our story... part three

If you haven't read part one and two, please read those first so you get the whole story.
***********************************

So the week was over.

Saturday morning all the campers left, along with the gorgeous boy counselor.

But not to worry.  The weekend was just beginning and there was a lot of fun to be had!

So, it was the first weekend of the Cherry Festival, which is a huge deal in Traverse City.  The girl and a few friends decided to go downtown to get in on the festivities.  Luckily, one of the friends she was with was friends with one of the boy's friends.  (Are you still following this?)  So they got in contact and decided they'd all meet up at a restaurant later that evening for dinner.  At dinner, the girl and boy sat across from each other and flirted to no end.

The next day was the 4th of July.  After church, the girl and her friends decided to go to the beach.  The boy's friend had contacted them and decided they'd join the girls too.  Their towels were placed strategically next to each other.  And the girl watched as the boy showed off for her, and she loved it:

He's on the left.  I know, hot, huh?  Ladies, please stop drooling.

(He's so going to kill the girl when he sees she posted this picture.  And no, his friends aren't gay... they just like doing water pyramids...)

That night the group of friends decided to stay on the beach and watch the fireworks together.

He made a "sandcouch" for the two of them and laid down a blanket so they'd have a cozy spot to see the fireworks.

Then came the question:

"So... what do you think about us?"

"I like it," she replied.  "But what about the whole Michigan - Iowa thing?"

"I think we can do it,"  he said.

And that's where it all started.

They saw each other every weekend the rest of the summer.  They even got to counsel together another week.  They knew their good-bye would be coming soon, but they were so in love that they knew it really wouldn't matter if they were 9 hours apart.

And it didn't.  He drove several times out to see her on the weekends.  And she took the train up twice to see him.

6 months later, on January 4, 2000, they were engaged (while visiting his parents down by New Orleans).

6 months after that, on July 29, 2000 they were married.

And almost 10 years, 2 states, 5 homes and 3 kids later, they are more in love than ever.

Happy Valentines Day, Chad!  I love you!