Happily Ever After!

Today is our 8th anniversary. I know that, well because I do, but also because whatever year it is that's how long Joey and I have been married....2008, 8 years, 2009, 9 years, you get it! Anyway, for those who don't know our sweet story...here goes. Joey and I got our start from Tymon. Well, let me give Krista props. She tried to hook us up about a year before Tymon did, but it just wasn't time yet. I was a teacher, a woman, you know and he was, well he was just a boy! hee hee But, Tymon says, "Jeanne, I've got the perfect guy for you. He loves Jesus and everything!" I was like "Boy, who do you know that loves Jesus?" He says, "Joey McDonald" and I was like "What, little Joey McDonald" and he says "Yes!" I'll quit with the direct quotes. On with the story, we talked on the phone for a few weeks before we actually went on our first date. He was hunting...I was teaching....it was complicated :) Anyway, November 19, 1999 we went on our first date. He didn't tell me how beautiful I was or anything even remotely close to that. He just got us lost and had me laughing. I still remember what I was wearing. The first compliment he did give me was "Jeanne, people are so drawn to you." Oh, that REALLY meant so much to me. How kind? We were in a CVS buying candy in the line and he looks at me....I could tell from the look he was about to bust out with something heart melting....he says, "Jeanne, your eyes are so, so.............................red. Do you have allergies or something?" Oh, yes he did. True story. Not the usual your eyes are so blue, or so bright, or so pretty. No sirrey bob, I get so red! It's all funny now, though. Well, it was funny then, too. So after much talking on the phone and dating and getting groped by my daddy we got engaged (April 25th 2000). Let me explain the groping by my Daddy and why I knew if he could get through that he was a "keeper" My Daddy comes into the room where Joey, Boo, Angie and I are watching a movie. In walks my daddy who had had a few by that time. He sits down in front of Joey (like Joey is straddling him) grabs Joey's foot, pulls off his sock, gets hold of his big toe and starts wiggling it saying, "Now that's a keeper right there, Jeanne! That is a keeper!" That was one of those moments that I knew if Joey stuck around after that then he certainly was a keeper!!!!! We were married a short time later, very short time later. When ya know, ya know. We just knew. I remember telling God that night after our first date that I wanted him to give me Joey. I simply loved that boy. The wedding was beautiful. There was candy EVERYWHERE! My favorite food. All the people I loved were there. And of course I can't forget the humongous fever blister on my bottom lip that looked like some nation on a raised geographical map. Everyone was like, "Oh Jeanne, it's not THAT bad!" Puhlease, my honest nephew Austin who was 7 at the time comes up to me and says in his little redneck accent, "EEEWW Mee Mee, what's that on yer liiiiiiiip?" Over my face went the veil and down the aisle went my Daddy and me (he was stepping on my dress the entire way down) Sweet Lord, I so dearly miss that man! Out the church door my husband and I went to the song "You make me feel like dancing!" Somewhere in there Robbie gave us a hilarious ceremony! We drove off with our honeymoon package from Krista and Dave (Thank the good Lord Haysus for that) in our pink cavalier with oreos stuck all over it and a bra the size of a 2 person hammock attached to the front with the rain POURING down! My Joey fills me full of compliments now. It was and still is....happily ever after!