked.
Kelly wanted me to add that while we were first dating he remembered looking at me and thinking to himself, "She is way too classy for me. How long can I keep up this charade?? "
We were engaged three months later.
He proposed at the same jazz club that was our first date.
Married seven months after we met.
I have heard people say that the day that got married was the best day of their life.
I didn't feel it then…and I don't feel it now.
It wasn't the best day of my life.
Don't get me wrong….it was a beautiful and perfect day…but it was just the day that we sealed the deal.
We had already made those promises to each other.
I wasn't scared or nervous….I was so sure of this decision.
I had complete peace.
My best days of our life would come later when we met each of our precious babies. Each of those days stand out like no other (I would take just one more if I could).
After our wedding we went to Galena, Illinois for our honeymoon because we were so poor and didn't have many vacation days left.
So while we were home this summer Kelly and I took a mini vacation to Galena while my mom and dad watched the children.
We enjoyed the hour drive taking photos, stopping at antique stores, drinking coffee and enjoying our time alone.
We were able to stay not only in the same bed and breakfast but also the same room as we had twelve years ago.
Galena is one of my favorite towns in the United States…the trees, historic homes, wonderful shop lined streets, restaurants and coffee shops.
(Me after one of the restaurants kept on messing up on my gluten free meal and I was watching Kelly eat)
I love this boy of mine.
(At the most incredible restaurant One Eleven Main. Delicious and they made amazing gluten free food for me. We actually ended up eating here twice.)
I love him so much more than the day I married him…but that is how it should be.
Today is our twelve year anniversary.
So today I celebrate our love story, our tears and struggles, our babies, our laughter and the years that are ahead of us.
Happy Anniversary Kelly. You bring out the best in me!!!
Jeanne… This is precious, Happy Anniversary.
I’m so grateful for the time and care you’ve put into helping me. Thank you for everything.
I just fell in love with both of you. what a beautiful story.
Happy Anniversary to your & your hubby! A beautiful love story:)
Happy Anniversary, thanks for sharing! 🙂
awww that is such an awesome story!
What a beautiful post! I love your story and I wish you both a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
I met my husband in a bar too and for years I hated saying that, but now I know … that’s how it happened and it’s our story. 🙂
Have a wonderful day ~
Sarah
so happy for you and kelly, jeanne! a marriage is intentional effort, if done well, like no other. love how you two have grown your love…and it’s still growing. love you both!
I knew I was excited to read this before I opened this…you are glowing Jeanne! Happy Anniversary…and I believe the same wholeheartedly…the best day of my life was not the day we were married even though it was fantastic…how I love my hubby now is nothing compared to then you know…so glad you had an amazing time ~ the photos are fantastic of you two:)
And I love that you sent him a drink:)
i love galena.
🙂
Happy Anniversary!! My husband and I were engaged after 2 months and married after 6, we have been happily married for almost 8 years. When you know, you know. Congrats!
Love your story and love how you love each other! I didn’t know about the “too classy and how long can I keep up the charade” thought. Too cute!! Happy, Happy 12th Anniversary. Love you so.
You two are really a perfect match. Amazing how God can work that out…put us with our soul mate. Happy Anniversary friend. Thought about you a lot this week. Hope you had the time of your life.
Happy Anniversary! I can think of no better place to spend a honeymoon or an anniversary! Here’s to many more happy years for you!
Happy Anniversary! Great story…I love how your mom likes to point out that was not just a bar, but also a restaurant. It’s kind of like how I love telling people I got married in Vegas…not. Hope you had a wonderful day 🙂
So very sweet…a modern day love story! We need more of these! Looks like you had a great time with Kelly. Here’s to many more happy years.
Lovely love story! Congrats on your anniversary. And… in a family of celiacs I can say I honestly sympathize with your gf struggles. A good gf restaurant meal is worth its weight in gold, no? By the way, how was your gf experience in France?
Congrats on 12 years! I love when people dig their spouse and you can tell they do 🙂
Happy Anniversary!! Love Galena too …fun story!!
What a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing. You guys are such a cute couple. Happy Anniversary!
Love your story…We are happily approaching our 12th anniversary as well. Aren’t we lucky to have found such charming and handsome boys? Hope it was one to enjoy and wish you another year of wedded bliss…
Love your story Jeanne and Happy Anniversary!! We just celebrated #9 and I love him more now than I did then. It is a deeper love as we continue to grow together. Since this is part 1 I cannot wait to read part 2!
Jeanne,
That is a beautiful story. here is nothing quite like being married to someone you really love. You are both so cute, I can hardly stand it. Jud and I just had our thirty-seventh year and I am so grateful to be married to someone I love so much. I feel sad for people who make up to people they don’t really love.
Congratulations to the two of you. May you continue to grow in your love for each other!
Hugs,
Suz
Happy anniversary! I agree, the best days come after the wedding day. 🙂
Happy Anniversary to you two! It is so evident that you love each other. In your photos you are both beaming along side of each other.
Sweet…!! Happy anniversary, I know the feeling of complete bliss, I have been married to my prince charming for 18 years…. You two look so wonderful together!!!
Isabel
P.S. My first date was to a jazz club… Go figure!
