Those Days

I was 15. He was 17.

A freshman and Junior in High School.

We were young, vibrant and full of...DRAMA!

That is, at least I was.

We had been dating "officially" for about 8 months when this photo was taken. We "talked" for six months prior. We were friends first, even if we were in L-O-V-E.

We wanted to take it slow.

Little did we know that taking it slow was an understatement and it would be another 8 years before we married.

Time is funny like that...it goes slow when you want it to speed up and fast when you wish it would slow down.

Our days revolved around each other, like most young couples do.

I would wake up every morning at 5 ( I don't do that for just anyone...in fact, I don't do that now for him!). He had to be at swimming practice at like 5:30 or 6 and so every night I would sneak downstairs, grab the cordless and call him in the morning ( my parents thought it was ridiculous for me to have my own phone, not to mention my own line, even though I cried and cried for one. Never got one.) They were quick conversations, but they were sweet and thinking about them now make me smile.

We would then head to school. And by 7:00 we were on the phone again. My dad would be yelling at me to get off until he finally got on the line and would tell us to say goodnight. I then would proceed to hang up, but call again before I went to sleep.

We spent our weekends at church functions, from retreats to conventions, camps, mission trips and weekend outings.

In this picture we are in Corpus Christi at a youth convention.

It was so much fun. I don't really remember too much, but I was with him and that was all I wanted then.

You look back and you think that really wasn't that long ago. But at the same time...it really was. So much happened between then and now. So much growth, so many tears, so many smiles and laughs.

I wish I could remember it all. I wish I knew what I was thinking at this moment.

I imagined this life I am living at 15. I wanted a home and kids and this young man in my life...forever.

I had no idea how hard the journey would be. I had no idea how wonderful life would be. I was innocent. Naive. And it was beautiful.

God is so good. He knew.

He knew life wasn't easy. He knew we would struggle. He knew there would be days when I just wanted to scream and cry. He remembers every tear and every smile.

Perhaps he was preparing me in those years long ago. Perhaps he allowed me to be a romantic and naive and innocent, because He knew I may never really be the same again.

I laugh at what I use to cry about in those days. The heartaches of 15.

I love those days. Those days were so beautiful. Full of life and love. I don't miss them, but I do cherish them. I was so blessed by them.

For more strolls down memory lane, click here.