Falling....

Chris and I have been a long time coming. I can say that I have been falling for many years as our relationship developed from colleagues to friends to soul mates and best friends and now into the loving (that's right, I said the "L" word) relationship that we now find in each other.

Part I left off in the 2005-06 school year I believe. That year we became best friends and over the summer we did a lot together with our group of friends!! Although I had seen Lily quite a bit over the last year, this is the summer I really got to know her and watch her grow! I admired Chris so much for the father that he was! He had such a firm and loving relationship with Lily! He is an AMAZING dad! He shows so much love and support - I didn't know anyone could contain the love he has for his daughter - and he sets the bar high and holds her accountable and I love that! I got to watch Lily grow from this little runt....

(HOW cute is she?)

To this young lady! :-) From 2006-2009 Chris really spent so much time, energy, and focus on being a single dad. He was very open and honest with everyone about his singular focus on Lily and making her life with two homes and separated parents the best that it could be! He has done amazing things for her and still does.

Those years of transition for him also brought transition for our friendship. We did more and more together with our friends and began to confide in one another and support one another individually. Chris met my family, coming to Chattanooga for riverbend for his own little daddy-vacation as he liked to call it! Chris and I began to do a few things just the two of us because we did enjoy each other's company so much and began to understand that no matter our relationship in life, we were, beyond a shadow of a doubt, soul-mates! The level of comfort and understanding could only be explained by two souls that know eachother beyond all understanding. :-)


Being that we both enjoy sports we headed to see the Braves play and the Titans (of course) once or twice each year.

We began spending more time together on the golf course too! It is the game he loves and the game I am so glad to finally have some help with! :-)

I have to stop here and say, Chris introduced me to Web! They are brothers of the heart! And it is through their relationship that my relationship with Megan bloomed and flourished!

So I have Chris to thank for Megan! And, of course, I had to get Megan and Lauren together as soon as possible and... well.... you all know the story there! Inseperable to say the least!

Over the course of the last three or four years, I can say this...

Chris slowly, without effort became my person. The person I trusted above all others. The person whoes shoulder I wanted to cry one. The one that listened and understood when I needed to vent. The one I wanted to talk to about everything. The one that got mad with me, just because I needed someone too! He became my best friend, soul mate, and partner in life. And that was all before we took the steps to begin a romantic relationship with one another.

One of the things I admire the most about Chris is the way he parents...

...and his love for children, and all things funny, and his ability to make me smile, no matter what.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is part II. :-) It's hard to cram a 4 year beginning into two posts, but I have a feeling you'll be hearing a lot about Chris and getting to know him quite well in the future! The long-term future, if you catch my drift! ;-)

I will tell you this. We officially became a couple this summer. I have never been happier. And, as cheesy as it sounds and although I didn't feel like I had a piece missing, I now feel complete. :-) And He? Well, he feels like he has a second chance at life. He is now in the right place, with the right person instead of the wrong place with the wrong person. As he likes to say, "I sure do love my do-over!" And I sure do love being his do-over... there's nothing I'd rather be!