This weekend. we celebrate 4 years together, and it's funny now to think that once upon a time we tried our best to keep whatever we had a tightly guarded secret.
Not many people knew about us in the beginning.
One uncle claims he knew this guy was someone to be concerned about in April 2009 when he heard from his kids, "Rachel's friend Angel came over to Grandma and Grandpa's house and played dominoes with us!" Hmm, he thought, college guys don't come over to my parents' house, and they definitely don't come over for the purpose of playing dominoes with children.
In Spring 2009, I emailed a lifelong friend about this guy who was acting like he liked me, but I was leaving to Malaysia for the summer, and he was graduating, so it probably wouldn't come to anything.
Around the same time, Angel told a mutual college friend of ours, "Rachel would make the perfect wife."
In Summer 2009, I told my sister Lizzy that we had kissed, but that it didn't mean anything, it was just a funny story, something random that had happened.
Another uncle claims that he knew something was up in December 2009 when I took a phone call on Christmas break and when he asked me about it, I said, "Don't worry, the guy lives in Texas."
My Mom sent me strange emails that winter, saying, "Not knowing him, it's hard to know if you ought to encourage Angel or not, but at the very least you shouldn't say that you're busy and hang up when he calls you."
Early March 2010, I gave my parents a heads-up. Angel had specifically said he was coming to Michigan to visit me on Spring Break. He told me he liked me. They probably needed to meet him and interview him on Skype.
Evening of March 23, Angel and I, together, told my grandparents that we were officially courting. I'm pretty sure they had no idea what we meant or what to expect.
Late March. My parents, crazy with pride or joy or something, sent out a FAMILY EMAIL informing the entire extended family that Rachel had a beau. These parents of mine...
Late March. Angel told his parents and brothers the real reason he'd taken a trip to Michigan (me).
The day we got engaged.
May 31. We got Facebook official. Anyone who was stalking us online could know.
Mid-July. Engagement party in Malaysia, with pretty much our entire town invited and attending. Some people didn't actually find out that it was an engagement party till they arrived, and for them, it was a surprise engagement party! Now all Malaysians knew the big news.
Still, one of our close friends spent the first 6 or 7 months of 2010 traveling around the world. By the time we saw him in September, our engagement was old news to everyone else, but he was completely shocked! When he'd left on his trip, we were both single, and, at least as far as any outsider could tell, not interested in each other. We didn't even live in the same state. When he returned from his trip, we were engaged and Angel was interviewing for jobs in Michigan. If you decide to travel the world, you might miss some juicy gossip in the meantime.
Who guessed first about you and your spouse? Who were the first people who you spilled the news of new love to?
This is so sweet! How funny that your parents sent a group email! Ha!
Initially, so many people seemed to see it coming for us, though we insisted we were just hanging out (even though I was planning ahead...). But then, when we actually started dating, I insisted that Malcolm start a facebook account so that I could make it facebook official ;)
FB official is legit. That's when you know it's the real deal ;) I don't remember who guessed first about us, but my mom was totally thrilled! She really liked Jordan a lot.
Bahahahah... the family e-mail... that's awesome!
Happy 4 years, you two! :D
People knew about Pete and I from the get-go because we met in front of all of our closest friends at a party. No mass e-mails for us. ;P
so sweet!! happy anniversary! people knew about us from the beginning because well, we were all over each other. FOR SHAME.
-kathy
Vodka and Soda
Haha that email reminds me of something my husband's family would do! If they did do it though, I haven't heard yet.
Everyone in college knew that Tyler liked me, but it took my friends a solid 8 months to convince me that I liked him too. haha
Such a sweet story...and now with a pet bear things are complete! Happy 4 years!
Yay! Fun post, and very well written and a good recap. I spilled the beans to my parents and text message to friends. I had a feeling it was coming though since he and I were serious about marriage and ring window shopped.
wonderful post <3 so full of love.
love it.
kiss
Maren Anita
FASHION-MEETS-ART by Maren Anita
Hehe, what a funny story! You guys completely played it cool :) And happy 4 year anniversary! My guy and I just celebrated our 4 year in February.
I didn't really hide my boyfriend from my family, I just didn't mention him the first week or so. Everyone knew we were in a relationship within 1 month because we moved in together!
hahaha too cute that both your uncles were 'concerned or suspicious'
This is such a cute post! And how sweet that you remember all those exact moments! Because my fiance and I teach together in the same school, we were SO secretive at first. We wanted to maintain our professionalism and did not want people gossiping about us. It was probably at least 2 to 2.5 years until people at work started to find out.
I'm really terrible about keeping anything from anyone, so pretty much everyone knew right away :) I remember before we were officially dating we were skyping on my fall break trip, so at that point the friends that were with me knew it was the real deal :)
Aww, I loved reading this! How cute!
As for Tyler and me, well... our mutual friends had called it months and months before we even met, but we had both sort of forgotten about it. It wasn't until after I met him and we were hitting it off that it sort of dawned on me that he was the guy they were talking about. It definitely felt like (and still feels like) a meant-to-be situation, though we had no idea where it was going as it was long distance at first and all we had was one day at a wedding as the foundation for our connection!
-- Erika from America
Aww! I love your story!
My parents were the first ones to ask "So when are y'all going to get engaged?". We were only 4 months into dating and while it was expected, I had no idea when he would. I was shocked by their question though and they insisted it wouldn't be long at all. They were right! He proposed three weeks later.
I love y'all's story. It is so sweet!
Aw what a sweet story! Oh dear, I might have murdered my parents for sending out a family email like that haha
Wow! I'm impressed with how secretive you were!
How sweet! your parents are hilarious! I would have died if my mom sent out such an email! I love how supportive your family is though.
