Mr. Sims

He called me on a Tuesday. I remember because my friend had given him my number 3 days before. I thought he would never call. I got a text saying he was sorry he hadn't called and that he had been busy at work and he hadn't forgotten me. I told him I thought he must have and tried to act like I was so cool I didn't care. But I did. I always cared about meeting a new guy because you never know when it could be "the one". He promptly called and asked me on a date to Kings Chinese Buffet. In my head I was thinking how a buffet wasn't romantic but then again I was going in to this just hoping for a good meal and a good story to share at the salon. All my blind dates have sucked. There was the one with the firefighter and he said he would call and didn't. Then there was the one with the guy from Eharmony (yes, I tried it) and he was cool but basically ended up telling me we could date once I was a certain size. 

Later I found out he was WAY too into himself. Something I got from him was that a girl should be in heals and a dress when you meet, so my next blind date I was... and everyone else was in jeans. I felt like a weirdo. I went on another blind date and did the heals and dress thing and when he picked me up I had to walk through the grass and climb in his truck by myself. That was weird. That whole night was.  Another blind date I went on was a double and by the end of it the guy had told me that he was SO busy with choir and work I wondered how he ever had time to meet me. My friend had it worse because the guy she met couldn't even remember her name. Oh, there's more. I met another guy for coffee and a movie and during coffee he talked so much about himself that when it got quiet, I had to ask him questions so the conversation would keep going. He was so into himself, I think he dated himself but didn't want anyone to know.

So as you can see I wasn't expecting much with this new blind date... esp with a chinese buffet on hand.

I decided against the dress and heals because, well I hate heals and they hurt and props to girls who can wear them but they are like torture devices to me. I feel sexy but in pain and that's lame to me. I got ready, curled my hair and was wearing my fake lashes. Guys like REALLY pretty girls I had learned and so I did my best to smell and look good and be as polished as possible.
Time was getting closer for my date to arrive, and I wasn't too nervous because I didn't want to be let down. I heard a car pull up to my apartment and looked out the window. There he was and as he got out of his car a giggle rose up in my throat. You see my dad has this awful banana yellow polo shirt he wears that is way to big for him. It's like the ugliest yellow I have ever seen. And there was the shirt on my date. Not only that but my dad has light colored jeans, you know the ones that are so faded and used to be cool in the 90's? Yes, my date was sporting those as well and to top it off, white tennis shoes, just like my dad. I was a bit surprised and dissapointed because wasn't I supposed to look sharp, and be going on a date with a sharp looking guy who did not look like my DAD?! (Sorry dad, I think mom might have hidden your shirt by now lol)

My door bell rang and I greeted my date, Jeremy Sims  with a hand shake, and he walked me to his car and opened the door. Ya, heart melted a tad. He told me he would like to take me to Olive Garden and secretly I was SOOOOOO happy. We had a great dinner. I remember feeling comfortable with him and laughing a lot. He was good at talking and good at listening. We spent the rest of the evening talking and going to see a movie. He wanted to do a sweet one and I was thinking sci-fi was a safer choice. During the movie he leaned over and said "If you get to scared I could be persuaded to hold your hand." Cute, I though but no way, he could still be a creaper. When the date was over I hopped out of the car before there was a weird goodbye hug/kiss moment and he asked me out for the following week. I was looking forward to it and the next week when he came to my door, there he was, standing in my dad's banana yellow shirt again. I wanted to laugh so bad. When we got to the car he mentioned his outfit and said all he did was work so he really only had work clothes. I loved his honesty. You see when I

went out with Eharmony guy I was in beauty school and was a nanny so I only had school uniforms and lounge clothes. No reason for anything else because it was ALL I did! I totally got it and loved that he told me that. (This is something i helped him change in the future:) We had another awesome date and he asked me out again. After date 3 I was smitten, but confused. You see between date 2-3 I had ANOTHER blind date and we will call him Branson (I met him there) and Branson was a charmer and a good dresser and was all I "thought" I wanted with the $$ and glam. Branson got my number and never called and I was so confused with 2 cool guys around and I was so worried I'd pick the wrong one. So I talked to a friend who said "Do ya like Jeremy?" and I said "well yes!" and she replied "well then date him!" You think this would be easy but it had been 9 years since I had a boyfriend and I was just worried I would do the wrong thing. I called Jeremy up that night and we had the DTR and we decided to try this. 

That was the freaking most single best ever decision I ever ever ever made. To get to know Mr.

Jeremy Sims.  You see in my mind I thought I needed a glam guy, the rock star, the super christian, the musician, someone with $$ and someone who has life figure out and possibly his own house and business. But I got WAYYYYYYY better. In my life I have an honest man, he cares about me and what I think and feel, he is a hard worker, he is a nerd and has introduced me to comics and movies I may have never seen. I have a man who is honest about his faith and struggles, someone who will put my desires before himself and someone who isn't all about shallow things and isn't so into himself he can't see anyone else. I have someone who tells me makeup and fake eyelashes are silly and he loves me fresh faced and right out of the shower clean without all the extra things. I have a man who will come sit and hug me if I am having a bad day or won't let a disagreement go on long at all. This man is strong in heart and he is a WONDERFUL friend. He is much more than I thought I wanted. Jeremy is so easy going and doesn't make me feel stupid or ugly EVER. He doesn't care what I wear or how I do my hair, he just loves me... he loves me in a way only a few of my dearest friends have. 

Fast forward 2 years (almost) and I am riding with some friends to meet Jeremy at the Convention Center where he works. We walk in and they say he will be out in a minute and they are gonna go walk to the restaurant and get a table. I'm just sitting there  waiting and all the sudden I hear music, "A thousand Years" by Christina Perri, I notice the wall next to me lights up, and another... It hits me something is going on and I can't even turn around. When I do I see the entire wall is dancing with photos of Jeremy and I and beautiful colors. I am so overwhelmed and I realize there is a video camera and I should probably stand up, but I am crying so hard I can't walk very far, It's like I feel the love so much I don't want to get to close it is overwhelming. Then the song ends and out walk Jeremy Sims looking amazing as ever and his chin in trembling. He tells me he never thought he would ever meet a girl like me and a few other things. Then as I am still crying, he gets down on one knee and says he would be honored if I would be his wife. I couldn't even talk, I nodded. He asked if that was a yes and I said YES! I couldn't even see the ring through my tears. We hugged and cried and it was such a beautiful moment to know this man wanted to spend his life with me... me.
I had to ask him to ask me again after I stopped crying so I could remember it better!

We walked over to the restaurant to meet up with our friends and as we came into the room there was my family, his family and our closest friends. My jaw DROPPED. I had NOOOOOOOOOOOOOo Idea and my heart was overwhelmed. There were cupcakes, hugs, photos and tears. 

I am beyond blessed and SO glad I waited. I am SO glad I didn't try and marry any other guy that I have liked. I am SO glad I have saved my whole heart and body for a man who loves me for me and who loves my family and cares so deeply for me. DO NOT EVER SETTLE. God has bigger plans and I'm so glad I was 32 when this amazing thing has happened to me.
God promised me something once when I was feeling so alone, I've told only a few people... He whispered in my ear "Mary Jane your story will be the biggest and the best." He keeps His promises. Even if it's 10 years later. :)
Here's to the future... God you rock.. no really. I'm gonna go listen to my song again and cry some more ;)