I thought with Valentines Day fast approaching it would be fun to tell a bit more about Jason and I’s love story. I love learning how others met and how they got where they are now. I know I have dipped in a bit of how we met before, but some are new and I bet I give it out a bit more fun details with this one.
I was in my senior year of high school, and I had fully discovered the wonders that was the internet. Meeting people and chatting away and discovering just how much I loved being online which was allowing me to sprout. Even meeting people in person and yes I was smart about that as well. I had a few boyfriends because of the wonders of the internet, and I only claim them as boyfriends if I met them in person. Being somewhat of a flirt and enjoying it to the fullest. I had one from Portland that I thought I was going to be with for a long time, if not forever at the time. Alas, that didn’t last nearly as long as I had envisioned. During this time I was still talking and meeting people.
Jason had randomly messaged me on ICQ, which I just searched and am quite surprised it is indeed still around. We talked and became good friends. After the break up with the aforementioned boyfriend, we started to get quite a bit closer and explore an actual relationship. By this time I had finished my senior year and my then best friend and I were moving to Coeur d’Alene to start at NIC for the fall. I think we moved to Coeur d’Alene (from St. Maries) in late June, maybe early July of 1998.
Jason at this time was down in San Antonio, Texas stationed serving for the Air Force. He was looking to get out January 1999; because of this he was going to fly up to Seattle to visit with his cousin Brent to attend a job fair there, he had ideas of maybe moving to Seattle after getting out. Jason is originally from here (Vancouver, Washington) but with family in Seattle and always liking Seattle he thought that might be a good option.
We decided that Rascal (my dog at the time, my baby boy) and I would drive over to Seattle while he was up to officially meet him in person. I was going to stay with my brother Stacey, who at the time was living in the Seattle area but for whatever reason I couldn’t so I ended up staying with Jason at Brent’s house. Once it was planned Rascal and I drove over to Seattle about a 4 to 5 hour drive from Coeur d’Alene, all be ourselves. We met in the Safeway parking lot near Brent’s house and scared us at first, but now we have been together since that day. Was one of the scariest, bravest things I ever did and wouldn’t change it for anything now. That day was July 16, 1998.
Picture at the very top left side is our first family photo taken that weekend at Brent’s house. Also the little one at the right top is me on top of the Space Needle that weekend. The two middle photos are Jason in his apartment in San Antonio.
Jason flew up to meet my Mom and Gene September 1998. I flew down to San Antonio for Christmas/Winter Break 1998. Jason was honorable discharged from the Air Force late January 1999 where he then drove all the way up and did various visiting along his route before making his way to me. He got there sometime in February 1999 and we have never been apart for more then a few days at a time since. 
We finally married June 21st, 2003 close to 5 years of being together. 
This past June we celebrated 10 years married and this past July we celebrated 15 years together in all. Of course we have had our ups and downs, but we love each other and I really couldn’t imagine my life without him in it. He is my rock and one of my very best friends in life.
5 of my tips to a happy relationship
- Always be truthful, open, and honest with each other. Even little white lies can come up to catch you in the butt and make the other hurt for no reason if you had just simply told them everything up front from the very beginning.
- Say I love you and mean it. Anytime at all that you can tell them you love them, do it. You never know when it could be your lost moment together.
- Never take each other for granted. Show them what they mean to you anytime you can. Tell them what they mean to you.
- Take time for each other. Always make time for just you two.
- Let them have their hobbies and time away and you have yours. I have a hard time with this one, but I know its essential to any relationship. Time apart is just as important as time together.
