Has it really been 10 years? I love you!

Let me put a disclaimer on this right now, there will be cheesy music and very old photos so prepare yourself today for... OUR STORY!

Our wedding day August 5, 2000

I got up early this morning to be able to post. Today marks 10 wonderful years of marriage to the most amazing man in the world! 

It all started one day in August. I got a phone call from a random guy name Bubba! At that point I had been in a long serious relationship and broken up, I knew I wasn't ready to jump into "dating" anytime soon. I was so set on the idea of not getting in another relationship that a month before Bubba called me, I prayed that God would guard my heart against any other  relationship until he/God was ready to introduce me to the guy I would marry! So with all that being said I had a good and polite conversation with Bubba, but I was going back to college the next day and he would be leaving for his 5th at Furman, I never saw a reason to give my number out or show any interest in him. Besides that his name was Bubba! 

So as I said I left for UT that next day and planned to never hear from "Bubba" again, a week later my mom calls me up at school and says "Cortney, you are never going to believe this but that Bubba guy called and asked for your number at school?" She then went on to say, "So I gave it to him, and by the way he is in town and wanting to meet you!" WHAT???? In town! First thoughts I had... Who is this guy, and why has he come all the way from Nashville (we are from the same home town) to Knoxville just to meet me?! So at this point I was pretty nervous, I mean I knew he would be calling in minutes, I had just gotten done working out, I DID NOT WANT TO MEET THIS GUY!!!! So sure enough within seconds of hanging up with my mom... HE CALLED! We chatted casually for a few minutes, and he explained he was in Knoxville to pick up friend and head to a softball tournament in Chattanooga. That reassured me that he wasn't some random stalker that I couldn't get rid of! HA! So at the end of the conversation he asked if he could come meet me at my apartment that night. I said yes for two reasons. 1. I lived with roommates that I know would call 911 quickly if the guy looked or seemed fishy! 2. I was kinda beginning to wonder what this "Bubba" guy looked like? I mean we had some decent conversations, and to be honest his pursuit of me, even after my lack of interest (with my prayer in mind) seemed attractive to me! 

So I remember thinking to myself I am going to get ready, but I am not going to over do it. I planned it that way because if God was going to walk me through this meeting with Bubba and it was part of his plan, then it wouldn't matter what I had on or how I did my hair! I was determined to let God control this, I was sick of emotional roller coaster relationships! I was not about to get into another one!

So here we go... The door bell rang! I was so incredibly nervous, I had never met anyone blindly like this. I am sure he could here my roommates and I giggling in the background before I opened the door. 

This right here is the honest truth...

When I opened that door, my life change in that very moment. I literally knew, by the grace of God, who had carried me through some tough relationships, that the man who stood before me at that very moment.... WAS THE MAN I WOULD MARRY! I can still feel that feeling today! THANK YOU JESUS! And wow, he did not look like the Bubba I thought he would! THANK YOU JESUS, AGAIN! So we talked all night long about family, our faith, our love for sports, just anything you can imagine! We planned to go out the next night and ended up spending as much of the weekend together as we could. I was crazy for him! And I still am!

We started dating long distance and by October when he came in for our birthday (we share the same birthday, I know crazy) we had the big talk about how we felt for each other! We were moving so fast, but nothing could slow it down, not even the thought of my last year of school! So on December 31 Bubba took me to the most expensive restaurant I had ever eaten at, and then we took a walk through Opryland Hotel. He had this little mini recorder that he pulled out of his pocket and he played me my favorite love song "The Glory of Love". Right then and there he got down on one knee! He expressed all his feelings for me and asked me to be his wife! *long sigh* At that moment I melted... We went back to my house where we had a huge family party! It had been the best four months of my life thus far!

So we set a date for August 5th, since he was graduating and I still had one year left, we thought with him coaching I could finish my last year where ever he ended up?! Little did we know God would bring us 4 Children in 8 years and my life as a "college grad" would till this day be put on hold! I could care less about that degree though. Gosh, I need to hide this one somewhere so the girls can't read it! Just so I make myself clear, getting your degree is so important! I just wouldn't trade a degree for any amount of memories and love that have been created over these last 10 years! He swept me up and took me away, we started our own life together and it's been the most incredible journey!

