Love Stories: Found in NYC

I decided, on a whim, to move to NYC one spring. Everyone asked me if I thought I'd meet someone, fall in love, and never come back to Austin. I doubted it.

Two years later, I was sitting on a picnic blanket in Central Park with friends. I was almost done with grad school, had a job waiting for me back in Texas, and was absolutely single. It seemed my fate was sealed, as far as that falling in love in NYC scenario was concerned. And then a guy, a mutual friend of the picnic organizer, came walking towards our blankets. I think a part of me recognized him right away: this is the man I will marry. But that is crazy, right? How could that possibly work?

We talked all afternoon and all night. He walked me home. I might have immediately made some phone calls announcing that I'd found The One. I couldn't explain the details. Like how this would possibly work. But it just had to.

After our first date, I spent the whole night staring at the bedroom ceiling trying to imagine how this could possibly work. By that point I was certain. It absolutely had to.

When I flew back to Texas by myself at the end of the summer, I cried. But he whispered in my ear: don't worry. I'll be there soon. And he was.

A few months later he left the big city to start a new life with me in Austin. A year later we were married. Almost five years and two kids later, I'm just as certain as I was sitting in Central Park, standing in front of my Upper East Side apartment, and staring at the bedroom ceiling: he is the one.

I wasn't expecting to fall in love in NYC. I wasn't sure how on earth it would work. But I did. And it did. And I couldn't be happier.

-- Laura, from Dirty Diaper Chic

♥
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Love Stories: 10th Wedding Anniversary

The day I met my husband was not love at first site, it wasn't sparks flying, or amazing chemistry.  At least for me.  We attended the same church, that moonlighted as a music venue and coffee shop.  He was a jokester always looking for laughs, and I just didn't think we had anything in common.  Little did I know, he was slowly working his way into my heart.

Our first date was a trip to Kansas City, Missouri to see Waterdeep, and after that trip I knew he was going to take care of me for the rest of my life.  This year, on March 23rd, we will celebrate our 10th Wedding Anniversary.  We have made it through job loss, moving hours away from friends and family, deaths, two major surgeries, working severe amounts of overtime, celebrating big occasions and big birthdays.  I am proud to know my husband still is the jokester that I met 11 years ago.  We make each other laugh every day.

If I had a secret to share for how to have a successful marriage, it would be this: never let the laughter go out of your relationship.  Even if I have the worst day, I know when I get home, he will make me smile somehow.  Even when I don't want to.  I hope he knows that I will always be willing to do the same for him.

Happy Anniversary, T.  I love you.

-- Kem Elliott, from Chronicles of a Sweet Tooth

♥
See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story, please see our Ruche Blogger Family page for details.

P.S. Have you seen our wedding collection yet? We hope you can find something special for your special day!

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Love Stories: Racing Hearts

There we were, in the middle of a lonely camp site in the midst of waterfalls, streams, hump-backed bridges, and vintage camper vans. Everything was so beautiful. There has always been something about camping that makes my heart race. This particular camping trip wasn't the only thing that made my heart race.

My close-knit family and a handful of old timers... and a few 'newbies' too. Chris so happened to be one of those 'newbies.' In the midst of a foresty walk I watched him. I watched how he walked, how he talked, and how he enjoyed the beauty around him. Little did I know Chris was dong the same, he was watching me. I was also oblivious to him falling just as in love with me that I was with him.

Seeing Chris became a regular thing. Every time I saw him I couldn't help but swoon. He is perfect for me! A short time passed and I found myself in his arms with a ring around my finger.

He had caught me by surprise. We were in his attic sorting things out. He looked at me, got down on one knee, and asked the question! I was filled with happiness (and still am) I laughed, smiled, and laughed. I felt as though I was going to cry but no tears came, I was way passed the 'tears for joy stage!'

I am going to be Chloe Jane Schofield. Chris is going to be mine forever. I am going to be his forever. ♥

--Chloe

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story, please see our Ruche Blogger Family page for details.

P.S. Have you seen our wedding annoucement? Our vintage-inspired bridal collection launches on Monday!

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Love Stories: Long Distance Romance

I met Kurt on March 12, 2009.

The weekend we met was also the weekend of our first date, that Kurt met my entire family and that we decided to embark on the crazy up and down journey of long-distance dating.

But to start at the true beginning of the story, we have to go back another five years. Kurt and I were in highschool, he living in Chicago and me in Tallahasse, and we came across each other on Myspace. We became “friends” for the trivial reason of liking the same musical artist, and as Kurt always adds, because he thought I was cute. And that’s where it all began.

