2 Years, part two
By bella | September 30, 2006
Allan and I often marvel at how 2 years can fly by so fast, yet at the same time, the last 2 years feels more like 10. It shouldn’t be surprising to us that we feel like it’s been much longer than 2 years. We’ve been on the “fast track” since we met. We met online at churchofchristsingles.com in December 2003, started talking on the phone on January 5th, decided by mid January that we HAD to meet in person, and we were engaged the first weekend we met each other in person, on Valentine’s day. To say we moved fast would be the understatement of the year. It was a whirlwind when it happened, but it was just RIGHT.Â
I am not a believer in “love at first sight”, but I am a believer in kindred spirits, fast connections, people finding other people who they are just SUPPOSED to be connected with. From the moment I saw Allan’s username pop into the chatroom and we introduced ourselves, I knew he and I were destined to be something. At first, I thought “just friends”, but it didn’t take long before that changed dramatically. He had the same experience, and we still smile at how it all happened.
The courtship may have been brief in terms of time, but it was full of communication. We have the ridiculous nearly 4 figure cell phone bill to prove it! I think we spent somewhere near 40 hours a week on the phone that first month. That’s a LOT of “dating” crammed into one month – and it was just the beginning of our “fast track”. We are extremely grateful for the foundation we built during that time, and the months leading up to our wedding in September. Of course we have learned SO much more about each other since marriage, but we had a rock solid beginning that has helped make our adjustment to married life, step-family issues, dealing with the ex-husband, etc., all the easier.
We found out we were pregnant in October, when the ink was barely dry on the marriage license. It was something we wanted to happen sooner, rather than later, and we got what we asked for! Needless to say, our “honeymoon” year was not a typical one. Samuel was 2 1/2 at the time, and I was sick and tired and sick some more with the pregnancy. Lil Allan the III came prematurely, but he came healthy, and we ended the first year of marriage talking about when we should have the next one. Us? Patient? Ha! Fast-track? Oh yeah!
And here we are, at the end of 2 years together, pregnant with the next one! It really is exactly how we planned it from the beginning. Neither of us are getting any younger, so the sooner the better. I have one year left before I’m considered “Advanced Maternal Age”, so this is a good time to have the last baby. Lil Allan will be close to two when this next little one comes, and while I’m anxious about having two under two, I’m also just very, very grateful for the chance to have any babies at all.Â
So, our oldest is almost five, our baby is barely a baby anymore, and we have another one on the way. Is it any wonder we feel like we’ve been doing this longer than two years? Beyond that, I really do believe that when kindred spirits meet, time no longer means anything. Allan and I are just sure that if we’d met in High School, we would have been high school sweethearts, and our kids would be half-grown by now. That didn’t happen, but we’re making up for the time we missed together.Â
Allan is the man of my dreams, with his “warts” and all. He makes me want to be a better person, a better wife, and a better mother. He has helped me relax about a FEW things, (still working on me, of course!) and I have found laughter and joy in a way I never knew I could experience. As we prepare for this new baby to arrive, I hope we can find a way to jump OFF the fast-track, because I want to savor every moment of our lives together; raising our children, living, loving, and laughing together.Â
2 years down, a lifetime of years left!
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Topics: Married Life | 3 Comments »
October 1st, 2006 at 2:27 am
as allan’s mom, i can attest to the fact that this IS a match made in Heaven! allan looked for a long time to find the right woman that God had for him. he thought he had found her a couple of times but everything didn’t just click. BUT when charlene came along, oh my! she IS the one! they definitely belong together. and i can verify those phone talks. no matter what was happening–eating in or out, shopping, company over, etc.– if allan was missing, you KNEW he was on the phone!! i am so happy that God brought these two together and our family’s love for charlene grows more every day. love you both, mom faye
October 3rd, 2006 at 9:35 am
I agree that its not about how long you know someone- when you know- you know! I am happy for you both.
October 4th, 2006 at 4:54 pm
Isn’t life good? You guys are doing great. Would love to hear from you Char!!
big hugs all around,
Pam