{Sunsets & Slurpees}

 One of my favorite things to do midweek is to chase the sunset with Nathan! We have a secret little spot out at the lake that we love to go to! On this particular night, we grabbed some Slurpees before driving out to the lake. It was the perfect little date with my favorite person! 

{10 sweet years of marriage!!}

Today my sweet man and I celebrate 10 years of marriage! TEN! I know that is a huge milestone, but what blows my mind is that in November we will be celebrating twenty whole years together!! TWENTY!!! I have been loving this man for more than half of my life and what a blessing that has been. He truly is my best friend, my soulmate and more often than not - my better half! I couldn't imagine doing life with anyone else. He's my favorite person {besides Mason, of course} in the history of ever! And he loves me so well.

{Tuesday Talk // Our Love Story}

Linking up with some of my favorite bloggers for Tuesday Talk // Our Love Story!!

Part 1 // How we met and started dating

Part 2 // The high school and college days

Part 3 //  And then Nate gets really, really sick...

Part 4 // Our happily ever after

{Our Love Story // Part 4}

If you'd like to catch up...
Part one here // Part two here // Part three here 

As if Nathan and I weren't already inseparable we became even more attached.  Going through something that tough really makes you realize that tomorrow is not promised to anyone. A profound wake-up call, if you will. We traveled together, started new jobs, and just lived life to the fullest. 

{Our love story // part 3}

part one here // part two here

Nathan got sick {really sick} with bacterial meningitis and our lives were turned upside down...

{Our love story // Part 2}

part one // here

Nathan and I continued to date all throughout High School. We were pretty much tied at the hip. In school we were no longer just Nathan or just Crystal ...we were Nathan & Crystal. Nathan came to all of my cheerleading events and I proudly wore my "baseball babe" shirt with Nate's name and jersey number on it to every one of his games. We got in trouble for kissing in the halls more times than I can count. We spent every waking moment together and when we were apart were sure to be on the phone together, or paging each other with a "143" {remember that? 143 meaning I love you}. I don't even know how many times we fell asleep on the phone. Crazy.in.love.

From then on it was typical high school stuff; banquets, homecomings, proms, tournaments, Friday night lights, etc.  And somehow after a year or so I talked my daddy into letting me go on camping trips and vacations with the Hall family. They were all the time going somewhere and doing something and Nathan and I hated being apart. We were good kids and our parents trusted us! We slept in separate beds in the camper with the whole family. 


We made it through our High School years even with me graduating a year before him. It was hard, but we did it. After HS we went to the same college and even worked for the same company. Still inseparable. People thought it would harm us spending so much time together, but we wouldn't have it any other way. We just enjoy each other's company that much. 

Nathan and I weren't ones to go out to bars or anything. We never really got into that during our college years like most of our friends. I mean, we loved to go sit on a patio and listen to live music, but never were bar hoppers. But one night we were invited to a birthday party that ended up at a bar and Nate is almost positive that's where everything went down. 

Nathan got sick {really sick} with bacterial meningitis and our lives were turned upside down...

...to be continued

{Our Love Story // Part 1 // How we met & started dating}

The other day I had a friend surprised that Nathan and I had started dating at the ages of 14 & 15 {going on 19 years this November} and then asked if I have ever shared our story here on the blog. And no, I sure haven't. Not on purpose, just never have. So here goes...

Nathan and I went to the same high school. He was a baseball player and I was a cheerleader and we had many mutual friends. I had known of him because he dated a fellow cheerleader of mine the year before...but i didn't know him. 

One of my best friends & I were walking to the car one day after school and Nathan ran up and started walking beside my friend. She slowed down a bit to talk to him and I stayed a few steps ahead. He was whispering to her and she couldn't hear him and just kept saying "huh? what?". I had heard him and couldn't help but giggle. So I turned around and said, "Would you like my phone number?" {repeating what he was trying to ask my friend} I was sure I embarrassed him! His face was bright red, but he still said yes. So I gave it to him. 

And the rest is history...haha...