For a few years we were simply "friends" and interacted very little. Eventually I deleted my Myspace and moved on to bigger and better things, a.k.a Facebook. Kurt followed suit later and decided to search for a girl who he vaguely remembered was cute and went by Michaela Rae. He found me and sent a short message, something along the lines of, “I think I remember you from Myspace. If not, then no worries.” I remembered him, and although I thought it a bit strange, added him anyway. Again, for a long time we interacted very little.

But in 2008, politics sparked more conversation. We love our politics and enjoyed commenting on each other’s links and statuses. We began talking even more in early 2009 - a couple Facebook chats, a few messages. Then phone calls. Then I freaked out. I’d never met this guy! And what scared me more was that I actually really enjoyed our talks. After telling him we shouldn’t talk as much he asked if we could write. I agreed, and a few days later I received a package in the mail. It was a diary, and on the first page Kurt had written a letter. He explained that we could send the diary back and forth, filling it with letters our letters. Talk about bold! And romantic! Long story short, we didn’t stop talking. I told my parents about him and they calmly suggested we meet (what??). So a month and a half after we began talking, Kurt boarded a redeye flight from Los Angeles (where he was attending college) to Jacksonville.

Neither of us got much sleep that night.

When I walked into the airport he was there waiting for me. We hugged and said a couple awkward things and then I quickly blurted that I needed to pee and ran to the restroom (attractive right?). I did need to, but I was also so overwhelmed that I needed to breath. But our first few hours together eating lunch and sitting on the beach went surprisingly well. He was just how I had imagined him to be.

That night, Kurt met my entire family. And they liked him! The next day we went on our first date to an Italian restaurant, and by candlelight, while holding hands across the table, we talked about everything imaginable. Looking back it’s all a bit of a blur, but I know those couple days were easy. I felt like we were friends. We enjoyed each other just as much as we’d anticipated.

At the weekend’s end, we decided to continue dating, even though it meant long distance. And for 15 months, while finishing our undergraduate degrees, we did. We found ways to visit nearly every month. The saying, "where there’s a will there’s a way," became very true for us. California, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, DC, and Kansas – all of these and more were the places we managed to visit one another.

After graduating, I packed my little car and moved cross-country so we could live in the same city. It was a big adjustment but definitely worth it. We loved living a couple blocks from each other and being able to build mutual friendships, go to church together and do all of the other things we couldn’t before.

Five months after moving, while visiting the beautiful city of San Francisco, Kurt asked me to be his wife. It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life. And on May 29th, 2011 we married in Florida. Another day we look back on and can hardly find a thing that we didn’t love about it.

Our entire relationship has been one big adventure and I know there’s still so much more ahead.

Michaela Rae, from www.michaelaraej.blogspot.com

♥

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Love Stories: Extraordinary

Our story isn't ordinary.

After an especially rough first year of college, making my way through all sorts of heartache, I moved the 4 hours from my apartment in St. George, UT, back home, and started attending the local University. I reacquainted myself with a few old friends, and spent the entire summer with them.

One friend in particular, was engaged after just 30 days of dating her boyfriend, and they were to be married in October of 2010. We were all ecstatic for her.

She enlisted her good family friend as her photographer, and when she showed us all her engagements and bridal photos, I was impressed with the photographer's work, but didn't give it another thought, though she, and another friend gushed about how handsome and wonderful he was.

A few short weeks later, I found myself walking into their beautiful backyard reception. I was probably fidgeting with my [slightly too fancy] dress, or stumbling over my [slightly too big] heels, but that didn't stop him from noticing. I had just made my entrance, unaware that I had caught the eye of the photographer, who thought to himself in that very moment, "I have got to get to know that girl..." 

So he did. Although I was oblivious. That night, my friend pointed him out saying "that's Devin. the photographer. He is cute, huh?" I failed to respond, in fear of offending my date (Though I did agree. Whole-heartedly.) Later, Devin came over and took a picture of us, and that was it. He was attractive, but I didn't let my imagination get away from me. After all, I didn't even know him. What were the chances, anyway? Considering him as someone I could date seemed silly. So I didn't.

A few weeks later, after a little bit of snooping, and inquiring of me from my friends, he contacted me. I had complimented his photography, and he was very humbled by my remarks. We talked endlessly, having conversations that lasted days, only pausing briefly for sleep, work, and classes. We became best friends in an instant, and often commented on how natural our friendship felt. Like it had always been this way. Shortly after, we knew a date was in order. Luckily, we had a math course in common at school, and had been assigned similar homework. The perfect excuse. As he finished up his classes, I spent 4 hours (literally) getting ready, checking myself in the mirror multiple times, wringing my hands, and tugging on my outfit.

