Just over 9 years ago, I asked the love of my life to be my girlfriend.

We met when I was 16 and she was 13..

Well, technically we were younger than that when we met, as we went to the same church for a few years prior, but this age is when it became real. One day my cousin was texting me while at a "welcome home" party that I had yet to arrive to, and something came up about Liv (my wife). She asked if I had any interest in her. I don't remember my reply, really (don't tell her that)...but it was more or a less a "duh, of course I do". Little did I know, Liv had been reading over her shoulder; You know, the way all of you girls do when you're giggling over something with your friends.

One thing led to another and we began to hang out and talk. One day one of my other cousins (as you can tell, they enjoyed being in the middle of everything) was asked by Liv, "on a scale from 1-10, how much do you think he likes me?". His response was dramatic, of course, "1-10? He definitely likes you a 12!". This got back to me and I was floored. Why would he say something like that? We just recently started talking!

Of course, I had to clarify...I had to fix what he said. So I did what every young couple used to do, I wrote her a note. In that note, I explained that he was always overly dramatic and that in reality, my answer would have been a 7. Now here's the funny part about this little story...That note is still used against me to this day. I actually heard about it about a week ago after Liv told my brother, who is newly dating, about it...Yeah, he enjoyed that one.

Aaanyways, later on in June of 2007, I asked Liv to be my girlfriend. Her reply? "I will have to think about it and let you know." Aaaaah what a tormenting answer...Not the one a guy wants to hear, but it was also reassuring that she didn't want to just jump into something willy-nilly. Later that week, as she was getting into the car with her grandma, she turned around and told me bye...Then as she closed the door, she said one simple word - yes. To this day, my heart still jumps when I think of that moment. 

She wasn't allowed to date until she was 16, so I waited. I did a lot of waiting, but I wouldn't trade that for the world...because in the end, I got her! She became my Belle (and I, her beast) and I became her Superman (or so she claimed. haha). I still, to this day, am unsure how I landed such an incredible woman.

Since we began to like each other at such an early age, many people told us that it was just emotions and puppy-love. We were told it wouldn't last and that we would never make it. We were told that a relationship this early in life would never last. We were lied about and gossiped about. As teenagers growing up together and soul searching for our true selves, we had our times. We came across many hard trials and tribulations.

I'm here today to tell you that we have beaten all odds. Whatever obstacle was thrown at us, we rose above it and conquered it together by the grace of God. Hand-in-hand, we trampled these stereotypes. 

This was and still is true love.

I was a wild child. If things had not happened the way they did in 2007, I would've been a very different person in many ways. I would have found vices in the hard times....and they would not have been good vices. Without Liv in my life, there is no doubt in my mind that I would have been down and out several years ago. I owe her all of my love forever...And I plan on fulfilling that debt, plus some. 

We are now married, have a 19 month old son, have moved from Nashville, to the panhandle of Idaho, and now live in southern Chile. (You can read about that here) Even though I am at a weird part in my life, I am very blessed and thankful for where I am.

Liv, if you're reading this, you were never a seven. I always saw you as a 12. In fact, now I see you as a 3, 364 and counting. My love for you will continue to grow and that number will increase every day for the next 70+ years.

By the way, I drew these pictures for Liv years ago while we were dating and recently surprised her with a frame for each of them. I had saved some keychains from way back when and inlaid them into the wood.

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@Rigaronib

Also, check out my recent post about my first metal concert in Chile -here