So we met over 17 years ago at the corner store, Hills grocery and gas. Haha. I used to pump gas there. I was working there and he would come around to get gas and we started chit chatting, he got a part time job there also and the chit chats became “hanging out” as friends. We were friends for a while and he would take our two older boys (mine at the time-single mom) on little adventures to different activities going on, trying to win my heart I guess, lol, kids became closer to him. I didn’t think things would work out between us as he was younger than me (which I didn’t know at first) and he liked to party and drink quite a bit. I didn’t feel that was any kind of lifestyle for me or the boys so we kind of went out different ways for a while, both seeing other people trying to move past it (me) and apparently that didn’t work. We started seeing each other at different parties, bars, on the road and such and we eventually started hanging out again. My Auntie Cath told me to go for it, she said come on Melis, go for it, “he’s the one”. I was still unsure so I talked to Petey; funny thing, when we first met, I didn’t even know his right name, all I heard was Petey, Pistol, Brian, I finally asked him, what’s your name anyway? He said Brian but everyone calls him Petey or Pistol too. Ok than, I called him Petey. Anyhow, we talked and I told him that I liked “hanging out” but wasn’t sure if it was ok, as you are younger than me, drink too much, party and leave for days and we don’t see you. Wasn’t right to my boys. I told him I was a package deal and if this was something he wanted than things would need to change. Guess we were it, he moved in. Haha We kept our relationship under wraps for a while and two years later we had a baby boy of our own, Petey’s bff, Eric. Times were tough at times and jobs came and went, blended family issues, relationship issues and such but we kept moving forward. Eventually came better jobs, better home, nicer vehicles. Life was becoming great and we were comfortable. We never thought either of us would get married and didn’t really talk about it either. When I had a stroke in 2018 it made me look at life quite differently, I was one of the lucky ones to survive and was so certain this family was my whole life, my little family with all of our boys. I started thinking….I want all of it. I want to be married and continue living our best lives. I still didn’t think I was ever going to get it until Petey surprised me on Christmas Day. After all gifts had been opened and we were ready to pack it all up. He says “ wait I have one more gift”, comes out with a little box and hands it to me. My first thought, earrings….I opened the little cute box and it was a ring, I was shocked cause it was a nice big ring (lol), I waited and didn’t say anything as he’s given me little boxes before and those were just “I got you this, family ring and a promise ring. I didn’t say anything and just stood there, Eric says, “say something”……and in the most nervous voice I’ve ever heard from Petey was “will you marry me?” I cried…..and said yes!!! 
What made it even better was that it was just me, him and all of our boys at that moment, they were just as happy as I was. And I absolutely love that he picked the ring himself and asked my dad for his blessing. What a gentleman.
So my Auntie was right…he’s the one 💕