Anniversary Week: How We Met

Jesse and my fourth anniversary is a week from today, September 1st. So, I decided to "borrow" the idea to do use this week to post our love story! Carla did this a couple weeks ago and I loved getting to know about her and her husband's story!

So let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start! When I met Jesse I was in my last semester of college at Pacific Lutheran University (Go Lutes!). I had an accounting internship at Labor Ready's headquarters in Tacoma in their tax department. At Labor Ready, I had met, Stacy, a woman with two kids, whose husband was in the Air Force and was currently deployed. She was graduating college that week and had invited me over to drink some wine with her to celebrate.

Fast forward to that Saturday, April 29th, 2006. I got to Stacy's house and it had turned out to be a get together/BBQ. She had even invited two of her husbands friends over and was playing matchmaker with me and them. Turns out it was Jesse and his best friend, Jamie. I wasn't looking to meet anyone. So, I kind of stayed clear from both of them for the first couple hours. I clung to Stacy and even her kids, anything to keep from being awkwardly "set-up" with these two guys that were dressed for their own personal theme night: 40 year old guys. Complete with sweater vests and visors.

Well, the night got later and the makings for cherry bombs were brought out. (This was my very favorite drink during college: a shot of cherry vodka dropped in a glass of red bull). Being the crazy young kid I was, I had a few cherry bombs and didn't stay such a wall flower for long. We played some poker and hung out for awhile. I immediately found myself drawn to Jesse. He was laid back, kind, and easy to talk to. He managed to make me feel like I was the only person in the room that night without seeming to be trying to hard. Like he was just genuinely interested in getting to know me.

Even later in the night, we found ourselves alone in the living room talking on the couch. He leaned over and kissed me. And that is when he had me.

Some of the Best Times of My Life

... were spent with this group of amazing women!

**Disclaimer, all of these photos were stolen from Heather's facebook page, and were taken by her! Thanks, Heather!



About a month ago, a bunch of us PLU volleyball alumni met up for a bbq with our families and our coaches. (I am so ridiculously late posting this!) Every single one of these women mean soooo much to me. Two of them are Hunter's godmothers and also two of my dearest friends. The rest of the ladies I hardly ever see, but they have such a special place in my heart and I truly love them all dearly.

This group all played volleyball together my freshman and sophomore year in college. Those were probably the two best volleyball seasons of my life. They were full of fun, adventure, endless laughing, bible studies, goofy activities, oh yeah, and some fierce volleyball matches!

This is the group with the coaches and all of our kiddos: