1. How long have you and your significant other been together?
2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}
Drew was an RA in the dorm that my best friends roomed in. I met him through them, and for the longest time thought he had a crush on one of my besties. So, being the good friend that I am, I had my besty invite Drew to a date dash... not knowing he really liked ME! ha! He was my first boyfriend EVER in my life :)
3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry?
We've been married since December 2003.
4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?
We got married at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Arkansas (it's where I grew up going to church). Bill Parkinson married us and it was everything I had ever dreamed of my wedding being, plus some. It was fairly large, with about 250 people attending. It's seriously one of my favorite days of my life EVER.
5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another?
Drew had several nicknames for me when we were dating and all sappy. The two most used were "Nickel" and "Sweet Pea" (is it weird I kind of gag thinking that he used to call me "Sweet Pea"? haha (sorry Drew!). We now just call each other "Babe." In fact, we rarely call each other by our names. Brayden has picked up on this and has started calling each of us "babe". It's hilarious!
6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.
-He works HARD. I know Drew will do whatever it takes to provide for his family.
- He loves FIERCELY. I know Drew loves me over all other women-- even when I wear sweatpants every day ;)
- He's a GREAT daddy. I love watching him interact with our boys. Knowing they both have someone so awesome to look up to makes me smile.
7. Tell us how he proposed?
So, this is a funny story. Drew was on a 2 week leave during his first deployment. It was New Years Eve, and we were driving back to Northwest Arkansas to spend the evening with some of my besties. I was pretty bummed because we were the only couple who was not engaged or married. I kind of mentioned that to Drew and he just brushed me off, which made me even more frustrated. On the way to my house he asked to stop at Wilson Park. We had always walked at Wilson Park on Wednesday nights. I had not showered in 2 days and was pretty disgusting as far as looks go. We stopped at a park bench to talk, and Drew asked to pray over me. I was being REALLY goofy, and after he prayed starting singing silly songs and even burped in his face. Immediately after I burped in his face he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. I was shocked/surprised/ and slightly embarrassed that I had just burped in his face and he followed it up with a proposal (true love right there folks!). I of course said yes!
8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?
Um, neither? I mean, he used to bring me flowers when we were dating. In fact, he had them brought to a class once and the teacher about horrified me as he asked me to stand up and accept my boquet in front of class- a class with over 200 students in it (have I mentioned I am not a lover of public displays of affection?). He does still bring me flowers every now and again, so I guess he's a flowers kind of guy if I had to pick.
9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?
Ahhhh... why must I chose one?! I think for the most part I am a movie on the couch type of girl. Although, I do enjoy a nice romantic dinner on the beach. Not that that happens very much these days... you know, with two little guys in tow most places we go :)
10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?
Oh man, this is a LOADED question. Or perhaps it stirs a LOADED answer. I've always wanted to go to Italy, so I guess I would have to say that the Italy trip would be #1 on my list.
11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.
Probably nothing. We haven't even talked about it actually. We're not big on celebrating Valentines day... I would much rather Drew show me he loves me on a day he's not prompted by retailers and candy suppliers :)
12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?
Nope.
13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.
- communicate, communicate, communicate. I can't stress open communication channels.
- never go to bed angry. We almost always try to resolve our differences before we go to sleep. And if we don't, we at least go to bed knowing that we'll work on it the next day.
- focus on your spouse's strengths.
14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.
Taken right after we walked down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs.... I've never smiled so big in my life!
(photo credit Tammy Belin Photography)