#awkward palm tree

[leaving-fragments]

Ahh, that palm tree is positioned kind of awkwardly behind Hoseok...

First I thought that was his hair.

[perpetually-enamored]

Sorry not sorry

I came to have a good time and I'm honestly feeling so attacked right now🌴

[ceelek]

Accidentally hit on Jill Loyden. She complemented my flirting. Haha

[thesaltycrew]

The fact that Ella had to leave mid-way through just kills me. What a great pair.

[unleashedliving-blog]

It started with an.... awkward palm tree. What?!

I actually met Chris the very first time I went to Watermark.  Daniel, a mutual friend had asked me several times to come with him and that Sunday fresh from a breakup and still relatively new to Dallas, I went.  Chris remembers our first meeting more than I do, there were SO MANY PEOPLE!  I think we just said hi, it was as far as I remember relatively uneventful and much like many of the other introductions happening, as Daniel showed me around.  It wasn't until a week later when I went to the Porch that Chris made it onto my radar.  I was LATE!  I hate being late!  So stressed and hurried, I rushed in and grabbed a seat next to Daniel and in the process also ended up sitting next to Chris.  I was so frazzled from being late and missing worship that I didn't even acknowledge his presence, he was just someone who happened to be sitting next to me, as I didn't recognize him from last weeks introductions...Thankfully, I was not alone...He thought my name was Rachel. 

After the Porch a group went out to eat at Chuy's and trying to get to know more people I went along.  Daniel, Chris and I carpooled.  Chris WOULD. NOT. STOP. TALKING!  OMGosh!  I remember thinking, "Daniel, it's time to turn up the stereo..."  At the restaurant Chris pulled out all the stops while we were waiting for our table.  He showed me awkward hermit crab, awkward, snail, awkward palm tree and awkward palm tree in a hurricane.  I was standing there thinking,'Oh my gosh, this guy is a freak, get me away!'  That night he was seemingly attached at the hip, even with me trying to avoid him, I somehow got stuck right next to him with our friend all the way on the other end of the table.  In the hour conversation that ensued, he hit every single land mine you can hit in conversation and he still kept chugging along.  This guy had NO shame!

I'm not sure how it happened, but somehow he got me to accept his Facebook friend request and there ensued a daily text conversation.  I thought of him as a friend, a quirky, interesting, friend who knew a lot of people at Watermark and made me feel less alone at parties when I would jump from conversation to conversation.  I have no idea why I accepted his request to go out for Sushi and a movie.  I don't even like sushi and was not too interested in seeing John Carter.  Two dates later, we found ourselves out at the Harbor District in Rock wall sharing our stories with each other.  I thought that was the last I would here of him, so he surprised me when I woke up the next morning and say he had immediately sent me a message saying he enjoyed getting to know me better and would like to see me again, and I guess after that it was history.  

Chris was and is unlike anyone I have ever met before.  He is tender, understanding and patient.  He came in knowing it was going to be hard and stayed when it did.  He had to work harder than he should have to earn my trust and because of his patience, I have had the opportunity to grow and learn and trust as I never have before.  He was patient, never angry with me for my limitations and patiently reminded me again and again he was there.  

I have had the blessing of watching him grow this year as an individual. I am truly blessed to have someone who is a strong spiritual leader.  Someone who will not let me talk him out of church because I'm tired.  Someone whose heart is to serve and help those who have less than we do.  He is strong physical leader.  He never pushes me or pressures me.  He is patient, knowing that that is something to be saved for the person we will marry one day.  We kissed early in our relationship and then stopped, because we wanted to get to know each other without that clouding, replacing, or stunting that process.  It was hard, but in that process, I learned to trust his stubborn nature, really to trust him.  That enabled me to not be anxious when around him, feeling like if I wasn't on guard we would go too far.  No, he had this, I just had to follow.  When he kissed me again and brought that back into our relationship, I have been able to trust him with that too.  Knowing that he knows the time frame, knowing that he will not bring it in too early so it becomes a burden.  

He is my best friend.  He sees me at my worst and my best.  He knows my hurts and my fears.  He seeks to encourage and uplift.  He chooses to see the best in me, even when I'm acting my worst.  He knows how to pull me out of my funk, how to remind me that I don't need to be THAT upset without shaming me or causing me embarrassment in anyway.

Thank you, Chris!  This last year has been a fun filled journey!  One that  I hope never has an end!

[mensfrightsactivist]

AWKWARD. OMG. so this girl on okcupid just messaged me. she recognizes me from work. apparently we've spoken before. and i don't remember her at all. so. um. awk.