Siraya and Alex~Always and Forever!

One photo.  You may say it was because of that hot shirt you were wearing.  You may say it was because you got your braces off just before the pictures.  I don't think it was either personally. In that picture I saw of you before we met, your smile jumped out at me.  I loved the way you eyes seemed like they were dancing.  I loved the way your smile made me melt.  From the moment I saw you, I knew I had to have you.  I would do anything for you.  I was always a shy guy, I still am around new people.  So I don't know how getting a girl like you would happen.  I just knew it HAD to happen.

Then, I saw you in the leotard at the gymnastics meet.  YOWZA!  I swear I thought that rear was straight outta Heaven.  We all made signs for you and I had a blast.  I could see you blushing and I caught you looking at me several times, but as soon as our eyes met, you quickly looked away.  Your floor routine was marvelous, you shook your booty right in my face!  I REALLY wanted to see you after the meet but I think you had to clean up or something, that sucked.  Anyways, I was excited to meet you face to face.

It didn't take me long to screw up.  Dave told me we were going to go bowling after our basketball game and I didn't have any new clothes so I had to wear my dress shirt and spiderman tie.  When we got in the car I was completely silent, I swear I was shaking like a salt shaker.  I ended up eating a candle I was so scared.  Apparently, you can't see them in the dark car when they are on top of a cupcake, who knew?  I didn't make a move while bowling at Rusch's, I was way too nervous.  I kept wanting to say something but I didn't know what to say.  I was soooo scared, I had never done this before.  We were back in the game room and I kept looking at you and didn't know how to approach you.  I thought you didn't like me, not many girls ever had.  Then, I saw you crying and leaving and I felt horrible.  I let you down, I let myself down.  But I wasn't going to let you slip away, no way.  So I sent an email to try and create a new beginning for us.  I felt I needed to tell you how I really felt.  Well, it worked, I got a second chance, and soon I was writing a list of things on a post it note to talk to you about on the phone so we could keep talking.  I knew I would get nervous on the phone and not know what to say, so this helped a lot!  I didn't want to get off the phone at all, I loved your voice, and most of all, your laugh.

Then January 26th came, and what a night it was.  I was nervous to go over to your house but I knew you wanted to do it.  So i brought Tommy Boy on DVD because Dave and I constantly quoted it.  I remember sitting in your room and I wrote my name on the window with a marker and it was all runny.  I put a heart on the window too and I don't know why I wasn't afraid to do that.  Then, we watched the Super Bowl and your parents got us the DVD player to play my movie because yours didn't work, gosh I love that movie.  We snuggled on the couch and you got a headache.  As your head lay on my shoulder I thought to myself, "Holy crap Alex, you are the man."  I felt so lucky!  I was so nervous to ask you out as we were saying goodbye.  You were up on the step in your living room, we were looking each other in the eyes.  It was like I could feel your heart jumping out at me, and mine wanted to jump with it.  My heart was beating out of my chest.  I was so nervous!  But I asked you to be my girl and you just hugged me!  I didn't know what that meant, and I asked is that a yes, and you said yes!  At that point, that was the happiest moment of my life!  I knew I was never going to let you go.  I couldn't wait to learn more about you, and grow to love you.

Somehow, I always knew we were meant to be.  I always knew I was going to love you forever.  Just like the song by Andy Griggs, "No it wasn't at first sight, but the moment I looked twice, I saw the woman I was born to love."  To this day, your eyes sill dance and your smile still makes me melt.  You get prettier each and every day.  You have my heart Siraya.  "Common destiny, we were meant to be, ME AND YOU!"  I am so happy you said YES to spending your life with me!  I love you sweetheart, I can't wait to marry you! 

Early January 2003:
Ashley and I were in choir, and I can remember I was sitting in the second row so Mrs. Krueger must have had the first sopranos on the bottom that day.  Ashley and I talked all the time in choir, especially about boys and other gossip.  Well that day she mentioned that David had shown my picture to you and you thought I was good looking.  Lucky for me that was the year I wore what was referred to as "my boob shirt" for pictures.  I had also gotten my braces off only two week prior.

I had a boyfriend, but for some odd reason I cared that you thought I was good looking.  I realized if I cared that much about what you thought of me, I obviously wasn't in my current relationship for the right reasons so I broke up with him.

The next weekend, you were supposed to come with David to Stacy's house, but something came up and you were unable to come.  It was probably a good thing because that Ex-boyfriend was there and it would have been uncomfortable for all involved.  My friends planned on going bowling the next weekend and we convinced David to invite you.  He said it was all arranged and we were going to go to your basketball game and then bowling after.   

