Hey everyone! I've been getting into reading some lifestyle blogs around the interwebs, especially couples blogs and I was inspired by a very cool idea one of them blogged about! (You can check that blog out here - www.wordsofwilliams.com) Basically, it's the story of us (or them...?). They called it their Fairytale... and that is totally cute, but totally not me and Tyler! ha! So I'm going with the theme of this blog and calling it The Story of Just Us. I'm going to start right at the beginning and work through all the years that Tyler and I have been together. I am so excited to reflect on our journey.. I told Tyler about this the other night and even though he's not really into blogging, he thought it was pretty cool too... I am hoping to get a bit of his input but we'll have to see how forthcoming he is with his memories... (he says he more "private" than I am.. I say he's just forgotten.. hahah) :)
So, here goes! Errrrr....enjoy!
**I will add in photos where I can. Some years of our journey are pre-digital-camera days, so I will do the best I can.**
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Chapter One: We Meet
Summer 2001
Ohmygoodness; I am really going to be reaching back in the memory banks for this chapter! But I am so excited! ("hunny, are you excited, too?" *crickets crickets crickets* sigh. fine.)
This summer was what I called "transitional". Well, that's what I call it now.. haha.. I had just graduated from high school (so had Tyler; we are the same age).. I was feeling very very free... you know, that feeling when you're 17 and you just had graduation/prom and feeling like you're "queen/king of the world"? Ya, that's how I was feeling. And to top it off, we had a 6-week family vacation planned for a big road trip across Canada, including a week-long stay plus convention in Newfoundland. This was exciting stuff for a 17-year old who pretty much felt like she could take on anything. (Easy there, 17-year-old Jessica....)
The first meeting of me and Tyler was very brief and very uneventful. It was a gorgeous Tuesday morning and I'm pretty sure the whole thing lasted less than 20 minutes. We got in late the night before and pulled into his grandparent's place around 1 am. They greeted us with all their lights on and open arms. I will never forget the generosity of those dear dear folks that first night we arrived in Newfoundland. My brothers and I were starving (as most teenagers are at well, any hour of the day.. ha!) and Betty (Tyler's nan) poured up big glasses of orange juice and set out cereal, milk and bowls. It was the best 1am snack I ever had! The salt air must have made us hungry!
I remember wandering around their house the next morning, just before we left for our 8-hour drive to convention. It wasn't in a snoopy kind of way; more of a curious kind of way... I ran my hand over the wood banister as I walked up the spiral staircase. I sat down at their ebony grand piano and played a few hymns. We peeked into their garage and that was the first glimpse I got into the Brake family love of snowmobiling. SIX snowmobiles sat in the garage and my brothers and I just stood and stared at them. Probably with our mouths gaping wide open. It was very clear their large home was full of love and they loved to fill it up with the people who were near and dear to them. With framed photos of friends, family and grandchildren everywhere, plus a whole bookshelf dedicated to photo albums, it was evident they led a life that was dedicated to giving and loving. This was my first impression of the Brake family. On some level, I loved them instantly.
We meandered into Corner Brook (his grandparents lived out in the country, about 25 minutes from town) that sunny Tuesday morning and I got my first glimpse of one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. The entire city seemed to be built on mountain. We got gas at an Esso, right by the big paper and pulp mill, and I remember looking up and seeing a mall, houses and other business just built up on the side of this mountain. I felt like I was in some small European sea-side town.
After we got gas, we began our trek to the Brake family business, Castle Carpet. This was a "trek" I tell you! Have you got directions from a Newfoundlander? You can stop anyone at anytime on the side of the street and they will gladly give you directions to wherever you are headed. They're just, um, not very good directions. I honestly can't even type a simu-conversation because they just have their own unique way of giving directions... and they are so sincere and kind and helpful, but our prairie brains couldn't get past the accent barrier and as a result, we got lost. But it was fun and we just loved chatting to all the different people we got to meet along the way. Life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right?! :)
We finally made it to Castle Carpet. This was (and still is) the family business and Tyler was working there for that summer. Also, his grandparents had a second-hand store (with the best shoe collection ever. I have not been in a thrift store with as good as selection, quality and style as they have.) and a fabric store in the same building, so we would get to see them again, too.