This is too sweet! Congrats on the four year mark, ya'll are such a sweet couple!
xo-Brittney
This is adorable! I love that there was a family email sent out. I don't think anyone saw my husband and I lasting. I certainly didn't. I'm glad it did though. Happy Anniversary!
I remember when Iz and I were trying to keep things on the DL because I was still getting used to going through a divorce. We hung out with my friend and her boyfriend for the day and later she texted me telling me that she totally knew we were smitten with each other.
It's funny looking back now and thinking that we thought we were actually good at keeping secrets!
Ha, I could have died if I had a family email sent out!
Corinne x
www.skinnedcartree.com
Such a cute story! You two didn't waste any time :-)
I met my husband on vacation, and when I went home I tried to act very casual and nonchalant when I mentioned that I met a "very nice German guy". But I couldn't fool my grandma, she knew right away something was up! She's been our biggest supporter right from the start.
What a whirlwind romance. I love that story! :) when I was in college I took a trip to Italy with my school one summer. One of my friends that I met there said I should date her friend that was moving up to live with her... I was not really interested though. Sure enough, a couple months later when he moved up we became an item instantly. And now we are married!
Super cute!!! Love how it was this great big surprise for everyone ;]
I love the family email! I'm pretty sure no one saw it coming with me and Cory but because we both worked for my Dad, we tried to keep it a secret as long as possible. I think it lasted a few weeks. Ha!
Happy Dating Anniversary! I love a good love story. :)
2 of my two oldest girlfriends (as in kindergarten-old) Ahhh Rachel, your posts always amuse me! this is sweet in a totally random way!
This is once again such a precious combination of little moments from you Rachel! I enjoyed reading all about how your love started and progressed. I found it both heartwarming and amusing that your parents informed everyone you had a boyfriend via e-mail- how cute! <3 With my husband we started dating during college. First his two best friends and my mom, and ALL my best friends knew ( haha girls) then the whole school followed by extended families! It was quite the excitement and I remember those times with such happiness. So happy you shared as well! XOXO, Elif @ theboxqueen
Such a sweet story...congratulations on four years!
Debbie
www.fashionfairydust.blogspot.com
What a joyful and relatable read! My darling chap and I just celebrated our ten year "loveiversary" (the anniversary of the day we first met) on the 20th this week. We met online and though neither of said a peep to those in our lives during the first month or so, by about half way through the second, we'd started telling folks and fortunately most were very supportive and behind us from the get-go (which wasn't always the norm when it came to relationships that were founded online back in those days). A whirlwind romance was in the cards for us, and we married that same year, about seven months after our first emails back and forth, so we'll be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary this year, too, in October. With so many thoughts of our own earliest days waltzing through my mind this week, it was extra lovely to read about those that you and Angel shared.
Wishing you both countless joyful years together!
♥ Jessica
Family email! Ha! Sounds like something my husband's family would do. I didn't know I was getting engaged when I did but a friend of mine guessed and was right before even I was! Lol!
I love the family email! The hubs and I have been together for over 7 years now. I introduced him to my boys when we hit the 6 month mark and we knew we were serious. That probably when I started telling friends about him too.
Wow, what a great story!! Happy anniversary, you two!
www.amemoryofus.blogspot.com
Aww, what a sweet story! Happy anniversary! :)
I spent the longest time trying to figure out if the dates hubby kept inviting me to were actually dates, or if he was just a really friendly guy...haha. It was our second "is this or isn't this a date" movie trip when we kissed and it was a little clearer - by then everyone (friends and family) were saying "I told you so!" I'd thought he was just being friendly! We got engaged on our 3 year anniversary, so everyone had been waiting for the news a while, although only hubby and his best mate knew he'd got a ring and planned the proposal. So exciting being able to tell people about the engagement! :)
Away From Blue
Awww, so sweet! Congratulations!
Oh so sweet! Congratulations! Enjoy every minute. My husband and I are looking at 30 years next year! We both knew the moment we met that the other was someone special but it took a few months and one brief breakup to confirm those feelings. No one knew but I couldn't stop myself from dropping some HUGE hints at a family reunion at my Grandparents that they might be looking at a wedding soon. I wish to you and Angel the same wonderful love and life that we have shared. Ups and Downs of course, but when you are with your best friend it will always work.
Aww, this just made me smile! It's funny when parents get so giddy and even get more excited about their children's relationship, haha! My husband and I met at the workplace and it was our friends who knew about us even when we weren't sure yet how to call our relationship. He was the only man I dated when I moved away from home to work and I sort of thought he would be my husband when I first saw him, sounds amusing or.. weird. Hehe.
Nice pics!
http://ladyparisienne.blogspot.fr/
aww! I would be mortified if my parents or any family member sent out a family-wide email that said I had a beau. Expect to not see me at he next reunion! haha
Awww how sweet!
such a fun post, and such a fun topic for a dinner party. it's almost like one of those questions you find in table topic games. my 2 roommates were the first people to know - we'd been dating a couple weeks, and i came home and announced with absolute certainty that i would marry him (got engaged 6 months later)
love your pretty smile in that picture - so big, so genuine :)
Such a sweet little story. I'm sure to come back to refer to this the next time I wanna share something similar. I love all the little humour you inject in your writings. You're cute and your family is cute too. Hahaha... Imagine the embarrassment! Too cute!
It was no secret when Chris and I started dating because we right off the bay started hanging out so much. It seems so long ago to me though...10 years since we started dating already! I love that your mom sent the family email!! Congrats on 4 years!
i loved reading your story :)
I like that you can remember the details and dates of your meeting and courtship! That's a really special thing.
I don't remember if/when it was "totally out in the open", but I do remember our youth group leader being surprised when they saw us holding hands at youth group, months after we started dating. We were both very aware of PDA and not wanting to be "that couple".
Post a Comment