We met in the campus library and pretended to do homework while making small talk. He was beyond excited. I was beyond nervous. It didn't take long for us to realize we were kidding ourselves and not long after, were eating grilled cheese sandwiches and playing games at a small diner with his closest friends. 

We have seen each other every single day since. 

He proposed 4 months later in February of 2011, on a cold night.

We were married in May 2011.

It's extraordinary.

Devin and Katie Ashby

devinandkatieashby.blogspot.com

♥

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Love Stories: The Perfect Match

I met my husband at the lunch table in our high school cafeteria. Immediately after we were introduced, we didn’t stop talking or laughing the rest of the class period. Turns out we went to the same Elementary, Junior High, and High School and never met. (We would attend the same college, as well.)

When that school bell rang at the end of lunch, the friend who had introduced us an hour earlier said finally got a chance to cut in and say, “Why don’t you two just get married?”

We should have listened! It didn’t take long before we were dating.

I was the goody two shoes Christian girl, and he was the tattooed, long-haired, Robert Plant look alike that my parents were not to excited about their daughter dating. They let us have our fun, though, and it didn’t take long though for him to win them over!

When I went away to college, he waited oh so patiently until he could join me a year later.

When I headed off to Greece for the semester to study art, he sent me on my way with a box of letters he had sealed and dated for every day that I would be gone, 99 letters total. (I still have each and every one!)

When he wanted to propose, he drove 8 hours to ask my fathers permission before doing so.

We dated for over 4yrs. before he popped the question with a stone that had belonged to his mother and the same box his father had used.

We got married 6 months and 1 day later.

It’s no surprise when I say I’ve been dreaming of my future husband since I was a little girl. I spent one night before I met David writing down a list of everything I wanted in a boy. My dream boy was to be a musician, a skateboarder didn’t hurt, either, (oh come on, we’ve all been through that phase!), he’d have long blonde hair, green eyes, and be completely hilarious, among other things. David was every single thing on that list, down to his blonde curly hair and big green eyes! He blesses my heart every single day. (I know God had a hand in this match!)

--Mckenzie, from Basil

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story and join our Ruche Blogger Family, please email it to blog@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos and you will receive an email if your story is selected.

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Love Stories: Puzzle Pieces

Love Story: Puzzle Pieces

--Candice, from Jonathan and Candice

I was a freshman in college at Oklahoma State University when I met Jon. I was hanging out in a mutual friend’s dorm room, and Jon lived down the hall. He briefly came into the room while we were all watching a movie, but I barely noticed him.

Soon after, he found me on Facebook, which creeped me out a little. I’m such a private person and, as a Facebook novice, was surprised that he could find me so quickly. We started exchanging messages, and it didn’t take long for me to notice how nice he was. He always asked about my day and seemed genuinely concerned if I said it was a less-than-great one. Eventually, he asked me to have lunch with him in OSU’s Student Union.

I’ll never forget our first lunch. The conversation flowed much more smoothly than I anticipated, and it seemed like I had known him for years. But when we had to leave to get to our next classes, Jon ambushed me with a goodbye hug. I was not a “hugging person,” so it’s an understatement when I say that his hug caught me off-guard. I awkwardly hugged him back and secretly wondered if I should nix future communication.

After exchanging more Facebook messages and realizing how much I enjoyed  conversation with him, Student Union lunches became a weekly tradition for us. We were both in a relationship at the time, so our lunches were always just friendly and innocent. I noticed that he was a great listener and that we had a lot in common, but I never really looked at Jon in a romantic light. We were good friends, but that was it.

I transferred to a different college about two hours away, but Jon and I remained in contact. We would spend hours on the phone or instant messaging each other about our lives. He always made me laugh, and he had the ability to make me feel better about everything in an instant. I referred to him as “my best guy friend.”

Finally, after two years of friendship, we were both single at the same time. He suggested we try to “be more than friends.” I was skeptical but willing to give it a shot for him.

The relationship moved quickly, even though I resisted at first. I was still hurt from my last relationship and unwilling to experience that pain again. But Jon’s perpetual kindness and patience finally wore me down. The night we started dating, our conversation went something like this:

Jon: “You just let me know when you’re ready to be an official couple. I’ll wait.”

Me: “Maybe we should have a code word. When I say the code word, that means I’m ready.”

Jon, laughing: “Sure.”

We never decided on our “code word,” but twenty minutes later....

Me: “Elephant! Yellow! Oklahoma! Whatever our ‘code word’ is, I’m saying it!”

I feel the beginning of our romantic relationship fits us perfectly; it is a little weird and awkward, just like we are!

We met at O-State, had our first date there (at the on-campus steakhouse), got engaged in front of the Student Union (during homecoming 2010), and got married on campus on June 11, 2011.

