Life is an adventure
- Imperfectly Perfect
- Jan 5, 2023
- 7 min read
Neale Donald Walsch said life is an adventure. Adventure is typically defined as an unusual, daring and exciting experience. I have most definitely embarked on a new adventure.
Let’s go back to September 2021. I was actively dating through the Match app. I had some great dates but the spark was missing from each one. I was starting to give up hope that I would ever find the one for me. I was questioning the standards that I set. Maybe they weren’t realistic. On the 19th of September, I was at brunch with my girlfriends. During a lull in conversation I checked the app. There was this guy that had come up more than once. The first time I saw him I thought he was attractive but his profile led me to believe that I would not be able to keep up with his adventurous life. So the previous times I did not swipe left or right. This time I decided to swipe right. Truth be told, on that particular day, I also swiped right on a couple others. One got back to me before “adventurous guy” and I gave that guy a chance. After a couple back and forth chats with “adventurous guy” I let him know that I was going to give this other guy a chance. About a week went by and no other words from “adventurous guy”. The guy I did give a chance was a good guy but there was a disconnect between us.
A week or so had passed and then “adventurous guy” messaged me about something we had previously discussed, wild mushrooms I believe. I was excited to see a message from him. We chatted back and forth almost daily. One Sunday, December 5th to be exact, we were talking and he said, “we be vibing, let’s grab lunch.” Sundays are for Cowboys football and laundry but I decided that I had to meet him. I had to see if there was a spark. Luckily he lived an hour away so it gave me a bit of time to get public ready. We met for a late lunch at a place close to me. I was incredibly nervous and even shaky, which shocked me. I hadn’t been that way with any of the other dates I had recently been on. He made me nervous but in the good, butterflies in the tummy, do I have anything hanging out my nose, kind of way. Our lunch ended up lasting about four hours. To make a long story short, I fell harder than that boulder that Wile E. Coyote tries to drop on the Roadrunner. I am pretty sure that he felt similar because we spent every available moment together after that. We even welcomed 2022 together and spent New Year’s Day riding a four wheeler through the country. He is the perfect mix of intellect and adventure.
A few months of smiling at my phone ridiculously throughout the day, dinner dates whenever we could (even with the kids sometimes), a spring break trip with his family to RV on the beach, spending weekends (some with kids, some without) at his family property in the country, and we knew we needed to be together. By May he was moved in. He brought so much love and light into our home.
In the spirit of change, I also left my job of six years to follow a dream. Of course “adventurous guy” was my biggest support with the change. We had discussed it in depth, several times, before I made the decision. I went from being a purchasing clerk for a school district to wearing scrubs and helping to facilitate healing as a physical therapy tech and nutritionist for a chiropractor that I had worked for years before. I have long dreamed of being a wellness coach. I have studied and taken courses just for knowledge because I enjoy it so much. So I was beyond thrilled about this change. Dream job. Dream man. Dream kids. Life was great!
Then life got real and fast. I had some financial hardships as a single mom of four and my mortgage company was not pleased with me. There were a few months there where “adventurous guy” could’ve just said it was too much and walked away. If he did ever think that, he never showed a sign of it. He immediately set forth to find the best possible outcome of the whole thing. He helped when he didn’t have to. He financially assisted when he didn’t have to. We worked hard to right things and set up a budget and really came together to make it all work out in our best interest. During the whole ordeal we never fought. He never raised his voice. He never made me feel less or bad. We got through it together and in love with a common mission. And every time we pay the bills for the month, we are thankful and celebrate that we are an amazing team.
Summer passed quickly and school was about to start. Since I previously worked for a school district and had the kids attend the district that I worked for, they had to switch schools to the district we lived in. In discussions they were excited about the change. They didn’t seem to be nervous or worried about it at all. I, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck. I never had to change schools growing up so I don’t know what emotions and anxieties it can bring about. I could only imagine how it would make me feel. And for me, an introvert and socially awkward person, it was terrifying. We did the new student registration before school started and they got to see inside their school and some kids that were also going to be new. That just excited them even more. I was very happy that they seemed to be ready for the change. My new work schedule did not allow for me to drop off and pick up as I had always done before. “Adventurous guy” jumped in without hesitation to assist with drop off and pick up when I could not.
Life was getting back on track. We spent many evenings with “adventurous guy” preparing and serving some of the most amazing meals. “Adventurous guy” spent many of those meals learning and perfecting how to cook for a family of 6, on a budget, and making something that everyone will eat and enjoy. He was mostly successful. The most amazing part of it all is that he would listen to what each kid and myself would say that we didn’t like about it and he would then prepare another meal, similar but with the changes to make it palatable for all. He is truly amazing.
Around Halloween we even took the Littles to a work type Halloween party of his and then out with my family afterwards. He took me out to his family property for my birthday, the boys were at their dad’s, and out to Canton for a day. We planned to all six go out to the family property for Thanksgiving.
The weekend before Thanksgiving “adventurous guy” decided that we should go ahead and set up the Christmas tree since we would get home at the end of the weekend after. He had been holding on to a beautiful 12 foot tall artificial Christmas tree that he had not had the space to put up for a few years. We had room now. He got it out and it was a pre-lit with one section of working lights. We spent several hours taking every strand of lights off that tree and laughing about how cut up our hands were getting and about how great the lights had been attached to the branches of this artificial tree. After putting up the tree and plugging in the lights, we sat down to admire the tree. It was beautiful. I put my hand on his leg and there was something in his pocket, it was pointy. I kinda poked at it and asked if he found a screw while we were messing with the tree. He chuckled and then said, “I figured if I was going to be putting up lights for you then you should be wearing this.” He pulled out a beautiful peach tear drop sapphire surrounded by diamonds in rose gold ring and asked me to marry him. I was completely shocked. We had talked about getting married and all but I had no idea if he was still going to ask after riding this rollercoaster. I asked him if he was sure, to which he replied yes and then I said yes also.
We spent Thanksgiving with Mike and the Littles at his family property, with his family. My oldest had to work. We played games and ate amazing food. It was one of the best Thanksgivings that I have had in a while. Honestly, I mean that. Last Thanksgiving I was eating microwave burritos and watching reality TV by myself. The boys were at their dad’s for Christmas and that is always hard for me. I warned “adventurous guy” about this. So he planned a Christmas away for us with his folks. The four of us and two dogs took the RV to Beaver’s Bend. Our spot was right on the river. It was absolutely beautiful. The temperatures were below freezing but I made sure to prepare because I did not want to ruin this for any of us. I get cold really easily and I am almost always cold. I hate to be cold. We fished for trout and took to the trails. We feasted like kings and watched wildlife. It was perfect. We came home and prepared for Christmas with the boys. The number of gifts was few but the fun and togetherness was there. We had the boys for New Year’s so we planned a fun evening of food and games and they moved the trampoline close and put up a light so the boys could jump. We had a fire going in the fire pit. We toasted with sparkling grape juice for the kids and champagne for the adults at midnight. A perfect ending to one adventurous year and a perfect beginning to the new year.
2022 was a great year. It was filled with some of the highest highs but there was also lows. We persevered and learned what we were made of and how we would work together. It was a lot in a year but we got through and still haven’t had fight. “Adventurous guy” is now part of this perfectly beautiful life. I am so excited to see what adventures come in 2023. I know one adventure that I am most excited about………a wedding! I will keep you posted.
C & B 11.11.23
Comments