On the Coast of Carolina

On the this day, eight years ago, Cory asked me to be his girlfriend on the coast of Carolina. What a wild ride the past eight years have been. We were such babies and probably had no business being in such a serious relationship.

Cory and I met in early 2005 when he started working for my Dad {I was still in high school} and we had been friends for awhile but we’re both in relationships at the time. Around Thanksgiving, we both found ourselves single and started hanging out more and by Christmas, we were “talking” {if that’s even still a thing}. We wanted to take our time since we both had just gotten out of relationships. I told Cory once that even though we had been dating for a few weeks, he still had to ask me to be his girlfriend. So, we took off to Charleston since we had a long weekend for Martin Luther King and on Folly Beach, watching the sunset, Cory asked me to be his girlfriend. 

I know, cue the “awwws”. 

I can’t say that I instantly knew he was the man I was supposed to marry because honestly, I was just looking for something different than the last guy I had dated. Cory had such a free spirit and not a jealous bone in his body, which I loved about him but so much of the free spirit was immaturity. On the same note, I was much different than his previous girlfriend and it took us both a long time to adjust. 

As our relationship got more serious, I often questioned whether or not we should even be dating. Cory and I had different beliefs- I believed in God and a relationship with Christ and Cory didn’t. I knew that I wouldn’t marry a man who didn’t share those same beliefs as me so what was the point of continuing a relationship with a man that I couldn’t see myself marrying? This time in our relationship {which was a few years} was rough. There was lying and cheating and utter heart break and we even broke up at one point. I quickly realized that being without him was even more miserable than the crap we had put each other through. 

But this is a love story and we are married now so you can probably guess that it got better. If you did, than you guessed right. In 2008, Cory accepted Christ into his life and Bam! our relationship started working. We both matured and day by day our relationship got easier. Not easy but easier. It was at this point, that I knew Cory was going to be the man I married. The Cory that I love today is still the same Cory I fell in love with eight years ago but a more Godly and mature version. 

Obviously, we don’t celebrate this anniversary now that we have our wedding anniversary but I’m so thankful that our journey started eight years ago on the coast of Carolina.