12/01/2024
Happy Anniversary to my husband and best friend, Andy! He and I met at a friend's house in 1994, we went on a date, and flirted for a long time, but ultimately, I was 16 and just not ready to be with the love of my life. Life happened, and in 2006, we (re)met on a dating app, he said he didn't know it was me until I laughed, and until he admitted that during our first phone conversation, I didn't have a clue, to my credit, he went by a nickname back in 1994, so I never knew him as Andy! We had such great phone conversations, and we agreed to go on a date pretty quickly, later that week!
On our first date, ribs and live music, I knew I didn't want to spend my time with anyone else! I was dating 3 other guys at the time, but I just knew Andy was it for me and thought, why not see where this goes. I broke it off with the other guys the NEXT day! Luckily, Andy felt the same, lol! I knew I wanted to spend every day with him. I would come up with reasons to see him, and he did the same! I knew I didn't want to spend a day separate from him. Pretty soon into our relationship, I told my mom I knew he was the one! I had never said that to her before.
Fast forward to fall 2007, at the time Andy had his first go around with cancer, but we didn't know it yet. I had gone to my parents' house for the day, and Andy kept calling me and asking me to come home, you see I had broken another rule of mine because I knew, I moved in with him before we got married. I had never done that before, and my old-fashioned parents and grandpa (who was alive back then) all supported my decision to live alone until marriage, but again, I just knew Andy was it for me, so I moved in when he asked!
Back to the story, he kept calling me to come home. It was odd. He never did that, so I didn't rush, but I did end my visit early. I get home to the sweetest note and a scavenger hunt created by my now snoring boyfriend!!! Lol - Remember, cancer! Lol It was super cute! I had to wake him up for him to ask me the question, that cancer really messed with his energy levels!
After that, we got married Dec 1, 2007, and while looking for an officiant, I discovered the need for affordable officiants in the Fort Wayne area, so an idea was born for Officially Michelle, but this isn't about that, it's about my wonderful husband!
When our first son was born in 2008, I knew that I loved him, but after Jacob died in my arms with Andy by my side, I have never doubted our love for a moment. Andy took such excellent care of me, I was sick with the same thing Jacob had, and nearly died, had an emergency c-section, and was dealing with the loss of my baby, and Andy was my rock!
Later that first year, he was diagnosed with cancer, and due to a complication, he nearly died too, but he never faltered, always loved me.
The years haven't been easy. Infertility after the loss, the birth of 2 more children, his second bout with cancer, my inability to walk for 6 months, lots of health issues, the loss of his mom, and other members of our family, but one thing has remained true and unending, our love for each other.
I often say in weddings "marriage isn't always 50/50, sometimes it is more like 60/40, and honestly there's times it'll be 90/10, but as long as you two are committed, it will work!" There have been times where Andy has been the 90, and times where I'm the 90, but we work together, have mutual respect, and the love has never died. He is my best friend. The one I want to spend time with. Andy is the guy who makes me laugh harder than anyone else, who gets me, who makes me the angriest, and who I want to spend my days getting old with, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ANDY!!!
As an anniversary gift to my customers, and NEW customers booking between now and Dec 31st can get $25 off their rehearsal (the exact cost of Fort Wayne and New Haven rehearsals) by asking for code "Happy Anniversary"
