A Beautiful End is only the Beginning

This is the beautiful ending to our tale, that is actually only the beginning. I told you all yesterday that I would tell how Troy and I came to be engaged, so here is that and maybe some quick memories of nine years together. Enjoy!

The summer of 2000 I went to serve as counselor at Camp Garaywa. I was sick at leaving my mother who was sick, but my heart ached at leaving Troy. We had broken up at the end of the school year a few weeks before and I didn't think I'd make it then. It seems silly now, but at the time I was miserable. It was so hard not to call him and tell him to please take me back. But two weeks after I'd gotten back home, Troy called with some cute lame excuse about having my mother's credit card in his wallet and wanting to bring it himself instead of mailing it to ensure that it made it safely. He came to Nashville and told me he really didn't care about the card, he had missed so badly he wanted just to see me. He didn't know if I'd take him back. Oh honestly! And again my heart sailed! But when I was to leave for camp, I dreaded leaving Troy so viciously, that I broke down on my stairs in a pool of tears when Troy walked out the door. He came back in and held me and then realized just how much I did indeed love him. It was then that we both knew in our hearts that we would be together till God took one of us to heaven. Our summer being very limited in seeing each other, was a hard one, but it made us appreciate each other that much more.

Around January 2001, Troy and I went to visit my parents in Nashville for the weekend. Troy never told me he was going to ask my father if he could marry me, but why else would he take my father out to eat. I did what any other star struck female with marriage in her mind would do, I began to look at wedding dresses. Troy came back grinning from ear to ear and said, "I asked your father if I could marry you, and he said yes." I was so excited, I hollered something to the effect of "I knew IT!!" I set out to plan a wedding I had not even been asked to be in as the bride yet. I chose and bought my dress before I even had a ring. At that point that boy had better follow through. Ha! I waited and waited. I thought he was never going to do it. Valentines Day came and I knew he would do it then. He came to get me at my dorm. He was being very ugly to me, being short, and snapping at me to hurry. I was so mad at him till we got to his truck and I saw the cutest little face pressed against the window with a bow. I jumped up and down clapping my hands like a small child. I opened the door and the cutest little boxer puppy jumped in my lap. I loved him instantly! I named him General Maximus Brutus. (Gladiator was very big at the time) Max was supposed to have a beautiful diamond ring hanging from his ribboned neck, but I found out later my ring wasn't ready yet.

About a month later right before spring break, my friend Erin asked me to the movies and out to eat. When we were on our way back, Troy called and asked me to pick something up from the drive threw for him. When we got to Troy's house he met us outside and sat on the tailgate to eat his food. I was sitting there staring at Troy with Erin beside me wondering why on earth he was being so darn rude to poor Erin. He jumped up a few minutes later and said, "Well I think Erin has to get on her way now, so we'll see you later Erin." I was astonished at how he was acting. I said, "Troy, why on earth were you so rude to Erin and why did you sit out here to eat? You're being crazy!" As we walked to his door and he opened it, I saw candles everywhere. In all my obliviousness, I turned and said, "Oh, did you make us a candlelit dinner?" Don't know what I was thinking then, um yeah, duh Robs you just ate! Anyway, Troy laughed and as we walked inside, and I realized quickly that this was not dinner. As I followed the trail of candles, I walked into the living room and thought I'd stepped into a cathedral. There were candles everywhere, all the furniture was moved out. The whole room glowed, it was magical! In the middle of the room at the end of a path made from candles was a trunk. At this point, I thought I realized what was going on. I left Troy standing there and hurried over to the trunk and opened it. Inside that trunk, was another trunk, inside that one was yet another one. I opened the smallest trunk and inside it was...nothing! It was empty. WHAT!! My only thought was ok, this is not what you thought, don't act upset. I knew the only way to not show my feelings was to not turn around, so I said, "Oh Troy I just love my boxes, they're pretty." From behind me Troy said, "I think this is the box you're looking for..." I turned to find Troy on one knee, smiling at me with that same genuine smile he flashed at me almost two years before on the first day I'd seen him, and he said, "Robbie, I love you, will you marry me?" I cleared the room in two steps, threw off my class ring, and put my hand in his. "Yes, yes, forever yes!" I cried, he cried (sorry Troy), and we prayed for our life together. Then I called every last person I knew!! It was truly magical and a moment I won't forget in a thousand years, much less nine! We were married five very fast months later! It was a fairy tale day, that I barely remember. I remember the important parts though, when I pledged my love before God and my family to Troy whom I love more today then I did nine years ago. I still remember to this day what my mother told me and Troy not long before our wedding. She said, "You must decide to love each other everyday. It won't always be about feelings and romance. You must wake up each day and decide to love the person next to you, because the day you don't, your marriage will be in trouble." Troy and I live by that still today. We wake up each day deciding to love each other, for better or worse. I'm not saying each day is easy. There are some days I want to hit Troy in the head with a frying pan, but I love that man. There have been many rough patches, and many marvelous moments, but each one has been a learning experience and there's no one else I'd rather learn with than Troy Comer. God has blessed us with three miraculous gifts from heaven, that we get to raise together. Our life has been one grand adventure and it's just getting started!