So my dad asked me this summer, "Cort, what do you love about Bubba the most?" My reply was quick and without a thought, I said, "Dad, I could never list just one thing!"  I have thought a lot about that question this summer so I decided I would share with you why I love this guy so very much! Disclaimer again: Cheesy content will be processed in the bottom paragraph!!!!

 our honeymoon

From the first time I opened that door your smile has just made me happy. Words can't even describe our life together. Sure we have our moments of arguments, some big some little, but we are a team, and I don't feel complete when your gone. Your strength makes me calm, because you know how anxious I get! Your wisdom, although not always receive well at first, is the very thing I think about when in difficult situations. 

You are so steady under pressure, it amazes me!  I love watching you coach, yur passion, your drive, you competitive nature! Your attention to detail can get on my nerves at times, but I love the way you can clean a house when you are in that mode! I also love the way you prepare for games and speeches, I can always tell when you are in deep thought. You kind of just begin to go into another world, that is when I stop talking about random little things and just let you think!  I love you in a coat and tie! I love our kisses when you go out the door for yet another basketball game. I love all our analyzing conversations about life and family! I love our little phases of HGTV and Fox News! I love to go to a movie with you, you laugh louder than any one else in the theater, and that makes me laugh! I love it when you grab my hand in public, or introduce me to new people. I love it when you say my name when we are in conversation. 

I love all the surprises you give me, big or small on holidays and such. I love the way you show our girls affection and affirmation, and the way you have taught Isaac to be a little man of God! I love that you love your parent's and family so much. I love your family too! I love your manners, and your interest in my family! Thank you so much for that! I love your heart that desires God! I love that you put God in front of our family! I love the way, you realize that we aren't perfect parents and you are okay with that. It helps me release all the stupid guilt trips I love to live in! I love that you don't compare yourself to anyone else,  I really love that you don't compare me to anyone else! How freeing! I love your heart that is so quick to apologize and the grace you give me when I step out of line or buy something I shouldn't, ha! I love the way we laugh at the same things, and the way you love new adventures! I love that you have hobbies, but also that you have learned how to managed them to fit a family of six! Thank you! 

 I love your excitement when you think it's going to snow that night, you make us sleep with the blinds open and a big smile on your face, why do you love snow so much?! I love the way you plan our trips and put together an iteneary for every hour we are on our destination, always so helpful! I love the way you try to dress our girls, but somehow always put their shirts or dresses on backwards, I really love that! I love the way you get nervous when I drive and sometimes screaming "Cort, what are you doing!?" I love the way you smile while watching American Idol, and the way you can always guess what Simon will say! I love the way you cry, yes cry, when you hear someone really good sing a song or watching those ESPN specials. I love that you cry! 

I love the way you always want me to experience what you are experiencing, whether it be food, basketball, or hunting, you want me there! Boy, have we had our fair share of hunting stories! 

 I really love that every time we have had surprise pregnancy, no matter how surprised, you are the most excited one! I love that our kids adore you, that you spend time with them teaching and playing! I love your job and your team and how we make that apart of who we are! I love summers with you and all our spontinaity, I love the way you can just take off with me and four kids spur of the moment! I love how fast and quickly you can turn a 10 hr. drive into a 9hr and 15min drive "if we just don't stop!" Bubba I love so much about you I could go on and on! I feel so blessed!

 

Bubba, these are all sweet and precious things that I adore about you, but when I think of the question my dad asked me, the first thing that comes to my mind is your love for me! You never compare me to anyone else, you never judge me, or force me to be something I am not! Our whole life together you have encouraged me to live as the person God called me to be! You encourage me in my gifts and talents, you almost force me at times to believe in myself! I know it may sound somewhat selfish, but you have taught me so much about loving myself, and not looking toward anyone but Christ!

Tiffany and Walt's wedding last summer 

I thank God for you everyday! I think we both know that by God's grace our life together has only gotten better and better! We have not only grown as a family, you and I, have a connection that's unbreakable! I have never loved anyone the way I love you! Three jobs, 5 houses, and 4 kids later... my life with you is this best thing that has ever happened to me! I know God made you just for me and I am so glad you came to my door...

Happy 10 year Anniversary! I love you and our life together so much...