the story of us: part 1.

I was always told to write stories down.

This particular story is a love story, one that is ongoing, until death does its part. I know that I will miss some details, or give my biased point of view, but this is the beginning of many of my personal hopes and dreams coming true. 

I met Gabe the winter of 2009, January to be exact, at a local show in my college town of Tuscaloosa. His band, named The Four Kicks at the time, was playing with a friend's (as well as ex-boyfriend's) band. I was one of a handful of local people there, and was intrigued when the Four Kicks announced they were from Nashville. Nashville! I was planning on moving there later in the spring, when I would graduate from the University of Alabama (ROLL TIDE!). I remember speaking with Gabe and Jordan from the band after their show and told them my plans to move. "Let's be friends!" was what I said to both of them. 

I wouldn't be in contact with Gabe until March that same semester (unless you count being Facebook friends). His band was back in Tuscaloosa, but due to unfortunate circumstances, could not play the show they had been scheduled. Gabe remembered a mutual friend of mine and his and retrieved my number to see if I had any suggestions for venues or restaurants. I was attending a Wilco concert in Oxford, MS and couldn't hear the voicemail, but I texted him back giving some suggestions. 

We finally met face to face while I was in Nashville hunting for a job and an apartment. It was May now. We chatted over Facebook and decided to meet up at Fido. I brought my two sisters, Rachel and Rebecca, my two nephews, Walker and Liam, and some of my sister's friends. A posse basically. Gabe was waiting with his friend and roommate Austin. The chemistry was imminent. The two of us talked exclusively almost the whole time, while Austin entertained my family and friends (and he is super funny). 

At the end of May, I graduated and moved all my life up to Nashville. Guess who contacted me the same day I moved up? That would be Gabe. And we hung out every single day for three weeks straight. A short break was taken while the Kicks took some gigs, but then the hang outs resumed. We had the conversation, "Should we date?" and unanimously decided "YES." 

This is the first part of our story. There are moments and times when I look back and think that the only way we could have ended up together despite all of our circumstances was by the grace and providence of God. There were moments in between these paragraphs where one of us forgot to text back, or the wrong signal was given, or someone was slow in responding, or whatever it may have been, but God kept his steady hand on the two of us. I will not fully understand it, but I will forever be thankful.

I love you, Gabe.