Rachel, this has been the best year of my life because you have been in it. I am so thankful for you and your love toward me. Thank you for being who you are and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you with all my heart.
Category: Growing Closer
-
Opening Presents
Tonight, we spontaneously opened our presents by the fire. It was only a few days before Christmas and I couldn’t resist. I love all my presents and you loved all of yours! It was our very first Christmas together.
-
We Moved in Together
After several long weeks of work, I was hesitant at first, but it felt like the next logical step. So, we took the plunge, rearranged the spare room, and starting bringing your things into our new apartment on 1000 Still Moon Crescent at Blueberry Hill.
-
Bible Study
We started attending a new Bible study recently and we love going together to learn how to be better and stronger for each other and for God.
-
My Space
You give me all the space I need and take great care of me when work gets really busy.
-
Our first week apart
I went away to a retreat called Basileia for an entire week up in the Adirondack mountains to play guitar on a worship team. That means I was away from my little Italian lady for 7 days. We talked throughout each day and I called you every night until I got home. Then we spent 4 straight days together!
-
Her Best Friends Wedding
We both got dressed up to attend your best friends wedding. It was a beautiful spring day and the reception was especially fun.
-
Morning Devotional
We were up late watching Captain Phillips and overslept the late service at church. So, instead I went and bought you a coffee while you made belgian waffles. Afterwards, we went out on my deck to do a morning devotional together in place of the service we missed.
We read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 and talked about God’s patience and love for us and how we who are saved are appointed to lead others to Christ. We also talked about how incomprehensible His love is. Love is something that evolves over time. Forgiveness is hard. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting. God is infinitely patient with us even though He knows we are doing wrong. However, He also knows the ending.
It was a beautiful morning and a great conversation. I love my girl and I love my God!
-
Adventure in Buffalo
We’re truly a blessed couple. On Easter Sunday, an absolutely perfect day for driving, we decided to just pick a direction and start doing just that, driving.
We drove to Niagara Falls and walked around for a while. You hadn’t been there in years. We grabbed dinner at Friday’s and then drove down to The Waiting Room in downtown Buffalo where we got into a random concert and bar for 1/2 price. Then we ended up with a free hotel room for the night and the next morning we checked out 15 minutes before a free tour of City Hall was taking place without even knowing it.
We toured the Buffalo Zoo on that gorgeous spring day and got free parking at a lot nearby the restaurant we wanted to eat at because the guy felt like being nice. We even got a jolly old tollbooth operator on the way home.
God is so good to us both and it’s so amazing to see Him actively amidst our relationship. We spent a lot of time together this weekend and I love you more now than I did before.
-
Matt’s 24th Birthday
You certainly made my 24th birthday one to remember. Everything was a surprise. You came over to my apartment at about 11am on the morning of my birthday. We decided to go out to breakfast, but not before you presented my with a giant bag of presents. You hand-crafted a giant card full of photos of us and a map of places we wanted to see together, not to mention a lovely letter.
We went to the Highland Park diner for breakfast, then you surprised me with a canoe trip. I love canoeing! It was the perfect day for it too. Next, you took me to Casa Larga Vineyards for a wine tasting. We went back to my apartment and passed out on the couch, tired from paddling all morning. Then you took me out for yet another surprise, dinner. We ate at Espada Brazilian Steakhouse where guys walk around with 32 different types of meat and you use a two-sided circle to tell them if you wanted more or not. It was like a buffet of meat that came to you.
We went across the way to Salina’s for drinks before heading home to watch a movie. It was a great day that was just a small part of an amazing birthday weekend together. Thanks baby, I love you!
P.S. You got me balloons. I haven’t gotten balloons on my birthday in years :)
-
A Day to Remember
We started the day by attending an awesome church service at The Father’s House (the first you have seen that included a live dance performance and giant bouncy balls). We went home to change and take advantage of the perfect weather (75 and sunny with a cool breeze). We drove through Letchworth State Park just looking at the beautiful scenery and enjoying each others company. That night you made waffles and scrambled eggs which we lathered with syrup, huckleberry jam, whipped cream, butter, chocolate syrup, and powdered sugar while we watch The Rescuers Down Under. Then we sat out on the deck and talked for about an hour under the stars before packing it in for the night.
-
Exploring Highland Park
We went out for a big birthday celebration for all our friends that have April birthdays, but before that, we went for a nice walk in Highland Park just to breathe the new spring air and be with each other.
-
Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “ They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
-
K’NEX & Lego’s
We sat in my bedroom for hours and built small K’NEX and Lego models while listening to some good beats. You built a “ship”, which was basically a pile of pieces and a few wings that you stuck on top of some wheels. I built some nifty models to put on my desk at work.
-
Trip to NYC
Before I could even finish asking you if you wanted to go on a roadtrip you had already said yes. You barely knew where we were going, but you loved roadtrips and wanted to be with me. I am very blessed to have such an adventurer on my hands.
It was an awesome trip. We drove to NJ to see my family, then took the NJ Transit line into NYC the next day. I took you to some of my favorite NYC spots such as Top of the Rock and Times Square. We randomly bumped into your sister Rebekah who just happened to be in NYC on the same day. We ate at Virgils, where Rebekah was when we found her. It was BBQ from heaven. We haven’t had anything quite like it since then. Later that day we went to see my friend Kelly perform for her first album release. The next day we wen shopping and out for drinks while hanging out with my parents. We drove home Monday morning so I could bring you to work on time. It was awesome!
I fell a little more in love with you on this trip. I really enjoyed showing you all the cool things I have experienced in NYC over the years. One day was not enough though so I am planning on taking you back there sometime soon.
-
Trip to Baltimore
Late Wednesday night you told me that you had the weekend off from work and wanted to get away somewhere. After a little thought, we chose Baltimore.
I was born there, and you had never been. I also had a few friends that lived there, so it made sense. We went to plenty of bars after sharing an amazing dinner and Hard Rock Cafe, got a little tipsy and walked through the Inner Harbor. The next day we went to breakfast with my two friends Emily and Vic at Miss Shirleys (Monkey Bread was amazing). Later we visited the aquarium (you LOVED the aquarium), went to breakfast with my two friends Emily and Vic at Miss Shirley’s (Monkey Bread was amazing), and we did a lot of laughing. This was our first big road trip together and I was happy to find out that we weren’t sick of each other after being in the car with my music for 7 hours.
We only went overnight but the drive was just as nice as Baltimore was and we were very blessed with great driving weather in the middle of a bad winter.
-
Destination: Nowhere
Sometimes we like to take random drives through Rochester’s beautiful countryside. Or really any countryside for that matter. Driving in the car together with no particular destination is one of our favorite things to do.
-
Valentines Day
I took off work yesterday and we spent the day together. You made me cinnamon french toast for breakfast while I went and bought you a fresh new rose. You got me new shoes and two lego figures that represented us. I made you a word collage and bought you wine. We went to the museum of play and then got dinner at Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse. I can tell this is going to be a very special relationship.
-
Morning Texts
Almost every morning I wake up to a text message from you. The words “I love you and I hope you have a wonderful day” will never get old.
-
In the Beginning…
I asked you to be my girlfriend tonight. You said “yes”.