How it all began...

As promised, I am going to post the story my guy. So, here is part one.




Stage: Beginning

Time: 2004-2005

Setting: Central Middle School




In the spring of 2004 I began my student teaching at CMS. I enjoyed my experience there so much and had fun meeting many wonderful people who are some of my nearest and dearest friends today. Among them, Chris. He was, at the time, Mr. Hooper the science teacher. It's funny... all those years ago, Lauren asked me after my first week here, "Are there any really hot teachers?" And I told her, "One, his name is Chris, but he is married." :-) As I student taught he was just the "cool" guy that everyone liked and I was, of course, drawn to that, but in a respectful teachery way.



In the fall of 2004 I was hired to teach at CMS down the hall from Chris in a different mini school. As the school year progressed we got to know each other better. I loved his sense of humor and I noticed that anyone who was around him was smiling, laughing, and having fun. As a new teacher, just trying to survive, I thought how cool it would be to be in his circle of friends because they seemed so close and invovled, but also so open and accepting.






As the year passed, Chris and I got to know each other as friends and before long, I was a part of his circle of friends. I even got to meet his wife and attempt a friendship. Chris and I knew each other as colleagues and as casual friends. When the year drew to a close, we learned of a reorganization of mini schools and me, along with two other teachers that were on my team, requested that Chris be moved to our mini school so that we could all teach together.




2005-2006


At the start of the 2005-2006 year, my team got our wish! Chis was not only in our mini school, but he and I had adjoining classrooms! It was such a fun year! I learned how similar we were. We had so much in common and I felt like I had known him all my life... like our souls were old friends. We settled into a very close and very comfortable friendship that year and our cirlce of friends began to spend time together outside of work. I began attending our "Liquid In-Service" at the local mexican restaurant every Friday after school, going to poker night, and enjoying all kinds of activities with my new group of friends!

Throughout that school year, and as I got to know Chris better, I eventually learned of his troubled relationship and separation from his wife. They had struggled for years to force a relationship born of crisis and obligation to work and had finally reached the breaking point. I spent countless hours talking with Chris, listening, praying with him, and encouraging him. I never would have guessed where those times would lead. I look back now, however, and realize that those times laid a spiritual foundation and trust for us to build upon.

That year Chris transitioned from "Mr. Hooper the Science Teacher" to "my best friend, Chris."