1. How long have you and your significant other been together?
Christian and I went on our very first date on 7/11/2001, and have been together ever since. So, a little over 11.5 years.
2. How did you meet?
Oddly enough, through our parents. My mom knew Christian's parents through a guy she dated on and off for years. He and his family came to my high school graduation party. He left the party, but came back after a short time with a card...inside the card he left me his phone number and asked me to "call him sometime". When I made out Thank You cards for my party, I decided to send him one, and in it I told home that "I don't call boys, but feel free to call me if you'd like". Wow, I'm so mysterious! Well, a short time later he actually had his best friend at the time call me and get the ball rolling. We set up a date, and the rest is history!
3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry?
We are indeed married. After 4 years of dating, Christian proposed. We were married 1.5 years later on 9/22/2007. So, we've been married for just about 5.5 years.
4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? If not, where would you like to get married? And, will it be big or small?
Again, we are indeed married. We were married at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Shoreview, Minnesota, with a reception at the White Bear County Inn. We invited roughly 225 guests, so it was a fairly big wedding. It was truly my dream wedding...beautiful, simple church, black and white theme with accents of red, string quartet as I walked down the aisle, surrounded by all of our friends and family, the reception was warm and inviting. Everything was absolutely perfect, and exactly what I imagined. For late September, the weather was absolutely amazing. We truly could not have asked for a better day.
5. Do you have any nick-names that you call each other? Do share!
Really, we don't. When he writes me a card or a note, he'll call me "honey", but we've never really done the pet name thing. I usually just whip out the "dear" when he's in trouble!
6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.
Christian truly balances me out...where I lack, he excels; where I am "cold", or insensitive, he is understanding; when I am impatient, he is calm; when I am stressed out, he makes me laugh. We have truly grown up together - from clueless teenagers, without a care in the world, to parents with the weight of the world on our shoulders - nothing can compete with the bond that creates. And, while he may not always show it, I know that he would do absolutely anything in the world for me and our children...he would give anything, do anything, go anywhere and sacrifice all for our love, safety and happiness. He's a great man!
7. Tell us how he proposed? Or, your ideal proposal.
Well, I pretty much knew it was coming. He came up with a very elaborate story that he had won a prize in their quarterly safety contest at work - which was a romantic dinner at the Carousel Cafe, overlooking downtown St. Paul. I thought that was a pretty strange prize for a bunch of warehouse guys, but went with it. Shortly after that, we were driving along when he got a phone call one day...he was acting very mysterious and secretive during this phone call (as we sat feet away from each other), but claimed it was a call about his passport (he was in the process of renewing for a trip home to Mexico). The final straw that ruined the surprise was...one evening, he arrived home from dinner with his mom. We were heading out with some friends for the night, and dropping her off at home on our way. He had a couple drinks before we left, so I decided to drive for the night. As I got in the car, I saw a bag on the passenger seat floor from Wedding Day Diamonds. He claimed it was his mom's...that she had purchased some jewelry cleaner. Probably true, but it was strange to go to a jewelry store JUST to get some cleaner. Everything was adding up to be very suspicious.
So, time went on, and eventually our big date night at The Carousel arrived. We got all dressed up and were on our way. We ate some dinner, chatted for a while and had a great night. A man across the restaurant from us proposed to his girlfriend (apparently it's a good place for that...). The night was coming to a close, and I started thinking I was quite an idiot. Finally, he stood up, got down on one knee right next to me, and popped the question. He was so nervous, it was sweet. Of course, it was a YES, no question about it, and it felt amazing.
As we left the restaurant, we took the glass elevator down the side of the building. He announced that he had one more surprise for me, and told me to look out the window, down to the street. I immediately spotted a black limo parked outside of the entrance, and pretty much yelled "Is that for US?!?!". I had never even seen a limo up close, let alone rode in one! We hopped in, picked up some friends that were in on the whole secret, and we spent the night bar hopping in downtown Minneapolis, celebrating the night away. I was on cloud nine all night, and it was truly one of the best, most fun, emotional nights of my life.
8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne and rose petals?
Definitely a flowers guy. That's his usual fall back, which is perfectly fine with me!
9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of gal, or pop a movie in a relax on the couch?
Anybody who knows me, and/or reads this blog, knows that I love me a nice relaxing movie night at home. No question about it!
10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant other one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?
No question, go on a REAL vacation, just the two of us. We've never done it. We've driven to Utah to visit friends, we've traveled up North and to Wisconsin Dells, but we've never been on a REAL, adult vacation together. Hawaii is on our wish list, and we WILL make it there sooner or later! Maybe for our 10 year anniversary...
11. Tell us what you plan on doing this Valentine's Day.
It's technically over, but it was by far the best I've ever had. Christian surprised me with a bouquet of mini roses and a card right away this morning (which means, for once, he actually bought something AHEAD of time, whoa!). I opened the card, and there was a picture of the salon I go to inside. I asked him what that was all about, and he informed me that he had gotten a hold of my stylist and made an appointment for me to get my hair cut and colored this Saturday. I almost passed out! I couldn't believe he thought to do all of that, all on his own. AMAZING! After work, the girls opened their gifts from us, and we made some cupcakes. I surprised Christian with some steaks, and some fancy beer he's never allowed to buy, and he did some winter grilling. It was a fantastic day all around!
12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's Day?
No, I never would. I think the purpose of the day is to take it upon yourself to do something special for the ones you love. Whether monetary, sentimental, vocal...in whatever way you feel necessary. Most years, this day is very low key for us. It's just about being together. This year, we splurged a little (and, I'm not gonna lie, it feels really good!).
13. Give us one piece of advice on keeping a relationship strong and full of love.
I don't think there is one, perfect answer for this question. Every person, every relationship is different. Christian and I fight a lot (though, definitely not as much lately with less financial strain, the girls getting older, and less needy, and as we grow and evolve ourselves), and we always have. But, we always work through everything. In nearly 12 years together, we've never broken up, never taken a break, never turned our backs on each other. We've hit some pretty rock bottom places in our relationship over the years, but it really truly makes us stronger as a couple. Just having that will and desire to work through things - never lose that.
14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.
Our family, there is nothing greater.
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