I’ve always wanted a special love story, and have always yearned to have someone that makes me feel valued, loved, beautiful, and cherished. I found that and so much more when this sweet man came into my life. I couldn’t be more grateful to have Nathan in my life and am so excited to be celebrating 1 Year with him!
I first met Nathan when I was 16 years old.
Nathan and I went to the same high school together, same church, and even grew up in the very same neighborhood! To this day, our parent’s houses in Amarillo are only a few streets away from each other.
I remember being smitten with him almost immediately, and like it was just yesterday that we were sitting in theatre class together. He was sooo cute, played the guitar, sang, was always making me (and everyone in the room) laugh, and had the kindest heart. Thankfully, the feelings were mutual and we started to spend more and more time together. From coffee dates on our own, to hanging out in group settings with friends, we became much closer and each wanted to have something more.
Nathan became my very first boyfriend and to say that I was head over heels was an understatement. I knew in my heart that there was something very special about this boy. He was the kind of person that I always wanted to be with, and someone that I completely admired.
After I graduated, (I’m one year older!) Nathan and I went our separate ways. I went off to college, he finished his senior year, but we kept in touch and spoke every once in a while. Life happened though like it always does, and we each began dating different people, moved to and lived in different cities, and starting drifting apart.
…
I moved overseas, got engaged to another man, and felt as though my life was beginning to go in the direction I had always wanted it to. I knew in my heart though that there was something missing.
After living in Europe for a while, I decided that I wanted to move back home, and funny coincidence…it turned out that Nathan moved back to Amarillo around the same time. I was back in Texas after living overseas, and he came back to finish college. We would see each other every now and then for coffee or just to catch up, but is was never anything more as I now had a fiancé…
Nathan was one of the last people that I saw before I moved to New York City. I returned a book that I had borrowed, and kept it for much longer than I had to, simply because I wanted to have a reason to see him.
Things started to change though the second I moved to New York. I began learning new things about myself, was making new friends, and discovering so much more about life. I decided to end things with my fiancé because I knew in my heart he wasn’t the man for me. I went through a period of sadness, and lots of growth. I dated several different guys in NYC. From the artist, to the model, the wall street guy, to the hipster in Brooklyn… not one of them seemed to be good for me or what my heart needed. After a few months of focusing on myself and not dating, I decided that I wanted to go back home to Texas and get away from the city for a little while.
I booked a flight, and flew back to Amarillo, and the second that Nathan knew I was visiting, he asked if he could take me to dinner. I OF COURSE said yes, and the rest is history…
Nathan has loved me and cared for me since I was my silly 16 year-old self in high school. His heart for me and for who I am is shown in all of the things he does for me, how he treats me, and the way that he loves me. He has been the most incredible blessing in my life, and just thinking about him often brings me to tears. He has saved me, and my heart in ways that I am forever thankful for. He made me feel whole again.
I love you so much Nathan, and am so happy that you asked me to dinner around this time last year. You are the best decision I’ve ever made! I’ve always cared for you and loved , and feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have you. I’m so happy we’re FINALLY done with long distance, and am so excited to see what else is in store for us with our next adventure in Austin!!
photography by Laurel Creative.