So very lovely…the best to you and yours on your anniversary!
What a beautiful story, I love hearing how others got together. Happy Anniversary and here’s to many more. :0)
so sweet! we just celebrated our 8-year anniversary. congrats 🙂
Happy Anniversary to you both.. how great it is to find the love of your life and still know it after 12 years… May we hear about your 50th on this blog as well.
Oh my — that is so sweet! Happy anniversary! You two make an adorable couple!! And I have actually been to Galena, IL — beautiful place!
Janet
Happy Anniversary! You’re amazing!
I was SO hoping you would tell this story after seeing the teaser on FB. I love it! I love that your story started in Alexandria and that you didn’t have many vacation days left. Sounds so familiar!
Happy anniversary, Love Bugs.
What a great story. Isn’t it nice to live with your best friend?
Last night my 22 year old was proposed to and they are both smitten. Young Love….Old Love, Love that endures so many obstacles….make this life sweet.
Happy Anniversary!
too cute! Thanks for sharing!
Happy Anniversary!
Congratulations and best wishes for many more to come. You make a darling couple!
happy anniversary! such a sweet post! susan
I love it, love it, love it. So much fun knowing the history before reading this. You are perfect for each other.
That will forever be my fave picture of you on the bottom…you look so peaceful.
missin’ you—
oxoxoxo
L
so darn sweet 🙂 congratulations! i agree with what you said about it not being the best day of your life…for us there were so many better ones to come 🙂
A perfect love story!
This is just such a sweet story!!!! I hope you had the most wonderful anniversary!!
Hi Jeanne,
My name is Genn and I read about your blog in artful blogging magazine. I took a long bubble bath last night, and as I sipped my glass of wine, I read through the entire magazine, and your partial post Letting Go, was my absolute favorite!
I felt like I could relate to absolutely everything you wrote.
I have currently been struggling with “letting go of friendships that only tear you down and take your energy” as you said.
Life really is too short, and time and energy should not be wasted on things we can’t control. So well said.
I too, only want to spend time with friends I cherish. And my family whom I love the most.
You and your husband sound like you have a beautiful love story.
One of my favorite posts on my blog is actually about when my husband asked me to marry him, and it talks about how we met.
Anyway, I felt compelled to say hello. And thank you for your post in Artful Blogging, because it really stuck with me.
Sincerely,
Genn Hass
Congrats on 12 yrs! Galena is such a special place glad you got to enjoy it again!
I feel the same
way about my
wedding day…
A deal-sealer : )
but the best was
yet to come….
and I hope will
continue to. I
love the idea of
putting your story
to words and music.
Adorable couple ~
happy, happy anniversary!
xx Suzanne
That is CRAZY. My husband’s relatives live an hour from Galena, and we went there this summer. Cutest town I’ve EVAH seen! I thought you lived in Colorado??? Am I wrong?
Happy Anniversary my sweet friend! You are a beautiful couple and your love for eachother is so apparent…you have happiness written all over your faces :)!! I loved reading this post!!!
Big Hugs ~
🙂 T
My husband and I were engaged after three weeks and married 9 months later and here we are almost 21 years later! Glad to know that your love story is still unfolding. Thanks for always being so TRUE.
I love this! Happy Anniversary! I just wanted to let you know that I gave you an award over at my wee little blog! Thanks for all the inspiration. -Kelsee
http://pumpkinpiecrafts.blogspot.com/
Funny how most relationships start in a bar..Happy anniversary!
Happy, Happy Anniverary!! you are an adorable couple!! I met AND married my hubby in just four months! (16 1/2 years ago!)…oh! and we met in a bar (that had a restaurant in it!- my mom would probably like me to point that out too!)
Many Blessings!
Jill
Way too cute. You two are perfect for each other.
Happy Anniversary.
Happy Anniversary!! You do look wonderful together, I agree! I met my husband in a club with no restaraunt………we danced, exchanged phone numbers. He broke the 3 day rule and waited 10 days to call………
Jeanne,I love you
Hello. I loved reading this…partly as we are all slightly voyeuristic and like other people’s stories, but also because you tell that story with such simplicity. I love the cosmic force of meeting him in a bar (restaurant!). I love the straight-forward ‘he was the one’ feeling you clearly got. I love that you honeymooned with no money. Not that I love you had no money, but I love that it enriches your story – as Yeats wrote…
‘But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.’
What a nice thing to be just like a poem!
Lou x
Beautiful post! Beautiful couple! Happy Anniversary! 🙂
Ahh happy anniversary, you guys are just darling together! and i see many many more happy years for you!! thanks for sharing your story! xo can’t wait til monday, I need something new, i have been a good girl! 🙂
so sweet Jeanne… I love your story and your pictures to go with are so precious.
our anniversary is tomorrow… October is a good month. love to you!
Aw, what great memories you have. What a gorgeous couple you guys are! My hubby and I just celebrated #19! The time goes by so quickly.:)
Happy Anniversary Jeanne 😉 12 years, You are so blessed! You have such a beautiful family. Praying you have many many more happy and healthy joyful years together.
A very special day for us too. Oct 10th is the anniversary of our engagement.