So there I was, sitting at the bar...that's how all great love stories start, right??

I had moved in with my sister and her husband (many thanks, Greg and Ash) about a month prior. I didn't know anyone in St. Louis, so they took me out with them. We were at McGurk's in St. Charles for a friend's birthday party. Ashley and I were at the bar, snacking and talking when he walked over and started talking to me. For the life of me, I could not figure out why this handsome stranger was talking to me! I nervous-laughed through the entire conversation, while Ashley just watched me and giggled. (She's a great sister, that one ;) ) I distinctly remember wanting her to jump into the conversation and save me, because to me, I was floundering and certainly wasn't charming anyone. But apparently, I was wrong.

It wasn't long when I received a Facebook friend request from him. I remember yelling down from upstairs, "Ashley, he wants to be my Facebook friend!!!" She giggled again. (She does that a lot.) Then, he messaged me. It was clear he wanted to take me out, but having just disentangled myself from a rough and very serious relationship, I was not quite ready. He thought I just didn't like him. Seriously. He thought I didn't think he was cute. *eye roll*

Anyways, with a perseverance anyone could admire, he kept messaging me every so often. FOR SIX MONTHS. And most of the time I did not respond to the advances. If it is not clear by now that I had completely bewitched him, I'm not sure when that's going to hit you. Man was in deep. And I still ask him how I did it. Because I do not know. My bet is on the nervous-laugh and clumsy attempt at conversation. I'm sure it was that...

Then one afternoon, at my sister's diaper party, he unexpectedly walks through the door. He was an assistant high school football coach and was still dressed in his uniform. He had not messaged me in a while and it had been 6 months since I had seen him in person. He looked devastatingly handsome. He says he saw it written all over me. I would like to think I played it cool, but....well...

We talked a little, nothing to write home about. A few days later was my birthday. He asked to take me out for dinner. I had a lot of work to do and told him I wasn't sure, that I'd get back to him. Well, papers were graded and lessons were planned so I really didn't have an excuse for why I shouldn't let him take me out for my birthday. (To be honest, my exact thought was: What's the worst that could happen? That he turns out to be a jerk but you get a free meal out of it?)

As it turns out, he wasn't a jerk. He was everything. So I said yes to every other time he asked me out since then. And when he asked me to be his wife under the Empire State Building on New Years, I of course said yes again.

It took six months for him to finally get me to agree to go out with him. And there are not enough words in the English language for how thankful I am that he kept at it. I never once asked myself, What's the best thing that could happen? But FYI, it's this.

The happy couple is registered at: