Growing up I was not one of those little girls or teenagers for that matter that dreamed of the man they were going to marry. I honestly did not think I ever would get married. My mom and dad got divorced when I was young. I know that my parents loved me and still love me very much. But when a little girl grows up without an example of what a loving marriage looks like it can be confusing especially 30 years ago. In my head I thought that nobody would love me and if I ever did get married it would end in divorce. I had no interest in dating in high school.
Then Fall of 2001 I met this long haired boy from Stanely North Dakota. He sat beside me during Systematic Theology and ate my saltines. I guess even on a college budget the way to a mans heart is through his stomach. Kelly use to make me ask questions to the professor he and his friends said "Have Channin ask, Channin always asks stupid questions" Yep the beginning of a true relationship. We use to spend hours studying in the common areas at school actually we were usually playing Phase 10 the card game. During Christmas break he went home and got a haircut and new glasses. He came back and I remember thinking "I kind of like him..." We started spending more time together. Our first "date" we got into his Buick and drove to the sculpture gardens. He put on the song "The way you look tonight" and smoothly said I really like this song. We sat in his car and talked until curfew. We actually didn't even make it to the sculpture gardens. He got lost. Some things never change :) as the snow melted we started rollerblading together. We would go for hours. One day on the way back from rollerblading he said "Channin...I really have enjoyed spending time with you...I..I..Like you." I pretended I did not hear him. I mean who could ever "Like" me. He said it again "Channin I like like you" I turned to him and said "Diddo!" Ya I really knew how to wow a guy with my words. We got back to school and he went to his dorm and I went to mine. I was now known as the "Ditto" girl to the guys on his floor. I guess it was better than "the girl who asks stupid questions"
One day in April he took me to Dun Bros coffee in Elliot Park. It was there that he asked me to the Spring Formal. The next day we went to Lake Calhoun to rollerblade. We stopped for a break next to a tree. He said come sit by me. I remember he kind of looked nervous. We had mutual friends that had just made their relationship official after only two weeks of knowing each other. He started off by saying "what do you think of so and so becoming official?" I quickly stated my mind "I think it is stupid they have not known each other long enough to be dating...they are going to split within a month." He stuttered "how long do you think somebody should know someone before they are "a couple" I said at least a few months. He said "so... what about us?" I stopped and was a bit surprised..I said "Oh we would be good" he then said "So should we make it official?" I answered with a "Yes I think that would be good"
I was now in my first "official" relationship.
Our First Kiss! My First kiss!
So after we had been dating a few weeks we were rollerblading one night. I could tell he had something on his mind he was a little quiet and awkward. We went to the River walk downtown and he kept saying lets stop here and then he would change his mind. We finally stopped and sat down he began "Channin, I think you are amazing, the way you are with your sister, the way you are so willing to help others...You are amazing" He then stopped. I made no eye contact...He said "Channin, Can I kiss you?" I was shaking..I had to stay cool. "um ya sure" We kissed. this was not only our first kiss but my first kiss. Afterwards I stood up, and said "I bet your glad to have that over with!" and bladed off! Real smooth Channin. I went back to school and yelled down the hall "He kissed me!"
Towards the end of the school year "Kelly told me he was staying in the cities that summer" I was ecstatic. He said he was staying in some city called Crystal. It was just blocks away from my apartment! I knew this relationship was going to work and that God had placed us together. I still questioned it at times but in my heart God kept telling me this is the man you will marry.
After a year of dating Kelly picked me up from work, and said he was taking me out for my birthday. We drove to Lake Calhoun and he said lets get out and walk around. I looked at him and said "Honey it is December and cold really" He said please so I begrudgingly got out of the nice warm car saying "fine but you are buying me Starbucks after" We tromped through the snow and he stopped and said "lets just look at the skyline, isn't it beautiful" I said "yep but I am cold" I turned around to look at him and he had a ring and it was then that he asked me to marry him. I really know how to make a romantic moment really meaningful!
Well it is now been 10 years since we first met and many many ups and downs and we are still in love. I can actually say that I fall in love with him more and more everyday. I know a little mushy. But Kelly has so many amazing qualities as a husband and father. He knows me so well. He has been with me through all the goods and the bads of the past 10 years. He is funny, talented, smart, and empathetic. He is willing to talk with me when I am sad or just say nothing and hold me. He completes me! I cannot imagine my life without him. I know that God chose him just for me and I am so thankful for this blessing. I definitely married up! I love you Kelly Sean Hoover!
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