the boy I could not live without

Since Valentine's Day is tomorrow, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about the love of my life. I fell in love with Joel many many years ago. I first met him at church. My family began going to New Life, which was his dad's church at the time. I hated the church at first, cried every time we had to go, and wanted nothing more than to just stay at the church we had been at my entire life. I quickly realized that my parents had made up their minds and decided to just make the most of this new place. I started making friends, went to youth camp... and that is where it all began. By the end of the week at camp, Joel had become my "date" for the banquet. The only thing I remember about that banquet was that the milk I had been served at dinner was completely sour. Sick. Soon after camp, Joel became my boyfriend. I was in seventh grade at the time. This went on for, I believe, about six months until the jerk broke my heart and broke up with me. I still remember the phone call.... you could say I was somewhat obsessed. Life went on. I dated others, but always thought about Joel every time I heard a sad song on the radio.... this is almost embarrassing to write..... but it is the truth. There was something about this boy..... I liked him... a lot. Time passed. We remained somewhat friends but our lives began to be very different. I was just a good ol girl but he took a different path. We talked some through high school.. and then I went off to Tennessee to go to college. During my first year there, I had heard that he had moved to California.... and was not doing well. I decided to contact him. He was strung out on drugs, selling drugs, etc. We began talking again... he decided to clean up his life.... and then joined me at college during my second semester. Things were okay. We dated... and broke up... dated... and broke up... and so on.... but then.... we dated one last time and then married on June 18, 1999. Life was good.... then was hard for a bit... but now is fantastic. There has always been something about Joel Isaac Mathews that I just fell in love with.... he was the man I could not ever live without.
Now many moves and two kids later..... here we are... loving each other better than ever. Love can be a great thing. I firmly believe that love is not that giddy feeling..... it is a choice. It is hard, tough, and not always perfect. It is being able to accept one another exactly the way they are. I am thankful for him everyday. He makes me laugh, he plays air drums like no other, and his butt is pretty cute. :)