This morning, I got on Facebook to check notifications and post to my business page when I saw an "anniversary" from Facebook on the top of my newsfeed. It informed me that Michael (my husband) and I had been friends on Facebook for 4 years today. A smile broke out across my face and I began cracking up because of our little inside joke on how this "friendship" occurred.
A little background, I met Michael at the Ballyhoo, a popular bar in Terre Haute nearby the Indiana State campus, just days after I turned 21 (yes, you really can happen upon love at a bar haha). He wasn't too pleased to find out I was leaving just days after our introduction so he made the most of it by asking what my plans were for the next day. Our first date was that next morning when we met at the humane society since I had planned to volunteer and say goodbye to the little sweeties before leaving for two weeks. The next day, I left a little later than planned because he came by my apartment to spend some time with me before I disappeared. We texted and snapchatted on and off while I was gone, but I wanted to creep on him, obviously. So I started searching for him on Facebook and this guy was INVISIBLE. To this day, I don't know how I did it, but I finally found him. I didn't know his middle name at the time but somehow I found him and was able to creep on his adorable attempts at "cool" selfies from years back--he doesn't post much. He was impressed I had been able to find him since his middle name throws off the search. I'm sure he also found it creepy but we still laugh about this so it was all worth it!
I cannot believe it was 4 years ago today that this (still) inside joke happened. That was the day I was packing up my bags to head to Sanibel with my family. A place that has been our go-to family vacation spot since my childhood. I would have never guessed that just 1 year later, Michael and I would be engaged and packing up our bags for the Sanibel trip together and I would get to show him my favorite place on Earth. Who knew it would become his favorite place on Earth also and we would be packing up our car full of wedding decor, his tux and my wedding gown to return to Sanibel to get married in front of the lighthouse a year after that? I'll never forget that first year we met when I was playing Euchre (as is tradition) with my cousin and our neighbors and I kept getting distracted by the cute guy that was texting me...costing us the games. I won't forget telling my cousin all about him in the kitchen of our condo while we mixed up new drinkgs and then watching Michael ask him to be a groomsmen in our wedding in that very kitchen the following year.
Today, I am looking up rental cars for our very short trip to Sanibel next week. Only one family member will be in attendance (we usually have around 10) and we will only be there a few days due to back to back wedding weekends. But we knew we couldn't miss at least having a single day on the island together during this special week. It holds too many memories for the two of us and we always happen to create more. Now I'm getting emotional as I write this!
I can't wait to begin the crossing over the causeway to the island and get choked up when the lighthouse comes into view, indicating that we're finally home.
I can't wait to walk the sandbars with Michael at low tide, collecting empty shells.
I can't wait to re-read our vows to one another through crocodile tears next to the lighthouse.
I can't wait to relax in the refreshing pool while we watch the palms sway in the breeze.
I can't wait to drink our morning coffee on the screened in porch while we watch the waves roll in.
I can't wait to visit our favorite restaurants and eat the fish sandwiches we have been dreaming of for the past year.
I can't wait to capture a beautiful styled bridal shoot at one of the top wedding venues in SWFL, designed by one of the top wedding planners in the area, hoping this one shoot will get us one step closer to our ultimate dream/goal for the business.
I can't wait for all of this and so much more.
I'm sure there is much more I could add but I currently need to go wipe the tears from my face. Overall, I CANNOT WAIT to be back to the sandy, shell-strewn beaches of Sanibel Island, Florida, where the emerald Gulf of Mexico kisses our toes as the wildlife feeds in the surf around us. Stay tuned for a post about our trip as well as a preview from the gorgeous styled shoot we have been collaborating with other wedding professionals on!
