Mrs. Burkey's Version

So how has my life changed in the last two years? Well, it has changed a lot, really :)
Two years ago, I was here in Nebraska, helping Amy, since she had just had a baby, Keagan Michael.
The first week and a half of my stay was rather dreary and emotionally unsettling for me. You see, there was a certain young man, who was causing me much distress and anguish of heart.
When I had been in Nebraska a few months earlier, I had become quite impressed this young man. An excerpt from my journal during that time says this... " Gabe came over and played "Acquire" with Dad, Matt and I. It was good to see him, even though he hadn't shaved his whiskers all week". Actually, that was the same evening when Gabe backed into Mom and Dad's car...
So here is my version of the story...
After getting to know Gabe a little bit, when I was here in Nebraska in the fall, I really thought he was a pretty nice guy, but did my best not to admit that to anyone. Mom and Dad had their suspicions that something was going on, because they asked me what I would say if Gabe would ask me... I told them "It would be pretty dumb to say 'no', wouldn't it?" I thought it was kinda mean of them to ask me that, since I didn't think there was any hope that this would actually happen.
I spent the next few months and home in Wisconsin, going about my normal life and trying to forget about Gabe.
I went back down to Nebraska in January, and I guess that is when things really began to happen. :) I was enjoying helping Amy, but I was having an awful time getting my sleep... I remember lying in bed, trying and trying to sleep, and then, at 3 AM or so, I would get up and write in my journal or read my bible and pray. Of course there were some tears being shed during these little nocturnal sessions.
On Saturday, after I had been in Nebraska for about a week, I went with Matt's to Lincoln for the evening. Coincidentally, Gabe happened to be in Lincoln the same evening and joined us for supper. I had been extremely hungry, until we got to where we were eating. I think I did manage to choke something down anyway.
When we were leaving, Gabe gave me an extra mint that he had... I still have it somewhere, it was much too precious to eat of course!
That evening, Amy finally worked up the courage to ask me how I was doing and told me that she was pretty upset with Gabe for being so friendly and not getting serious about it. She was worried that I was going to get hurt. I still didn't really want to let myself believe that Gabe was showing me any special attentions... I wrote this in my journal that evening, "Amy is worried that this is really upsetting me and I don't think it really is, unless that's what is keeping me awake at night". Silly me.
Well, I endured Sunday and Monday and Tuesday yet. Tuesday, Gabe stopped by with Pat's and Thad's and ignored me all evening, so I pretty much decided that there was no interest there on his part.
Wednesday morning, I learned differently! Here is what I wrote in my journal...
1-16-08
"I just can't believe what is happening to me! This morning I got a phone call from my Dad... he said that Gabe called him!!! At first I couldn't quite believe him... I had to ask if he was serious. Ok, so I told Dad that he could give Gabe the go-ahead to talk to me. I am quite nervous. I guess Gabe is going to stop in here after work to talk to me.
Dear God, please give me calmness and peace and the right words to speak... Thanks so much!"
Gabe did stop in that afternoon, and we went on a short walk outside in the wind and snow, and he had a beautiful little speech that I had been longing to hear, and I said YES! He was a little surprised that I said yes just like that I think, because he said "Really?". Then, of course we had to go meet his mom and dad, which was little embarrassing, but I lived through it. And Gabe all the sudden had a whole bunch of phone calls to make to various relatives and friends. He was pretty pleased with himself I think :)
So that's my story... and it is really only a very, very small portion of our story. We were in love, of course, and loved to be together and talk together and it was wonderful, but it only gets better.
I may have thought I know Gabe 2 years ago, or 1 year ago, but it changes and grows and matures and gets better. Some days it's not all the gooey, warm feelings, but that trust and commitment and faithfulness, that is what really matters when the gooey, warm feelings are hard to find. I thank God every day for my wonderful husband, who takes such good care of me and who loves me even when I am cranky and unreasonable. Or when I laugh about dumb things. Or drive the car into the snowbank. And he even still loves me when I'm fat and awkward and want to eat ice cream.
Now we are nearing our first anniversary... it seems that time has gone by so quickly! We are looking forward to having our new baby and hoping to have "normal" life and no trips for a long time now. Gabe has work at the shop right now, and we are thanking God for that too. We haven't had a blizzard for a few weeks now, so that is nice.
On Sunday we plan to have Mom and Dad Burkey, Grandpa Burkey, Karen, and Steve and Wanda Kremer, over for dinner. Gabe has taught me to enjoy having company and I am glad about that. We always enjoy having people at our house.. so come and see us sometime!
JMB