Kara Renee: The Story of Us

Our story starts with a wedding. Not just any wedding, my sister, Amanda, and his brother, Jeffrey. This is the first time we met.

As Best Man and Maid of Honor, we talked a few times. A short conversation about walking down the aisle together. An agreement for him to keep a tissue in his pocket for me (which he gave to his mom and made me look like a fool. ;)

On my super emotional day, I could not figure out how to properly link his arm, hence the death grip.

However, through all this, we were both in separate relationships and lived about 12 hours away from each other. Other than the "Wow, they're cute" thoughts, nothing happened on this trip.

Except the most beautiful, God touched marriage of the century (love you, sister!)

This was January 2, 2010 and feels like such a long time ago!

Things happened that year, both of our relationships were not built to last and 364 days later, we met again.

I was vacationing in Ohio with my family for the holidays and it was going how any other vacation could go. Slow, relaxing, a little boring, but fun times with family.

My sister really wanted to be with us for a few days, so she, my new brother in law, and Jonathon hopped in the car and drove 14 hours.

Throughout the first day, Amanda kept dropping hints about how we'd make a cute couple and kept trying to hook us up.

I thought the girl was crazy. Sure, I still found him very attractive, but he still lived 12 hours away. Seeing as my last long distance relationship failed, I didn't want to take that risk. I watched him play video games, we all went ice skating, and just spent a little time getting to know each other.

Yeah, we're dorks.

Then we both went home again and went our separate ways. We didn't talk through most of it, a couple of texts back and forth, not a whole lot. Apparently during all of this time, he had a huge crush on me. I was still in the place where I couldn't see a long distance relationship working, but thought he was mega cute.

So then comes another vacation. (Apparently I take them more often than I realized.) This time I came down to Louisiana to hang out with them all again. He was with us almost the entire time, but we barely talked. I knew he had a crush on me, but I didn't want to lead him on, because, as you can guess, long distance relationships just don't work for me.

I went back home, and was feeling very unhappy with where I was in life. I was bored at my school, I didn't like my job, I was having a tough time getting over my ex. So what did I do?

I moved to Louisiana.

Within the first few weeks of my being there, we had our first date. He took me to see Bridesmaids, which was hilarious. We had the awkward getting to know each other conversations and a really fun time.

On our way home, I was wondering how the night would end. Would he want to kiss me on the first date? I wasn't quite sure. I told myself that if he got out of the car when he dropped me off, then he probably wanted to.

We pull into the driveway and I had an awkward moment of should I get out now, or wait til he wants to get out. In that small moment, he lets me know, "I have to pee." So blunt, and so cute. He comes inside, we talk with my sister for a few minutes, we hug goodbye, then he's on his way home.

Within that week, we went on maybe 2 more dates. We got sushi, and I honestly cannot remember the third date! That Sunday though, May 29, 2011, we went to get Subway. We brought it back home, and he waits until I take the biggest bite out of my sandwich. He blurts out really fast (which he doesn't remember!), "I really like you!" I take a full 30 seconds to finish chewing my food as he patiently waits. I tell him that I like him too, and he asks for our first kiss.

We started off in the regular relationship ways. Going out, staying in cuddling, being regular goofballs, the usual.

The thing is, we were both really hurt in the past. We were really scared for the "I love you's" to come out. I felt it for a long time before I told him. One night, we walked down to our park, and under the stars I blurted it out in the same way he did. It took me a long time to say it, and he actually said it first, but I was so scared to say it. Turns out, it was the best choice of my life.

We've had our rough times since then of course. We wouldn't be a real relationship without them. It's been ups and downs, but mostly ups. He's a nut for sticking by my side this long, but it only makes me love him all the more.