It has been a blissful (and orange!) journey, and I am so joyous to spend the rest of my life with my better half. I call him my puzzle piece because I can think of no other person who “fits” with me as well as he does. 

--Candice

http://jonandcan.blogspot.com

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story and join our Ruche Blogger Family, please email it to blog@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos and you will receive an email if your story is selected.

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Love Stories: The Most Beautiful Dress

Our one week countdown to Valentine's Day is complete! Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! You are all beautiful.  ♥

Love Story: The Most Beautiful Dress

--Dana, from I Just Want to be There

I can't believe that it's been almost three years since the hubby asked me to marry him. He didn't get down on one knee. He was still in the process of having my ring made. He just looked at me one night and said, "Can I ask you a question?" In my head, I thought, yes, I'll marry you, but then he actually said it. He told me how much he loved me. How much living the rest of his life with me would mean to him. I cried. Of course I said yes. Of course I called my mom.

Three years. So much has changed since then and yet so much has stayed the same.

I love when people ask, "so how is married life treating you?" I'm not exactly sure how to answer that. It's exactly like any relationship in your life.  There are ups and downs.  At some moments you hate each other.  But more often then not, you see the love you have in the reflection of each others eyes. You make compromises.  You feel love.  You feel your emotions.

He still indulges my quirky, dorky side.  He says nothing about my dress habit— lucky me, after a 7-month engagement I got to wear the most beautiful dress a girl could ever wear.

--Dana, from I Just Want to be There

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story and join our Ruche Blogger Family, please send an e-mail to blog@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos. Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail if your story is selected.

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Love Stories: To My Husband

Our countdown to Valentine's Day continues! Tomorrow is the day! ♥

Love Story: To My Husband

--Becki O'Brien, from Happily Becki

To My Husband

I fell in love with you the second before the moment we met,
before our minds had time to catch up with our hearts.

It was an elusive breath,
a love that whispered down through the cracks
and fell into my soul.

It was a love that explained why your gaze felt so familiar,
before I ever spoke your name.
Why your presence made my heart smile and stretch,
– eager to begin what it already knew –
before I felt how perfectly my hand fit inside yours.

Quiet and sleepy, like a blossoming rosebud.
A love that murmured of memories yet to be made,
of a fairy tale more precious than countless imaginings.

A love that existed just beneath the surface of reality,
 just beyond my lingering thoughts.

It floated beneath my knowledge for long months.
And you became my good friend.

Then, out of nowhere, in the midst of a prayer,
my mind fell in synch with the beating of my heart.
And I looked up from my daydreams
 to meet forever in your eyes.

Everything paused, on the day that I knew.
Ever so softly, as if I never should have doubted,
an eternal voice told me

that I was (you were)
the one.

I had fallen in love with you from the start.
And you had fallen in love with me.

The day you told me. In a fluttering whisper, as if we had always known,

that I was (you were)
in love.

Photography Credit: Laura Zastrow Photography

--Becki O'Brien, from Happily Becki

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story and join our Ruche Blogger Family, please send an e-mail to blog@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos. Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail if your story is selected.

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Love Stories: Hope in Young Love

Our countdown to Valentine's Day continues! It's just around the corner now! ♥

Love Story: Hope in Young Love

--Annabelle

I was never one of those girls who planned their wedding as a child or sought after finding my prince charming. I was a tom boy and was interested in sports, being mischievous and having fun with my friends. Nick and I met at his cousin Thomas 18th birthday party 5 years ago, I had just turned 16 years old and was still in high school. My boyfriend at the time was friends with the people at the party and decided to dragged me along. When I got to the party,  I didn't know anyone, and to add on top of that I was one of the youngest ones there. I wanted to hide. Among the crowd of people, Nick had seen me walk in and decided to introduce himself to me. I guess you could say he was the first and really only one who talked with me that whole night. It was an interesting night of me constantly catching Nick starring at me from the corner of my eye, and him following me around trying to have as many conversations with me as he could. I was shy and just wanted to go home.

After I left that party, I did not see Nick for months, nor did I really think much of it. Things went sour in my relationship and my boyfriend and I at the time broke up. I was sad and bitter and wanted nothing more to do with love. Thomas (Nick's cousin) called me one night and asked if I was doing ok. I lied and told him I was good, but he insisted on coming by to chat. I don't know why I said yes, but I did. I guess a part of me thought that he would be coming with an apology from my ex boyfriend, but I was so wrong. Thomas showed up at my place, and to my surprise Nick was with him too. I was a bit nervous because I didn't know the boys that well, and trust was the last thing on my radar.  Nick was cracking jokes all night trying to make me laugh.. although I was really sad, and a bit insecure about myself, I couldn't help but smile. Nick was a dork, I love dorks.