Here's a few of short memories of nine crazy wonderful years:

Year 1:

9/11

lost a baby Nov 01

got pregnant with Madeline 2/14/02

lost my momma 4/02

1st Ann. 8/4/02

Year 2:

Had Madeline 11/8/02

2nd Ann. 8/4/03

Year 3:

Madeline turned 1, 11/8/03

My dad remarried 11/09/03

moved to house in Myrtle two weeks before Christmas, then moved two weeks later (I'll save that story for Fun Story Friday) 12/03

Got pregnant with Ethan around Christmas

moved into a nine bedroom nursing home

my father came and preached our revival, fell under Holy Ghost conviction!

GOT SAVED 5/04 at 3a.m.

Troy baptized me

3rd Ann. 8/4/04

Year 4:

moved into house down the street from nursing home

Troy started working at ICC BSU 8/04

Had Ethan 9/14/04

moved to Dorsey,MS 3/05

4th Ann. 8/4/05

Year 5:

Ethan turned one 9/14/05

Began our adventure with NorthStar 11/05

bought a house 12/05

Troy GRADUATED COLLEGE!!! 5/06

5th Ann. 8/4/06

Year 6:

Found out we were having baby #3! 1/1/07

Began staying home with my babies full time!

Madeline started preschool- I cried!

6th Ann. 8/4/07

Year 7:

Mollie Jo Comer is born at 4:15 in the morning. 9/25/07

I go on the Emmaus Walk that turned my Spiritual Walk around. 6/08

7th Ann. 8/4/08

Year 8:

Mollie Jo turns one 9/25/08

Go on my first trip to the Philippines 1/09

8th Ann. 8/4/09

Year 9:

Kids get a dog for Christmas 12/25/09

I go to the Philippines again 1/10

I want to shoot the dog! 3/10 ha!

We decide to home school our children, 4/10

Craziest summer EVER! 5/10

9th Ann. 8/4/10!!

So much happened in the in between times, how can you sum up nine long wonderful years in a single blog? You can't! I am so blessed to have what God has given me.What I want to say is to you Troy, you have given me so much. Three amazing children that love you completely, a friendship like I've never known, a home that is all ours, a love some people only dream about. I love you, yesterday, tomorrow, and for as long as God gives you to me. You are my best friend, my partner, and my love. Thank you for nine amazing years, and may God grant us fifty more, for better or worse my love. This song below is silly I know, but it sums up our life together pretty well! Here's to you my love, side by side

Oh! We ain't got a barrel of money,

Maybe we're ragged and funny,

But we travel along, singing a song,

Side by Side

I don't know what's a-comin tomorrow

Maybe it's trouble and sorrow

But we'll travel the road

Sharing our load

Side by side

Through all kinds or weather

What if the sky should fall

Just as long as we're together

It really doesn't matter at all

When they've all had their quarrels and parted

We'll be the same as we started

Just traveling along

Singing our song

Side by side

I LOVE YOU TROY! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!