A look back at 2009 via pictures and Facebook statuses!

Here's hoping that 2010 will be filled with just as many fun memories!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Love & Prayers, Monica

May your Christmas and New Year be full of the blessings of Love, Joy and....Laughter!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

and

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

With love from our family to yours,

Corey, Monica, Lonna and Eden

All Eden wants for Christmas is her two front teeth! 

THE STORY OF COREY & MONICA

Two years ago, on our 8th anniversary, I took the time to write out a blog post that I've titled "The Story of Corey & Monica".  Today Corey and are celebrating our 10th Anniversary and it seemed most appropriated to edit a few bits and repost our story! (warning, this will be lengthy...but I think it's a sweet story, especially if you're the romantic type!): 

It was the first Friday night of our freshman year in college, which means it was September 1994.  I went with my roommate, Charis, and my Resident Advisor, Kristie, to "Time Out Christian Fellowship".  After an awesome night of worship and teaching etc, Kristie introduced us to two other guys who lived on the 2nd floor of our residence hall.  One of those two guys was Corey.  Let me just say, while I can recall the moment we met with clarity, I can also recall that it was not love at first sight.  He just didn't seem like my type...he had long hair...and as silly as it sounds, at the time that was a bit of a turn off to me. (I was very green and had much to learn about people!! )

Anyway, as the weeks past I would see Corey at Time Out, in the dorm or at the church we all went to, and we would say hellos, but that's about it.  I wish I could recall the exact date, but it was somewhere in early to mid October, and something happened that changed everything.  I went to Friday night Fellowship as always, sitting next to my roomie, Charis, as always.  Kristie was on student leadership team, and had convinced Corey to play a role in a skit with her.  He played the part of Jesus, and his role was pantomimed.  I cannot completely explain it, but in those five minutes or so that the skit took place, I saw something in Corey.  God revealed Corey's heart to me, and all I knew was I barely could contain myself in my seat.  I feel a bit fluttery right now, just recalling it!!  

After every Fellowship meeting, we would have an "After Activity"...something social to do.  This particular evening someone had planned a wacky scavenger hunt that had us running all over campus and the surrounding community.  Because it was also Homecoming weekend and we went to a state college notorious for its party reputation, the leaders were insistent that every team have at least one guy.  I grabbed Charis' hand and in a totally bold fashion, I marched right over to Corey and asked him if he wanted to be on our team.  I had to get to know this guy more!!!  We had a blast....and I remember not wanting to be far from him once the hunt ended back at the Ministry Center where we hung out and snacked etc.  

As I said, it was Homecoming weekend, and my parents came in to see me in the parade and football game on Saturday since I was in the Marching Band.  Before all this kicked off, we had breakfast together and they shared with me some grave news about my grandfather.  He had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.  To be honest I didn't really process that news fully in that moment, rather I put faith first and told them I would pray about it and things would be fine.  This does have a connection to Corey and I....I promise!!

On that Sunday after church, it seemed that everyone had plans except for Corey and I.  We had brunch together at the cafeteria and I asked him if he would like to take a walk since it was one of those perfect October days.  We walked and talked....I think I smiled the whole time. We ended up at Mack Park and I remember us sitting on this awesome picnic table swing thing, just talking and sharing stories and getting to know one another.  His nature was opposite of mine and opposite of any other boy I had once had a crush on.  He was an introverted and quiet soul, but strong in his faith.  I was hooked.  He shared himself with me.  And I asked him to pray for my grandfather.

On Monday afternoon I had band practice.  And somewhere in the middle of it, the news that my parents had shared on Saturday hit me like a ton of bricks.  By the end of practice I was an emotional mess.  I raced back to the dorm...Charis and Kristie were nowhere to be found.  I needed to talk this through....the tears could be contained no longer.  So I decided to go upstairs and see if Corey was around.  After nervously knocking on his door, his roommate answered only to inform me that Corey had just left for a run.  I found myself totally crushed and was about to head back down the stairwell, when I looked up and saw Corey coming down the hallway.  God is good...Corey had forgot to put a tape in his walk-man!  He graciously let me talk it out, cry it out and he prayed with me.  That is the moment I fully fell for him. 

