Pickled Blessings: The story of Jake-The Preface

I thought that since I'm new to the world of blogging that I'd write a little bit about the history of our little pickle baby and family. I can't wait to go back in a couple years and read these first posts! Maybe it'll be like the prayer journal I have from 9th grade. Lemme tell ya, that thing is HILARIOUS!!!! Wooowee. Maybe I'll make a post about it someday. Wouldn't that be funny?! Well, let me just answer that. YES, it would be rather entertaining!!

The story of US

Derick and I met in 2003. Honest to God, my father introduced us. Derick worked at bicycle shop in Fort Smith. My dad had just begun his cycling interest and he'd come home (rather often, I might add) and tell me about this boy that worked in the bike shop he frequented. He was home-schooled so that he could race (race bicycles, that is). And to answer your questions, yes the kind where they wear tights. I've included a picture to bridge the gap between your mental picture and reality, because my mental picture was nothing like reality. :) So, as a senior in high school, you can imagine that I was completely against the idea of meeting this guy who was home-schooled (nothing against it, but let's get real, everyone knows the stereotype), and wore tights to race bicycles. Dad would tell me how I would really think he was "hott". He knew that's what we referred to the good looking guys as and was apparently secure enough with his own manhood to say it. I continued to roll my eyes in disgust at the idea of my father fixing me up with a dude. No stinkin' way!! It was just not happening. No if's, and's or but's about the subject. Nuh-uh.

Derick racing in Russelville, AR

This continued from the middle of 2002 until May of the following year. Up until that point I'd never had an actual "real serious" relationship. In my opinion, it turned out to be an incredible blessing. At the time, living through high school without one single serious relationship, while it seemed like the rest of the universe had someone... that did not seem like a blessing!! I had an occasional boyfriend, here and there, but never anything serious... never past hand-holding (gasp!).

Anyway, onto Derick. So, in May-ish of 2003. It was just before I graduated. My dad had taken me to the dentist. I'd had a filling, or something that made half my face numb. I was wearing pajama bottoms. You know, because it was incredibly cool to wear pajama bottoms in public. I grew up in Roland, America. Gimme a break! After the dentist appointment, my dad said, "I need to stop by the bike shop real quick". Like I cared, I was getting out of school. Sure, Dad, take as much time as you need. I'll be sitting in the car smiling at myself in the mirror to watch only half of my face respond. You can't tell me you don't do the same thing after a filling.

So, dad went inside and I waited in his truck. I waited, and waited. Ok, I was getting pretty annoyed. You can only smile so many times at yourself in the mirror before it becomes un-funny that half your face isn't cooperating. And, I know, you don't just smile. You try the kissy face. That one's pretty hilarious when only half of a kissy face comes up. If you've never tried it, you should. Well, by this point I was getting ridiculously bored. The numbness was starting to wear off. I could feel the tingling in my cheek beginning, which meant the numbness was starting to disappear. This was before the time when even 10 year olds had cell phones, so I didn't have the option of calling or texting him to let him know I was ready to get the heck outta there. I had to walk my pajama wearing, no make-up, half numb face self into the bike shop to tell my dad I was tired of waiting. Well, am I glad he took forever!! Behind the counter was this dark-curly-haired handsome fella named Derick. Dang. My dad wasn't kidding! He was H-O-T. I thought, there is no way I've got a chance with this guy. My dad was nuts for thinking I had a fat chance. But doesn't every dad think their kid is cute? Up until this point in my life I just figured I had some strange mole on my face that was invisible to myself and was scaring off all the guys.

When dad and I got back to the truck, of course he asked me what I thought of Derick. It was his intention all along to try and get me in there! Turns out, Derick asked for my phone number. Actually, he told the guy he was working with to get it from my dad. Derick, also had no experience in the girlfriend world. Worked out perfect. So, Derick got my number, and we had our first date, which was a Christian concert. Rachael Lampa and Geoff Moore, to be exact. The rest of is history! Derick and I were made for each other and we both knew it from the beginning. During the first year of our relationship, I'd come in after hanging out with Derick, and throw myself onto my parent's bed and tell them, "I'm gonna marry that boy someday".

3 years later, I did.

I leave you with a few nostalgic, if you will, photos from the early days of Derick & Ryan.