My First and Only Love (Part One)

Our First Picture Together

It all started when my cousin, Chelsea gave Jaime my number “on accident”. Jaime had asked for my cousin, Chase’s number, but knew I had a major crush on him. Well done Chels, well done! So technically she set up the call that ended up being the beginning of our love story. I really never thought anything would come of that innocent crush and accidental phone call. After he accidentally called me; we talked in the halls during school, a few messages via Facebook and eventually he took me on our first date (my first date ever) on December 27th, 2009.

I actually ended up picking him up because he had an old 1980 Chevy and the heat didn’t work. As soon as he got in my car, the conversation just flowed and never stopped. We bonded over the fact I had Jack Johnson on my iPod. He was shocked and impressed that he was a favorite musician of mine. He’s still a favorite of ours on road trips. I’ve always dreamed about my first date but I didn’t know what to expect. I remembered my dad telling me how he could hardly eat when he took girls out on dates due to nervousness. So I didn’t know if I would get that nervous, but not with Jaime. I have never been so comfortable with someone I barely knew. He made me feel like I was his equal, as though I had always been his friend. That’s just how Jaime is. He is a lover of all people and gives everyone the benefit of the doubt. We went to see a movie: Sherlock Holmes (We have it on DVD now just because it reminds us of where it all started). And then he took me to Outback for dinner. As a senior in high school, I was impressed with his taste of restaurants. I could only remember going there a few times prior. That was my last first date I’d ever have and it was perfect.

Waiting for me after school.

There were lots of late night phone calls, learning as much as we could about each other. I remember my face hurting when we hung up because I smiled almost the entire time.

Eating lunch after church at Grandmother's.

We officially became a couple January 24th, 2010. He asked me to be his girlfriend in his truck on a Sunday night when he took me home from church.

Our first Valentines came shortly thereafter and we definitely didn’t use the “L” word yet. It was hard to find things that didn’t say "I love you". So he got me a big monkey that said “I am loved”! (Good work babe!) I made him a Fried Chicken dinner and put together a basket with his favorite snacks. He will tell you to this day what a great dinner it was. I was a nervous wreck fixing that meal! My green beans and mashed potatoes were cold by the time all the chicken was fried. But he woofed it down and let me know what a good job I did. He’s such a sweetheart! We drove to get a movie at Block Buster and he got pulled over for speeding that night. What a great way to end our first Valentine’s day! But it’s a fun memory!

Supporting me at my tennis matches.

High School Graduation 2010

Out to lunch and still giggly every time Jaime said  "I love you."

Fast forward to May, a couple days before our high school graduation day. He told me he loved me in my driveway inside his truck. I couldn’t have said it back fast enough. I cried and hugged him. That memory is so vivid; it feels like it happened yesterday. I still get emotional and teary eyed when I think about it.
                                    
                                  

We fell hard for each other that summer. He was always at the house if he didn’t have to work. He helped us pick corn and sell it at the Farmer’s Market. He took the boys and I to drive-ins (I refer to my 3 younger brothers as ‘the boys’) and to watch the fireworks for the 4th of July. He connected with each brother in one way or the other; which meant a lot to me and my parents. He would go to church with us every chance he got. The week I went to church camp, he worked on the farm with dad and spent most of his time with him even though I wasn’t there. On family night, he rode up with Dad and surprised me! I was so excited to see him. It had been a long 3 days! Ha! If only we knew how many days we’d spend apart in the future.

The night before I left for college.

He always said he knew he was going to marry me. I thought he was crazy. I loved him but I was looking forward to the guys at college. I know that sounds bad. I grew up in a town where just about everybody that was a good Christian guy was my cousin (except Jaime) and I was ready to see what other fish were in the sea. I left for Pensacola Christian College in September of 2010. I met a guy and broke up with Jaime in October. Jaime started dating another girl, nothing serious. The longer I was with this guy from college, the more I realized how much I missed Jaime and how special he made me feel. This guy was even shocked that Jaime and I broke up in the first place. There was nothing wrong between Jaime and I. I wasn’t comfortable and couldn't be myself completely with this guy so we ended it. Jaime had recently left for Boot Camp the end of that November so I wrote him a letter to let him know. We had not talked at all since I broke up with him. I had no idea if he hated my guts or if he even still cared about me...

Check back soon for Part Two!