From The Cocoon...: Valentine's

**disclaimer; no wedding photos :( scanner down, so I had to use what I had in the laptop.

**ok, felt guilty...so I took a picture of my wedding pictures to put on this blog...they are super poor quality, but maybe you can see how young and naive' we were!! LOL!

Our love story begins nearly 17 years ago....back when it was the "cool" thing to do to cruise town on Friday and Saturday night and burn a tank of gas or two. That's when Quentin first laid eyes on me. I was 17, he was 23. He was cruising town with one of his buds (who I happened to know) and I was walking into Dodge's Chicken Store to get some gum...isn't this romantic?? He told the guy I was pretty and that he was going to marry me someday...his buddy politely informed him that I was a little young. End of story.

Enter his ex-girlfriend's mother. Friend of my family for a long time, but oddly enough, Quentin and I had never met. Our paths had somehow never crossed. She decides to set us up...I'm not sure of her logic, afterall, this was her daughter's former beau. I stood him up 3 times before I finally went out with him. I still can't believe my parents even let me, but they did. He was so nice and polite....I wish I could say that I fell in love then, but I didn't. I did however, fall in lust. Which is how Mallorye came along.

I thought my life had ended, but man oh man...it had really just begun. From the beginning Quentin has loved me. And loved me unconditionally. Even when I didn't love him. Even when I wasn't loveable. Even when I was downright mean. We had Mallorye. Married. And began the trials of marriage. I had alot to learn! I failed on almost every test, but he just kept on loving me. Mallorye may have taught me what love was...but Quentin has taught me HOW to love. He does it so well, that I sometimes take it for granted.

Quentin supports me in everything that I venture out to do....whether it be singing on our Praise Team or competing for Mrs. Arkansas...he's always my #1 fan. He helps me around the house...much more than I give him credit for...but he doesn't mind washing dishes, laundry, or even scrubbing floors. He understand that I need girlfriend time and he makes a way for that to happen. We may not have alot of money, but we are rich in love....all because I have a husband that refused to give up on me. Quentin fought for us, even when he was the only warrior. I'm so thankful!

He's a wonderful father and I love seeing him interact with his kids. That's something I missed dearly while he was in Iraq....having him beside me at the ballgames...cheering the kids on. He has such a playful side with them (and brings that out in me).

On August 8th we'll celebrate 16 years. The first 10 were ....nearly impossible...it's a wonder any of us made it out alive. The next 3 were hard. The last 2 have been wonderful!! I finally know how to love and can accept the love that Quentin has been trying to show me for so long.