After that night I thought nothing of anything and continued on believing that love did not exist. I decided that I was happy being alone and that I would not get into another relationship ever again. However, after that night, Nick got a hold of my number through his cousin and sent me a text message, "Hi Annabelle, this is Nick Spoletini!" I did not answer. But something was different about Nick. He was persistent and was not going to let me slip away that easily. Finally after days of sending me messages, I replied and we started hanging out. He was different than any guy I had met, he really was. I felt like a princess. When I would get into his car he would always walk over and open the old cavalier passenger door for me, when we went out to eat he would take my jacket for me and would always make sure my chair was pulled back for me to sit down. However, we were just friends, and that was all I wanted. But Nick had a different agenda.

He never stopped calling and would make sure I would hang out with him at least every weekend. I had never laughed so much in my life or been so happy, so I started falling for this young guy who really would not leave me alone. I told him I was afraid of falling in love. He responded by telling me that he was going to do everything in his power to make that happen. I had built a wall higher than the Great Wall of China and I was not planning on letting anyone tear it down. But Nick already had chipped some pieces away and was getting closer and closer to my heart.

Finally, one day in the car he asked me if I would go out with him. He told me he knew that I didn't want a relationship at the time but that he would wait for me. My heart melted, and I couldn't resist so I told him I would. Before we started officially dating he told me he wanted to ask my father for permission. He did just that, and after a long fatherly-protecting-daughter lecture, my dad said yes. Nick did not know this at the time but my dad recently told me that the next guy that tries to date me better ask for his permission. I laughed in response and told my dad to give that up because that would never happen. Old school love like that really doesen't exist anymore...I guess I was wrong. Nick said to me and my father that he knew that this relationship was going to be for a long time, and that he knows I am the girl he is going to eventually marry. I thought he was just saying that, little did I know he meant it. Besides, we were young, and marriage was the last thing on my mind. That was December 22, 2006.

November 13, 2010, I took Nick out for his birthday to Banff. I asked him where he wanted to go eat and he told me he wanted to go to the restaurant where we had our fist date in Bragg creek. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes. =) Suddenly my dad walked into the restaurant, then my mom, his family and all our friends. I didn't know this, but he sent out invitations for our engagement date and everyone was there to celebrate with us! We celebrated that night with the people that we love and looked forward to our future together ahead. Just like when we first started dating he asked my fathers permission before proposing, but this time for my hand in marriage. I am so thankful today that I did not listen to all the people who told me I should "live my life and date different people." I was happy with the guy that I chose and was having a heck of a time "living my life" WITH HIM, and today, I still am.

We got married August 5th, 2011. To this day, he still opens the door for me, he still even helps me take my jacket off when we go on dates. Nick was truly my first love, and I was his. I know that with God on our side things will only get better. Nick believed in us, and because he faught for it, we are together today. Nick's sister told me that when Nick saw me 5 years ago at that birthday party, he told her when I walked in, "that is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, I want a wife like that one day." Who knew that wishes do come true, and yes there is still hope in young love.

Engagement and wedding photos done by Northridge Photography, our good friends.

--Annabelle


♥


See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story and join our Ruche Blogger Family, please send an e-mail to blog@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos. Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail if your story is selected.

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Love Stories: Sweet Sixteen

Our countdown to Valentine's Day continues! Love is in the air. ♥

Love Story: Sweet Sixteen

--Ashlee

Sometimes I look back at when I was sixteen and truly feel like the luckiest person that has ever lived.  Like someone that unknowingly was about to fall down the edge of a cliff, but got caught by the neck of their collar and saved.  Out of all the guys on this planet, I met him first.

And he saved me from all the pain that could have come in any other relationship.  He saved me from ever having a broken heart.

I remember the first time I hung out with Eddie. I remember being so at ease by his side. More myself in the first 5 minutes of meeting him than I could muster up to anyone at my new school that I had transferred to over a year ago. You see, I used to be a very shy girl. It took a lot for me to be myself around someone. That’s why it shocked me that I felt no barriers between me and Eddie from day one. No wall I had to dig through to let myself out of. It’s like something in me knew before I could even recognize it¸ that there was no reason to be anything but myself around this boy.

Later that night, he called me and asked me out on a real date. Still to this day I tease him that he couldn’t even wait one night. My two best friends spent the rest of the night picking out outfits for me to wear the next day on my first real date.

And 2 days later, I had my first boyfriend.

Another 4 years from that day, I married that boy on August 20^th, 2011 and read him this before I placed a ring on his hand.