I did my best to find subtle ways to put myself in his presence...thinking the more he got to know me, certainly he would have to come to adore me! (That was determination, not overconfidence, by the way!)  Most often I dragged Charis along too, so not to be too obvious (thank you Charis for your patience and endurance!!).  We would have meals together in the cafe, hang out after the "After Activities" etc.  With every encounter I liked him more, and my cheeks would hurt after spending time with him because I was smiling so much!!

About a month later, Corey stopped by my room and asked if he could take me out for a milk-shake later (after studying), he said there was something he needed to talk to me about.  WOW!  Who could concentrate on studying after that?!?  Not me!!  So we went out to Denny's for shakes, and it was the same good banter and chatter as always.  But as the shakes were fully consumed, I was wondering what this "something" he needed to talk me about was.  Finally, after much nervous stirring of his empty shake class, he said he wanted to talk to me about our "relationship"!!  How I ever contained myself in that moment was far beyond me!?!  That's the first time I knew for sure that Corey cared me...and the first time I confessed verbally what my actions over the last weeks surely shouted in advance for me.  We were officially a couple and when we walked back to the dorm it was the first time he held my hand!! 

November 20th, 1994, we shared our first kiss....it was Corey first kiss ever!    It was AMAZING!!!  November 20th became our "X-O Day".  We honored the 20th of every month with little gestures.  And then the months became years.  Awesome years of growing together in faith and in life, and just being young and in love.  We became one another's best friends and the joyful days far out weighed the unavoidable challenging ones that life throws at you.  We survived long summers that we lived at a distance.  God was so good to us, bringing us together to compliment one another.  He became my favorite person to be with.

On our 3rd-year "X-O Day", were obviously Seniors in college and I really hoped for a proposal (there was chatter about our future to warrant this hope!)....but it came and went.  Christmas came and went, Valentines day came and went, my Graduation came and went and then my birthday in June came and went.  I was beginning to grow impatient as I finished a few summer credits at college and sent resume's all over the country!  

On July 23rd, 1998, Corey came up to IUP for the weekend.  He said he wanted to take me out to dinner at this nice place in our college town called "Benjamin's"...a beautiful victorian house turned into a restaurant.  This was a big treat..."Benjamin's" wasn't normal college budget dining!  You think I would have caught on....but luckily I didn't.  After dinner, Corey said he wanted to take a walk.  And he guided the way right to Mack Park.  On the way there he even said, "I think Mack Park is the first place we ever took a walk to".  Still, I didn't see it coming.  We sat down on this bench that had a perfect view of the sunset.  It was just so nice to be with my guy after a stretch apart, I didn't even contemplate that he might propose in that moment.  But before I knew it, he was down on his knee, saying all these beautiful things that I can barely recall because I was so darn excited.  I heard the magic words I needed to though...."I love you, Monica, Will you marry me?"  I was elated and said "YES" without hesitation.    

Five years and one week after our first kiss, on November 27th, 1999, I walked down the isle the happiest bride ever, and we made our vows before God to become husband and wife.  I truly loved every moment of our wedding and reception.  I was so happy...I never cried a tear...and darn, did my cheeks hurt by the end of the night!  Corey and I both felt so privileged to celebrate the beginning of our lives amongst the many, many people we loved and that loved us in return.

Fast forward to today, ten years later.  The last ten years have been full of so many blessings!!  God is so good to us, even in our imperfections.  I love Corey more than ever, and know he would say the same if he were writing this story (of course his version is most definitely less wordy!!)  We have been blessed with two beautiful daughters and a home to call our own.  We do not have a perfect marriage, but we have found our way to work.  We are opposites in so many ways, in the ways that make things better.  We take care of one another.  We give and we take.  We support each other in our weaknesses, rather then use them against one another.  We are a team in parenting and caring for our home.  We laugh a lot about really ridiculous things!  He is my safe place when I am feeling crazed and my favorite person to be with.  He really is my very best friend.   

I thank God every day for the gift that Corey is in my life.  I am SO proud to be celebrating 10-years of marriage with him and 15-years altogether of being committed to one another.  This is our story...the highlights anyway, because there are so many special moments in between that I simply can not begin to write about it all.  I've so enjoyed this walk down memory lane...it's good to recall the special moments that brought our lives together, I find myself unable to stop smiling all over again!  I hope you all enjoyed getting to know us more. 

And HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!!