God really blessed me with bringing drew into my life. i don't deserve him. really, i'm not trying to be modest- only GOd knew just what i needed in a partner & it's amazing to see how drew is that puzzle piece for me..
drew & i went to Christian colleges at opposite ends of the country. He was in wisconsin, i was in florida. we had a mutual friend who had transfered from wisconsin to florida & drew was on a spring break trip meeting up with her and some other buddies in a restaurant outside of our confines..i mean campus.
2005: spring of my freshman year..i was stopping in to say hi to our friend, Joanna, when she introduced me to a table of 3 or 4 guys. Me, being the socially awkward bird that i am, didn't really meet their eyes, but shook their hands very quickly..uncomfortable. boys were scary back then.
{"stranger danger" was my homeschool child motto.. also "knee, elbow, fist" some type of self defense move i'd learned from a t.v. show.. i was convinced at every turn that i'd be accosted by strangers..since i'd grown up on relatively safe military bases and quaint german towns i was never concerned about my safety until i became a "grown-up" and left for college} anyways... sorry. back to the story.
I don't remember much about the boys at all..in fact, i was on my way out to be picked up for a date so i was in a hurry and rushed out.. i didn't know that id just shaken hands with the boy that would be my husband..who i didn't even remember looking at.. he, on the other hand, managed to memorize my entire outfit..even down to my striped belt and rainbow (insert the little R with a circle around it so that i don't get sued or something) flip-flops. see? he's a treasure already... or he's sounding creepy to you- but i promise it's the former..
Fast forward to 2008: my sweet friend Joanna was getting married in Pennsylvania. I was a bridesmaid & ecstatic to see her and her family and leave the island of Hawaii for a little bit.. (p.s. i moved to hawaii after college to go to nursing school) Joanna asked me to sing in her wedding and of course i said yes. i didn't start thinking about how nervous and sweaty i would get..just like every time before my mom would make me sing in church..or play piano specials.. until after i said yes. meanwhile, i got a friend request on fb from a boy. said boy was a friend of several of my friends..so i accepted and we began messaging back and forth. come to find out.. he was also going to joanna's wedding..and, he was a singer.. my wheels started to turn..singing in public isn't half as bad if you have another person up there with you..one you can blame all the mess-ups on.. so i mentioned it to Joanna and she was all about it!
Now, to get to know this boy i'd be singing with & to make sure he wasn't creepy... we messaged weekly, then daily, then a few times a day..we clicked. i looked forward to his messages. they were witty, intellectual, funny and honest. such a refreshing change from my last long relationship.. messaging forced me to be candid and transparent..i didn't know this boy in person, so nothing really kept me from being ME with him..which GOd knew..of course.
Since he and i both had some continuing previous-relationship drama and about 5,000+ miles between us, i started to die down on communication (yes drew..i'm admitting it)..thinking it was near impossible to go any farther- even though i would meet him in june..it most likely wouldn't go anywhere because i would still be in hawaii until 2012..and he...he was way to smart and cool to really like me.
All communication was down until about May.. when I messaged him asking if things were weird and if there would be awkwardness at the wedding..(selfishly, because i hate awkwardness more than i hate clowns). he said no.. of course, because he never creates drama and he ignores it so well. So we began texting again and all was well in the world of drew&laura..
Typically i would leave out the following section, but it's important to me..and introduces you to one of my closest friends..so read if you wish:
until.. da da da.. i received an invitation [in the form of a plane ticket via email] from a weasel of a boyfriend that i dated off and on for 4 years during college, to come visit him and his family in florida.. apparently he decided that he really finally wanted to take the next step..baby step.. of course i talked with my dad.. the trip would be the week before joanna's wedding.. this trip would supposedly help to solidify this pseudo relationship i'd had with..fred.. (no, fred was not his name..but it's a good name for this boy)..my dad, being the wisest man that i'd ever known sat and talked and prayed with me for hours. he gave me precious insight and helped me decide what i should do. he didn't force me one way or another, but lead me with godly wisdom. my dad is awesome- you should meet him.. in addition to this, one of my very best friends- joanna's brother, dan, knew that i was struggling with this decision and secretly bought me a plane ticket out to texas to meet his girlfriend and spend time with them..the week before joanna's wedding. He didn't make me feel guilted into accepting or anything, just wanted to me know, like my dad, that there were options.. Fred was just a terrible boy, and it seemed that everyone in the world knew that but me. i was constantly manipulated to think that i was in the wrong about him & that he was truly a wonderful and flawless guy.. anyways.. I experienced GOd's grace like never before.. I listened to my dad and clearly- fred's time was over.. i printed off my ticket from dan.. eager to spend time with him and Steph, his lovely girlfriend (& wife now:)
As i stood in the O'hare airport..i was truly at a crossroads in my life.. one gate would deliver me to florida to meet up with Fred and continue in a cyclical pattern of our stagnant relationship and one gate would take me to texas to fellowship with my amazing Christian friends.. I still thank God to this day for dan and my dad..for the godly wisdom that was shared with me. For the strength not to succumb to my girly, emotional feelings and to head to texas..
After a lovely week in texas with dan, steph & phil..(another friend..not a dog or child or third wheel) we headed to PA..where i would "re-meet" the boy that would change my life.
When we met, my hands were sweaty, my voice shaky. I didn't think that i'd be so nervous to meet this boy that i had so easily shared my opinions, stories and questions with for the past several months.. i was mesmerized by him. his hands were perfect (i love looking at hands). he played the guitar. he wore a necklace (one that would later be made with one of my dog tags and that we would almost lose forever on our honeymoon..i saved it..also it fell in the toilet, but it's all good now)he had super cool hair. he was smart. athletic. godly. passionate. and he had way better style than i did. we practiced our song and for the rest of the week i got to see him every day. I didn't realize he was driving about 40 minutes just to "hang out" with me.. i thought he just wanted to be with the wedding people.
To make a long story even longer....
we went out to eat..talked..cooked dinner a few nights..spent as much time as we could together. sang in the wedding. played games together. and then i flew back home to hawaii..tears in my eyes. thinking that i probably wouldn't really see drew again..if he was anything like my previous boyfriend..he was already tired of me. i mean, i knit and did civil war re-enacting..who was i kidding?
in the airport, i got a text that said "planning my hawaii visit..you busy in a month?"..
the rest is history..
really.
i mean, i could keep going, but you'd never come back to read my blog again.
here's our first picture together after singing in the wedding
here's when he came out to Hawaii & i knew i had a good good thing
here's fastforwarded to 12 Feb, 2010..happie happie
Here's the happiest day 10 June 2011
here's some beach shots we did..last week.