Eddie Crowley.  My best friend. 

4 years ago , almost from this very day, you asked me to be your girl. We had only known each other for 3 days.  And looking back that seems so fast,but thank you for not waiting a day longer- because You gave me everything that day.  You gave me my happiness, my future, and the best best friend anyone could ask for.

You’re patience and generosity are unmatched. You’ve stuck with me as I’ve grown up and through all the silliness.  Since day one, you’ve done everything  you could to make my life wonderful for me.  I see that every day.

And It’s because of you that I don’t worry about where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing years from now, because I know that whatever I’m doing or wherever I am, I’ll be there with you. 

Thank you for being who you are. Because if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be the person that I’ve always wanted to be. And not only am I marrying my best friend today, I’m marrying the person that I admire and look up to the very most.

You’re my first boyfriend, my first love, the first hand I held.   And it’s the same hand I’m going to be holding every day until the day I die.

At 16, I didn’t know what I wanted. I didn’t know who I was or who I was going to be. I thank God every day that He knew exactly what I needed and gave me Eddie at a time in my life where I needed him most.

Meeting Eddie so young, I feel like we grew up together and consequently became everything that each other needed in a spouse and in a best friend.  We grew into everything that each other would need to last a lifetime.

I’m thankful that I have a guy that I couldn’t think of one thing he could treat me better on. I’m thankful for the egg sandwiches he makes me every morning and the moments when he knows without me having to ask, to wrap the blanket around my toes. I’m thankful that even when we do fight, we both are able to laugh right in the middle of it.

And most of all, I’m thankful that when I look at pictures of us, I’m filled with happiness knowing that we’re the kind of love our grandkids will tell their kids about. One that’s gonna last more than a lifetime.

--Ashley

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story and join our Ruche Blogger Family, please send an e-mail to blog@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos. Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail if your story is selected.

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Love Stories: Deployment Homecoming

Our countdown to Valentine's Day continues! ♥

Love Story: Deployment Homecoming

--Aly, from Aly and Ellie Take the North

It all started Friday, February 3rd.  I don't fly very often.  When I did it was to see my dad out in NY (which for a kid was always exciting) and more recently I would fly down to North Carolina where my husband was stationed.  Every time I fly, I am so beyond excited to get to where I am going, that even the short airplane rides feel like they take an eternity.

By the next morning, I was already shaking.  I was so nervous to see my husband, who I had not seen in 10.5 months and was lucky to be able to have a conversation with him a few times a week.  When you're waiting for something like this, it's incredibly easy to doubt yourself.  You ask yourself things like, "What if I'm not as pretty as he remembered..." or "What if things have changed between us?"

However,  As soon as those Marines call "10 more minutes!", "2 more minutes!", "They are leaving the armory now and will be here in 3 minutes!"  You forget all of that.  At those moments, your adrenalin starts flowing, and you just become ecstatic and overflowing with anticipation.  At those moments, all of your doubt, any doubts you had over deployment, all the disappointment the deployment brought forth, all the tears and hours alone crying to yourself are wiped away and seem miniscule.

Then the buses come.  I found myself cheering and screaming like someone would at a sporting event.  All my friends were crying with sheer happiness.  once all 9 buses came to a stop, I saw my husband in the window of the bus looking for me.  He didn't see me, but I saw him.  As the Marines filed out of the buses and went to their loved ones, I then saw mine.  In my excitement, I tripped.  Oh my gosh that was embarrassing.  But I pushed through, I didn't care.  I don't think I've ever hugged him so tight.  At one point I looked at him and said, "You're never allowed to do that again!"  He laughed and agreed.  We then made our rounds to say our hellos and made our way to the hotel.

When all is said and done, I feel pretty lucky.  Not just to have such a wonderful husband.  But because he and I have the opportunity to miss each other.   When he gets home, we get to fall in love with each other all over again.  Not a lot of couples get that same opportunity.  It might not always make me the happiest when he is away from me and our daughter, but I will never take what I have for granted.  I am the luckiest girl in the world.

photographs copyright Le'Olam Photography of Sneads Ferry, NC

-- Aly, from Aly and Ellie Take the North

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story and join our Ruche Blogger Family, please send an e-mail to blog@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos. Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail if your story is selected.

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Love Stories: Found Love on the Internet

Our countdown to Valentine's Day continues! ♥

Love Story: Found Love on the Internet

--Amanda, from Little Tranquility

Back in May of 2011, a friend of mine wanted me to check out his dating profile. I joked with him and said that maybe I should make a profile and set my location to the DC area, since I'd be moving there in a little over a month. He said that seemed like a fine idea, so, that's what I did.