January 17, 2003--Bowling Night:
I strategically planned what I was going to wear for this big day.  I wore one of my favorite shirts, but made sure it was blue and white for the Mustangs.  I then wore my gymnastics shirt so that you would know (I was pretty proud and wanted you to be impressed).  I had never seen you before, but some how while sitting on the floor on the back portion of the gym watching you play (yes you were playing) I knew it was you.  I asked Ashley to be sure but she affirmed that I was correct.  You were so cute!  After the game we waited for you and David to change and meet us in the lobby.  For reasons I may never know, you did not know you were going bowling with us.  You took a little longer to get ready because you had to let your parents know where you were going.  You didn't have a change of clothes so you had to go bowling in your shirt and tie-black pants, white shirt, and Spiderman tie.  When we got in Ashley's blue van we gave David his birthday cake, but since we learned it was your birthday too, we split it up and gave you some.  Unfortunately we split it up and gave it to you in the darkness of the van.  We later learned that you never knew there was a candle in the cake so you ate it anyway.

We arrived at the bowling alley, both very shy and awkward.  We didn’t talk at all.  We were back in the game room and I wanted to say something so bad, but I didn’t know what to say.  David told me to grab you by the tie, pull you towards me and kiss you.  I was much to shy for that.  I was much to shy for anything.  I gave up.  I cried, almost the whole time and called my mom to leave early (we were only 15 so we couldn’t drive).  Apparently, while you were standing with Ashley and David waiting for a ride home you got my email, and emailed me when you got home.

Week in Between:
You came to my gymnastics meet on the 21st.  You sat right in the front row.  You looked so happy.  I was so excited you were willing to come.  You have no idea.  My parents were amazed at your "lack of butt" and Abby Van Linn commented on how cute you were and how amazed she was that you were there.  Oh Alex that meant so much to me!

I woke up the morning after bowling feeling like a complete idiot.  I checked my email like I always did on Saturday morning.  I was surprised to have an email from you, ALEXROXX.  You said how stupid you felt and how you were very shy, but especially shy around beautiful girls like me.  I was flattered--and completely surprised you even wanted to talk to me after I ignored you.  You also gave me your screen name and I immediately added you.  During the week, I saw you were on, but it was late and when my parents usually made me go to bed.  My mom could tell there was something special and this was something I really needed and wanted and she let me stay up talking to you.  We learned a lot about each other.  I invited you to my house for a Super Bowl party.  You agreed to come!  I was so excited.  We exchanged phone numbers.

Days later I got a phone call.  I was so amazed!  I was so nervous and I had no idea what to say.  I was actually cleaning the house for you to come.  I really struggled with things to day and not feeling like an idiot, but you seemed to always have something to say.  I learned later it was because you made a list of things to say just in case.  You found out I had never seen Tommy Boy, so you decided you needed to get it for us to see that night.  Unfortunately, the Pig did not have Tommy Boy--I am still sorry to who ever got your hate mail--so you had to get it from somewhere else.

January 26, 2003:
You came over, and unfortunately, the only way you could find Tommy Boy was on DVD.  We did not have a DVD Player in the basement, which is where we were going to be spending all of our time.  My parents, being the kind loving parents they were, went out and bought a DVD player for us to watch it on.  I know, I know, I am spoiled.  We started watching Tommy Boy.  I ended up getting a headache (what’s new).  I was sitting on the floor, and as my head started hurting more I moved to lean up against your legs on the couch.  You told me to come up by you.  I sat next to you and eventually put my head on your shoulder.  The Super Bowl Started and the next thing I knew, I was laying down on the couch with you.  The Super Bowl ended at about 9, and since it was a Sunday, you had to leave.  We went upstairs to wait for Tina.

While we were waiting, David and Ashley were hugging and talking close.  It was, after all, their 3-month anniversary.  We were close and talking. I had my arms around your shoulders as I was standing a step above you.  Then, you looked me in the eyes and said, "Will you go out with me?"  I was so excited.  I nodded and wrapped my arms around your neck.  You whisper in my ear, "Is that a yes?"  I replied yes and you hugged me again.  I was so happy.  Tina arrived and you had to leave.  We hugged again and you were on your way.

We dated all through high school.  We went to all of our high school dances together and were there for each other's high school graduation.

We left for college and we were going to school 2 hours apart.  It felt like the end of the world.  We were not sure HOW we were going to survive, but we knew we would find some way to make it work.  We knew we were in love, we just had to survive this hard time.

We continued to date all through college and grew closer than ever.  We managed to fall deeper in love over the long phone conversations and enjoying each other's company--even if the visits  were far apart.  We dealt with a lot of bumps in the road, but these bumps only made us stronger.  We know the past eight years have been amazing and because of all we have learned and the growing we have done we know we will have a strong and loving marriage.

We are so excited to become Mr. and Mrs. Gloudemans!!