The first date - Kj's perspective I showed up at the restaurant early because I was nervous as heck to be meeting up to hang out and chat with such a... View More
The first date - Kj's perspective I showed up at the restaurant early because I was nervous as heck to be meeting up to hang out and chat with such a handsome and charming guy! Originally we were supposed to only be meeting up for a drink, yet the bar area was overflowing. So, I messaged Chris and asked him if he wanted to grab dinner as the restaurant host mentioned that he had a table opening up. Lucky for me, he accepted! Dinner time conversation was incredibly easy and was filled with laughter. Mostly because I HAD NO IDEA THAT IT WAS AN ACTUAL DATE! It wasn't until mid meal when Chris reached across the table and grabbed my hand that it struck me that we were out on a date together! After dinner, Chris walked me to my car. We kissed goodnight. And kissed and kissed and kissed! When we finally left each other to jump into our separate cars, I had to sit still for a bit. I was seriously dizzy and filled with an emotion that left me breathless! From that very first date and kiss, I *KNEW* that Chris was special. He has become my best friend, my partner in crime, the man whom I call home. He is my greatest love story. To Have and To Hold One of the most cherished items that we share is a simple gesture. It happens daily and if we are lucky on weekends multiple times a day! It is a small celebration of sacrifice, time and energy spent and an appreciation of the other person: Kiss the cook. It doesn't matter who does the cooking (Although for the most part, Chris mans the oven and Kj is often found at the sink afterwards cleaning up). In that moment before sitting down to eat and share time together, we put aside the hustle and annoyances of the day and refocus on what truly matters to us: each other. As the wise Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.” and we are determined to not to miss a moment together. For Richer, For Poorer - Kj's Perspective My past was difficult and challenging and it left me with a horribly scarred vision of family love. My fear of being hurt left me reclusive and distrustful. Over the years I created a wonderful network of friends that I would cherish as my chosen family who helped love and guide me and I am forever honored and grateful for their deep love. Yet no matter how fiercely my chosen family loved me, there was a hole in my heart where the treasure of family by birthright ought to have resided. I was at the time, poor as poor could be. Yet in all honestly, it was my own darned fault because I didn't give many family members a chance to get to know me as the man that I had become. Along came Chris with the Cockshaw clan in tow! Each one of them was a priceless gem. Each gem uniquely flawed which made them sparkle and shine in beautiful ways. I saw how they filled Chris' chest and found myself aching to become a part of his abundant treasure. In time, I was nestled among them and seen as one of his priceless gems. It was a beautiful gift to be accepted and loved by Chris and his family, yet that is not how Chris bestowed riches upon me. Chris actively challenged me to reach out and open my head and my heart to my own family. Each time that we hung out together, we all got to know each other more and more. Sharing our laughter, sharing our stories, acknowledging our past and sharing our pain. It was as if we spent time carefully inspecting and polishing tarnished stones. Those stones that once looked gritty are now nestled as cherished gems in my own treasure chest shining next to Chris, my chosen family and the entire Cockshaw clan. I am so blessed to have Chris in my life who patiently helped me redefine my vision of family love. I feel as if I am the richest man in the world! Family and friends are hidden treasures, seek them and enjoy their riches.” – Wanda Hope Carter
- Devoted
- 998 points
Happily married 🎉
October 12, 2019
Discussions
32So my wedding is in 9 days! **Insert happy dance here** I’m so excited, but at the same time it hasn’t fully hit me yet. After almost two full years of planning, DIYing and buying, it all seems so...
I *JUST* got confirmation that the company WILL have my replacement custom kilt jacket ready and expedited to me in time for the wedding!!! For those of you catching up1) I started the process of...
I had not yet thought about this idea but I kinda dig it - Baskets in the bathroom with essentials that guests may need Beard Oil Lotion Toothpicks hand sanitizer Mints comb/brush Stain remover pen...
WE HAVE HIT THE ONE MONTH MARK PEOPLE!!!! I still have lists. My lists have lists! My FH has to got to London for a week for work and I am stuck at home trying to tackle everything. Isn't that just...
I am having major issues from the company that I bought my custom kilt jacket. Read below for the entire saga. Worse case scenario, I won't have my jacket in time for my wedding even though I started...
I am killing myself! lolI am working on a playlist to be played the night before the wedding at a cocktail party. First song?Tina Turner's "Better Be Good to Me" What's your go to song that gets you...
There are ALWAYS those people who refuse to RSVP until the last moment... *jumps onto soap box* Biiish!!! I did NOT work this hard or this long for you to wait to reply to whether or not you're...
I got my first "Where is my invitation... what am I not on the list.. if you cared about me then you would have invited me... your wedding was supposed to help me believe in true love" confrontation...
Woot! Woot! Invitations have been out for a week now and we already have a 1/3 of our guests who have already RSVP’d! I should go buy a lottery ticket! I'm feeling lucky and blessed!
So, allow me to start by stating that I am a very out, proud and unapologetic gay transgender male. (To break that down for some who may be confused, it means that I was identified as female at birth...
Invitations got dropped off at the post office this morning before work! Squeeeeeeeeee!!! 89 days and counting! #iamgonnamarryhimsohard
It's officially a 100 days till our wedding.Suddenly, 100 seems like a small number. Luckily we have been planning this shindig over the past two years. All vendors have been booked. We have already...
Things to release at a wedding ceremony
How many months before the big event are you planning to send out the invitations? It seems that one of the issues that I keep reading about is that people have a difficult time answering/RSVPing to...
So, I’m all of the decoration planning, I kinda forgot about creating something for the outdoor cocktail tables. We are having a fall wedding, in a barn and all the decorations are fall and nature...
So we are planning on surprising the crap outta people by putting together a full on ballroom dance to Sara Bareilles’ version of tightrope... in full formal kilt outfits... under 2000 “falling”...
Ok, Anyone else out there writing up your own ceremony? It's fun yet daunting! Anyone else writing in jokes so that you know that you'll have a laugh during all of the crazy nerves? What did you HAVE...
Save the dates went out this weekend. We are about 7 months away!
Firstly, allow me to say that we LOVE our photographers Love & Perry! If you’re in southern New England, definitely check them out! (www.loveandperry.com) We spent the morning of the snow and ice...
So, I’m having fun creating the smaller details of our decorations for next October Here are most of the wood burnings that we have done (sans the table numbers on small wood slices) The hearts will...