Internet dating is one of those things that people either love or hate. I happen to think it makes perfect sense; I just never thought it would be something I'd be interested in doing myself. But, I mean, who wants to meet someone in a bar? Nobody likes blind dates and if you aren't a social butterfly, meeting new people can be tricky. I'm a very shy person, so I never really thought I'd casually meet someone in public and actually be interested in them. After realizing these things, internet dating suddenly seemed like not only a good idea, but the greatest idea and I went from joking about it, to taking it seriously.

I received a message from a guy named Andrew who stood out to me. Unlike the cliche look-at-me-I'm-also-witty messages I was receiving from other guys on the site, his message was sincere, sweet, and literally made me laugh. He just seemed like a nice person. I had to respond, and for some reason, I felt I needed to prove to him that I wasn't as pretentious as I made myself seem in my profile. There was something about him... I can't explain it. Even before our first real conversation, I knew something big was going to happen.

And just like that, my life changed.

Talking via email/messages on the site turned into adding each other on Facebook, exchanging phone numbers for texting, and then we moved on to (the best part) Skyping.

Andrew and I Skyped daily and we became very close. I thought about him constantly. I felt like I was 14 again! I had this obnoxious permanent smile on my face at all times. I never thought I could feel so alive. I hope everyone is able to feel what I felt at some point in their lives because it's absolutely exhilarating!

I decided to fly out to DC to help my friends move into our new place. I also just really wanted to meet Andrew. So, I got my ticket, and we started counting down the days until my arrival!

It went from 16 days to 13 days to 10 days to 7 days to 3 days to 1 day... We were full of tummy-knots and smiles! I was soooo nervous. Even though we talked every day for a month for over two hours each time, I was still afraid to meet him in person! I was also really really thrilled of course! I was a jumbled mess of emotions. Shaky, excited, nervous, worried - the whole deal! But, once I got to the airport, I was beyond happy. I couldn't believe I was actually going to FINALLY meet Andrew! The plane took off, and that was that. I was on my way!

When I landed in DC, my nerves were pretty steady. It was strange because I thought I'd be super freaked out, but I surprised myself. When I turned my phone on, I had a text from Andrew saying, "Welcome to DC!! :) :)" and I was all smiles!

My friend picked me up and we had to run a few errands first before she brought me to meet Andrew. The traffic was awful and the hours kept passing. Then finally we were ready to go. I called Andrew to make sure the directions were right, and we were both so giggly on the phone. We couldn't believe this was actually happening! I was in the same place he was! And we were actually going to MEET! In PERSON! In REAL LIFE! We weren't just going to be images on a screen anymore. I knew I had so much to look forward to.

On the way to Andrew's apartment, I was sending him the screenshots I was taking of the Google map directions I had up on my phone. With every turn, my stomach was getting tighter and tighter!

"I'm so nervous! What if I faint???"

"I'll catch you! Oh my god, Andrew! We're almost there!!!"

The streets around his apartment are really confusing. I think my friend and I passed his place more than once. We parked and I told him I was going to get out and find him. He said he'd come downstairs.

"I'm looking at a yellow bakery,"

"I'm walking toward a yellow bakery..."

And then we both had minor heart attacks.

I think we spotted each other at the same time. We were still talking on the phone as he crossed the street and walked up to me.

"Why are we still on the phone!"

"I don't know!"

I grabbed him and held him close and we both sort of lost our balance. I thought my knees were going to give out under me. Neither of us could catch our breath. We just held hands and laughed and looked at each other and hugged over and over again. He made a comment about how it was cute that I was so shaky, and then he hugged me again which made it worse. My cheeks hurt from smiling. My hands went numb. I was feeling every emotion possible.

Andrew was everything I thought he'd be and more. He's a gentleman, he's smart, he's funny, he's even cuter in person somehow, and most importantly, he makes me feel like the most important, beautiful girl in the world. He encourages me, compliments me, and kisses me in the sweetest ways. I can't help but squeeze him as hard as I can to make sure he's real.

I don't know what more to say. He's perfect, and I'm so happy he found me.

--Amanda, from Little Tranquility

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story and join our Ruche Blogger Family, please send an e-mail to blog@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos. Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail when your story is selected.

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Love Stories: A Ring at Sunrise

Welcome to our one week countdown to Valentine's Day! ♥

I had a phone call at 3am. "Get up, get dressed, wear something warm. I'll pick you up in 10 minutes," he said. It was winter. In Australia. So, with one sweater, a beanie and my most comfortable jeans, I headed out the door to wait for him.

He looked weary and not his usual confident self. "Get in," he said.

