First Comes Love, part 1

I met Ryan when I wasn't quite out of high school. He had graduated the year before me and was already in the college group at church when I went to an audition for a musical that the group was putting on that summer. This was my first interaction with the college group (even though I knew most of the people since they had been through the high school ministry in previous years). I went and, as expected, recognized most of the people auditioning, but there were a handful of others that I did not know. Ryan was among the unknowns. My first thought when I saw him was something like 'I'm gonna like this college group!' (how shallow was I?! -don't answer that.). And he did not disappoint! But it wasn't until later in the tour of the musical that we actually met and began to get to know each other.

Through the course of the tour of the musical in LA that summer, we started to hang out with the same people. Although I had an attraction for him, it was not mutual. We were becoming good acquaintances, but that was it. (hello, future wife here!!!) Not only did I think Ryan was easy on the eyes, but I was also attracted to his love for God and his desire to live for Him. It helped, too, that he made me laugh!

As the summer was winding down and we all began to focus on the start of college classes, a new home bible study was starting up, and Ryan was the leader. He was also looking for people to join in with him. Ryan asked many people in our mutual group, including myself. Seeing how I didn't belong to one yet, it only made sense to join. But at this point I was also sensing no return in my attraction for him, so I began to let the idea of us go. So I joined the home group and enjoyed the new friend I had made. And that was it, until later that winter....

When I started attending the local community college I also had the mission to get a job. Being the picky person that I am, I was getting nowhere. A few interviews, but no call backs or offers. Fast food was not at the top of the list for possible future employers. In fact, it wasn't even on the list! But after much discussion with anxious parents for me to get a job!, I finally turned to Ryan for help. You see, Ryan was a shift manager at a nearby Carl's Jr. Again, never on my list. He had offered to help me get an interview, and after one of those discussions with my parents, I finally asked for an application. Low and behold, they were hiring and offered me a job. And so began our working relationship.

It didn't take long either. We didn't work together all the time, but when we did we were able to talk more. That's when he was overcome with admiration and love for me...... Ok, so he finally broke down and asked me out.

After working with Ryan for a little bit, I was no longer able to push aside my attraction. We were talking more and I just couldn't help but enjoy it! I wondered if I was becoming too obvious or if our coworkers or lead manager were thinking we were talking too much or getting too close. I remember sitting in the break room one day and Ryan was looking at the schedule for the week when he asked me if we could get together. Being the guilt ridden person that I was, I thought he wanted to talk about our working relationship and define some boundaries or say that we needed to back off or something (mind you, we had never expressed any feelings for each other, we were just getting started!). So I had no idea that he was asking me out on a date! But I agreed to get together that following Saturday.

The days leading up to that date were nerve wracking! I vacillated between fear and excitement. However, my friends finally convinced me that the meeting was not, in his mind, a time to talk about how we were working together. And they were right.

Ryan picked me up in time for lunch and we went to a nearby grocery store and bought deli sandwiches and walked over to a little man-made lake. We ate while sitting on the dock, and just talked and enjoyed our leisurely time together. Afterward, we decided to go to a movie, Mrs. Doubtfire (not a movie I would recommend today, but it was better than the other options). On our way to the theater we were seen by a coworker. Talk around the employees were sure to fly now. What were we doing anyway? Why were we together? Well, as we continued to the theater, we talked about it. We were on our first date. Yes, we were dating (insert inward glee here!). And I was able to answer those questions with confidence (albeit with a little blushing!) later that night when I went in for my next shift.

So, as of January 9, 1994 Ryan and I were together.