Lady Bell S-T-B!!!!

I walked through the doors of a new job and when being introduced to my co-workers, I was immediately drawn to the man with the great smile. But wait, it's taboo to date someone from your work place, right? That very first day I told my mother I had met a man at work that dazzled me. However, in those early moments that we had caught each other's eyes ... it was simply not meant to be. As time would have it .... it was not "our time". His heart fell to another and mine did as well. Over the years we explored so many factors of our working relationship ... communication, difference, patience, team work, independence, dependence, and consideration for a common goal. It wasn't always easy. We didn't always agree. There were even moments when it was thought that we didn't like each other at all! Ask our mothers. Ask our closest friends. Nine years later, our lives had changed for each of us personally. At a dinner party it was clear that we both felt drawn to each other in some other way than what we knew everyday. This wasn't "Hey can you type this report for me?" or "Will you create this schedule?". This was something so much more. A Glance. A smile. Laughter and wonder that ended in a kiss. Who knew that kiss would be the one that sealed the deal? The love that has blossomed since that kiss is quite simply put ... Natural. So natural that I described it in a song as " Loving you is like coming home." That sigh of relief you feel after you have been away traveling when you finally arrive home and walk through the door and the comfort of your life engulfs you. Loving each other is our comfort and it comes natural. Six 1/2 years later while Santa was flying in the night sky on Christmas Eve, Kevin suggested that we open just one little gift between us and save everything else for the morning. As I laughed to myself and started looking for the most lack luster gift I had gotten him that year to exchange with him, he gave me one that shined. He shared his soul in those moments that he asked me to marry him and I had never loved him more. Now as we get closer to our everlasting commitment to each other ... I glance to the past and smile and as I look to our future, once again I smile and am filled with the wonder, the laughter and the love ... thinking of the rest of our lives loving each other! Not only will we get to share this love between the two of us, we will get to share our lives loving three wonderful sons, James, Jason and Kyle. I know I am truly blessed to have these wonderful men in my life!  Some of the missing details of the above story are known by some.  It boils down to the fact that no matter how I tried, I couldn't get Mr. Stingy to give me the time of day I RIGHTFULLY deserved! LOL  I was the receptionist at our job and so I was the first one to intercept the phone calls.  I went so far as to call each girl he dated by some other womans name, or to tell him he couldn't take their call because he was on the line with his (other) "girlfriend".  I befriended these poor unsuspecting females hoping they'd just all go away so I could convince him it was little ole ME he really needed!  LOL I know, makes me sound like a stalker to some degree but I assure you I was not.  I was simply aware that some how we would be great together.  But you know life is funny.  And over the years, I look back now and think it really wasn't the right time.  I am not certain that I was or even that he was in a state of mind that would allow us to be as good together then as we are today.  When the opportunity came for Kevin and I to actually consider each other, it just CLICKED.  We dated secretly for a year.  We appreciated our privacy and because we worked together, we didn't want our personal life to be involved in our business life.  It's a battle sometimes to separate the two but nowhere near as hard to deal with if you know your boundaries, respect the limitations and make yourself aware of when the two might fuse together so you can refocus and keep your priorities on track.  Not to mention being mature enough to know the relationship you are creating is no game.  We also wanted to ease our relationship in when it came to his three sons.  These boys are Kevin's heart and soul.  It's so obvious why.  They are witty, charming and respectful young men.  Don't get me wrong, they were young and teenagers and all of those things but when it boils down to it, they are simply great kids (young men now for the twins).  I guess where I am truly blessed is that we all get along.  May not agree on everything but 98% of the time, we have no issues.  I love them and respect them for their individual personalities.  I look at so many others who deal with step families and when I look at mine, it makes me so proud and happy.  They treat me with love and care and for that I will always be grateful.   So "OUR STORY" in my mind is our little piece of perfection.  Sweet!