Our Story

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Can miles truly separate you from friends… If you want to be with someone you love, aren’t you already there?
Richard Bach 

     My story is a little different.  Sean and I met in high school.  I was a freshman that moved to a small town in the middle of the school year.  The school didn’t know what to do with me, my classes had been beyond their freshman honors classes.  They decided it would be best to place me in sophomore honors classes.  Now, I have not ever been a morning person.  I usually ate breakfast during my 2nd period class.  Sean, being the gentleman that he was, would steal my breakfast and eat it.  After a week I finally started bringing two of everything.  That was the extent of our relationship, I fed him and said hello.  Then I switched schools the next year.

      Fast forward one year and I find myself dating someone from the small town school.  He happened to be Sean’s best friend.  During that relationship Sean and I became friends, best friends.  Boyfriend changed and drifted away from both of us…  In the meantime mine and Sean’s friendship grew stronger.  One really hot day of summer he even rode his bicycle 15 miles to come give me a flower, so sweet.  Still, I denied that I felt anything other than friendship for him.  Our families were taking bets on the opposite.

     Now Sean has never been one for words.  About two months after “official break up” with boyfriend and many “friend” dates later, Sean asked, “Are we a couple now?”  That was August of 1997.  Who knew that 14 years later we would still be together?!?  Not me!




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     Two years and one month after our relationship began we welcomed our oldest daughter Dee into the world.  Eighteen months after Dee we welcomed Flee into the world.  We still were not married.  There were two main reasons.  I would not get married pregnant, I feel very deeply that our marriage is not our children’s responsibility.  They are not the reason we are together.  Secondly, Sean, the man of a few words, had not asked.    Just before my birthday he came home from work and said, “We are getting married on August 18th, then I don’t have to remember a different anniversary date.”  That was it, no ring, no flowers, no romance just a matter of fact he was ready to get married and knew the date he wanted to get married.  Guess who planned the wedding?? Yeah, he had very little input just to keep it casual.
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     We were married at a large park.  I went with a Hawaiian theme.  The guys all had different colored Hawaiian shirts, khaki pants, and sandals.  The ladies wore different brightly colored dresses and barefoot.  Our wedding cake was a giant volcano with flowers flowing out of it.  Beautiful cake, that Sean proceeded to shove up my face, down my dress and in my hair.  When you have cake up your nose and can’t see because it is covering your eyes, you see red.  Just an FYI for all the husbands to be out there.  After the cake fiasco our guests were afraid to be near us with food.  
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     Guests still talk about our wedding.  A lot of planning went into making sure they had a good time.  So much so that I learned a valuable lesson.  Our wedding day was supposed to be for us, not them.  When my grandma said that it is better to elope, I should have listened. At least there were some happy moments.
      
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     Three years later, Sean had some growing up to do.  He joined the USMC and it was the best thing that could have happened to our marriage.  The girls, his parents, and I flew out to San Diego for his graduation from boot camp.  My dad and step mom also came, which was huge.  I was able to see my husband for the first time in 13 weeks and meet my father for the first time.  We had a very emotional five days in San Diego, they were very happy days too.
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     Two more children and seven years later, we are still happily married.  Actually happier than the first few years of our marriage.  10 years of marriage is a long marriage these days, 14 years with the same person is almost unheard of.  We are beating the odds!  Thank you Sean for sticking it out through the good times and the bad.  You are still my best friend and the love of my life.  Thank you for loving me, even with all my quirks. 
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10 Responses to Our Story

  1. ashley baker says:

    omg shannon. you made me cry :[ this is beautiful.

  2. Anonymous says:

    This is so cute. I just congrat's on Sean FB. I remember exactly the first time I met you. (just as the picture) and your Wedding, who could forget. (your picture is hanging on my wall). Your story is like a fairy tale come true. Oh, I cried too.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Shannon it seems like only yesterday. The wedding turned out great and the entertainment was really nice[Deeann doing the hula in her little grass skirt]Now you are a wonderful mom to 4 beautiful kids and wife to a great guy.Love you Grandma

  4. Anonymous says:

    The wedding was pretty awesome. I enjoyed it very much and still remember it vividly. I don'y remember too many like this one so it had to be a wonderful event. Dave S.

  5. Marie Nichols says:

    omg shannon… love the pictures… can't believe 10 years.. and 14 years together… that is such a long time.. i'm thankful to know the both of you for the same amount and grateful to witness your love blossom for one another… happy anniversary today and for many more to come.. Love you both :)

  6. Anonymous says:

    wow…love this Shannon! beautiful words <3 We love you guys! -Tasha-

  7. Aries Mommy says:

    Thank you everyone for the kind words.

  8. Robin @ Farewell, Stranger says:

    So beautiful! I love the evolution in the photos.

  9. lorrie says:

    thats a wonderful story about love thanks for sharing it, just out of curiosity how old were u in 97? i graduated hs in 98

  10. Aries Mommy says:

    I was 16 in '97. Sean graduated in '98 as well.

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