From the beginning

So I thought that I would write out how we got together, at least my side of the store for those of you that don't know the details. So here it goes...

A little over 3 years ago my good friend Stephanie told me that she wanted to set me up on a blind date with the a guy that was friend of John's. At the time I had never met John and Shandy and as often happens when people want to set you up on a blind date I didn't expect to actually ever meet the guy. Time went by, no date. Then around May of 06 Stephanie invited me out to a girls night out. I think in our almost 12 years of friendship that is the second time I can think of her proposing that event. Before the night was over though I realized that this was actually more of a chance for Shandy to scope me out and see if I was worthy of setting Brent up with. I apparently passed the test and a triple date with the man Stephanie claimed "was perfect for me" was set up.

The date consisted of dinner at Red Robin with John & Shandy, Stephanie & Kelly, and then Brent and I getting to met. Brent and I actually showed up at the restaurant before anyone else and I approached him figuring he must be the guy I was getting set up with. We had a fun dinner but afterward I chose to just say goodbye and go home. Before I even drove a mile away Stephanie called me and asked me my thoughts. I told her no love connection but I was willing to go on another date and get to know him better to see if there were anything there. She told me that Brent asked John for my number and wanted to know if it was ok to call which I said that was fine. Heck, I am always up for a free dinner.

Brent never called though which was ok with me. After all I wasn't head-over-heels for him. I was simply willing to give it a shot. So time passed. Occassionally I heard things about him through Stephanie but for the most part she had to remind me who Brent was when she brought his name up. Poor Brent though, it is my understanding that for the next 2.5 years John hounded him about not ever calling me.

The thing is, I think Brent and I both had a list of what we wanted in a spouse. Our perfect picture and we weren't really at a spot yet in our lives where we were willing to look past what we thought we wanted to see how great the person before us was. Also, a few months after that date I got the opportunity to return to school, something I am sure I never would have done if I had actually started dating anyone. For the most part I returned to school because I had decided that marriage wasn't going to happen for me and I needed to increase my ability to financially support myself and Katie. So I spent the next two years in school gaining my masters which I finally finished up last August. I truly believe that this was something that I was supposed to do, something that really built up my belief in myself and will be a value to me all my life and a good example to my daughter.

So that is how it began. I will fill in more details another night:) John, Shandy, Stephanie, & Brent - feel free to fill in the details I was unaware of or how you saw it from your perspective regarding this phase of the Brent/Karla connection!