We drove to Ball's Head, a park overlooking the harbour, the sun was slowly making an appearance. Boats were drifting on the water and sea gulls glided over our heads. It was very cold and he rubbed my hands in his. Out of a basket came a fully cooked (but cold) breakfast: eggs, sausages, toast as well as a cup of (cold) coffee. He was pacing back and forth.

"What's up honey?" I asked.

He dropped onto one knee, "I had a huge elaborate plan of the day, but I can't wait any longer. Will you do me the greatest honour of becoming my wife?" He opened a tiny box, inside a beautiful gold ring with a single solitaire diamond.

I fell to my knees, cuddled him and whispered, "Of course."

--Anna Cohen, from Simply Stylish Mom

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story and join our Ruche Blogger Family, please send an e-mail to blog@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos. Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail when your story is selected.

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Love Stories: Conversation and Adventures

I entered my sophomore year of college with a mindset toward independence. I had never believed in soul mates and didn't consider myself a huge romantic, but after pining away for a relationship that never came to anything, I especially hated the idea of vulnerability. I told myself I would resist the longing for a relationship for at least the first semester. I should have remembered the oft repeated line that you find love when you stop looking for it. 

On one Monday during the second week of classes, I had three meetings to attend back to back. As I entered the conference room where the first was being held, a young man caught my eye. I don't remember what he said, but he immediately started up a conversation with me. After the meeting, we discussed our academic interests, then parted ways. I ran to my friend's room in a nearby dorm and told her I had "made a new best friend!" A half hour later, I walked to the union to attend my next meeting. He was there (!?) I was pleasantly surprised that we had, yet again, run into each other. Without thinking, I blurted out that he should attend my third meeting, too. He said yes. And that's how I ended up driving a man I had just met to a place off campus in the dark without my glasses. I almost ran us into a ditch, but we escaped at the end of the night unscathed. He told me he'd friend me on facebook and he had by the time I got back to my dorm. 

Over the next week, we saw each other almost every day. On the following meeting day, we found a deserted little hill on campus where we began to talk into the early hours of the morning. The month of September was punctuated by three hours conversations with Daniel on the hill. The attraction was not only a physical one, but an intellectual one. From the divorce rate to population control, we agreed on the minutest details. For the first time, I felt this unwavering, calm, certainty that everything would work out. We began dating on September 28, 2008. When I met Daniel, I started to question my distaste for the idea of soulmates.

Three months into our relationship, Daniel sat me down and shyly told me that he had actually seen me on facebook before out first meeting. I had replied favorably to a comment on the note of our mutual friend and he had immediately taken an interest in me. He scoped out my facebook page, read my poetry blog, and checked out the events I was attending so that he could meet me in real life. He couldn't have known, of course, that we would hit it off so well, but I'm glad he took the chance. Maybe the stars hadn't aligned without human intervention, but it still took careful orchestration to get us to where we are. 

Today, we've been married for 1 1/2 years. We're still holding great conversation and going on adventures. Relationships take work and the soulmate model often neglects that fact. Could we have made it work in different relationships? Sure. But I still think we're meant to be.

- - Leah Wise, Someone's Water Lily

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story and join our Ruche Blogger Family, please send an e-mail to blog@shopruche.com. You may attach up to 5 photos. Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail if your story is selected.

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Love Story: From the Shore

Steven and I met in Okinawa, Japan. I was 14, he was 16, and we were neighbors. A year after awkward hellos and high fives in the high school hallways, we exchanged numbers (on myspace, mind you) and out of the blue started talking constantly. Sun-up to sun-down. Our first date was to the sea, where we picked up shells, and I fell asleep for the first time in a boy’s arms next to the crashing waves. And I swore I was falling in love.

However, my family had orders to move to America just a month after we started getting close - and we were scared… so we agreed to just be friends, even though we both (and everyone around us) knew we were unstoppable.

So I ended up moving away, and we couldn't help but to love as deeply as the seas and as tall as the mountains for as long as they separated us. Which was 642 days to be precise. I was blessed enough to visit Japan twice before he joined the military and was stationed just over 60 miles away from me. About a year after he moved to America, we were married surrounded by an ocean of the people we love in the snowy city of Salt Lake.

And today, we are simply newlyweds. Residing in the rolling northern California hills with both a puppy and a kitten, and we are as crazy about each other (and of course a little more) as we were that first night along that Okinawan shore.

love, n'tima
from ntimajoy.blogspot.com

♥

See the previous Love Stories here! If you would like to submit your story and join our Ruche Blogger Family, please send an e-mail to blog@shopruche.com and add photos as attachments. Please try to keep your stories to a 1200 word limit. You will receive an e-mail when your story is selected.

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