I remember meeting Tyler's dad, Barry, first. His big smile and warm handshake made me feel like I had known him forever. Then he called Tyler in from the back warehouse. Betty had wandered in, too, from the fabric store... For some reason, my heart started to beat really fast as I (we) waited for Tyler. I had saw a ton of photos of him at his grandparents house and I knew he was cute. No, scratch that. He was (still is!!) adorable.
Finally, he came into his dad's (or Pop's) office and I got my first look at my future husband. He was baby-faced. A red ball cap sat sideways on his head. He had on a dirt-smudged white tee-shirt and work jeans.
"Hi, I'm Jessica."
"Hi. Nice to meet you. I'm Tyler."
Or something like that. My heart was still fluttering away, but other than that, it was pretty uneventful.
At the time of our meeting, I was in a relationship. But my heart still tugged and I felt a definite connection when we shook hands and said hello for the first time. There wasn't much I could do about it, so I shoved those feelings down and moved on. We were headed to Brigus convention on the east coast of Newfoundland and Tyler wouldn't be coming due to work commitments. (He had been to the other Newfoundland convention the week before). However, the rest of his family was there so it was wonderful to get to know them better. It was there that Candace (Tyler's sister and now one of my best friends) and I started a fantastic friendship that has blossomed over the years. It was there that my heart was stolen by Tyler's youngest brother, who was 5 at the time. He literally reminded me of a teddy bear. Cutest little guy ever.. (he's now 15 and an amazing young person..) Candace and I exchanged email addresses and when we all hugged and said good bye that Sunday afternoon after convention, I was 100% positive that would be the last time I would see them. Ha! Boy, was I wrong. :) And I'm so glad.
Tyler and I never talked or had any form of communication for a year and half after that. A lot happened to both of us in that time period, but I'll save that for the next chapter. Also, I am pretty sure I scrapbooked this trip for my mom, so next time I am at my parent's place I am going to snag some of those pages and scan them. If they turn out, I will post them on here later. :)
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In completely unrelated news, I am starting on closet #1 this weekend! After a three-day summer cold last week and PMS, I am back in fine form and ready to tackle this project! So expect some photos from that adventure, too!
This week has felt really long to me for some reason... I'm glad it's Thursday... I hope you have a great rest of your week and AN AWESOME LONG WEEKEND!! :)
xo ~ Jess
So, here goes! Errrrr....enjoy!
**I will add in photos where I can. Some years of our journey are pre-digital-camera days, so I will do the best I can.**
------------------------------------------------------
Chapter One: We Meet
Summer 2001
Ohmygoodness; I am really going to be reaching back in the memory banks for this chapter! But I am so excited! ("hunny, are you excited, too?" *crickets crickets crickets* sigh. fine.)
This summer was what I called "transitional". Well, that's what I call it now.. haha.. I had just graduated from high school (so had Tyler; we are the same age).. I was feeling very very free... you know, that feeling when you're 17 and you just had graduation/prom and feeling like you're "queen/king of the world"? Ya, that's how I was feeling. And to top it off, we had a 6-week family vacation planned for a big road trip across Canada, including a week-long stay plus convention in Newfoundland. This was exciting stuff for a 17-year old who pretty much felt like she could take on anything. (Easy there, 17-year-old Jessica....)
The first meeting of me and Tyler was very brief and very uneventful. It was a gorgeous Tuesday morning and I'm pretty sure the whole thing lasted less than 20 minutes. We got in late the night before and pulled into his grandparent's place around 1 am. They greeted us with all their lights on and open arms. I will never forget the generosity of those dear dear folks that first night we arrived in Newfoundland. My brothers and I were starving (as most teenagers are at well, any hour of the day.. ha!) and Betty (Tyler's nan) poured up big glasses of orange juice and set out cereal, milk and bowls. It was the best 1am snack I ever had! The salt air must have made us hungry!
I remember wandering around their house the next morning, just before we left for our 8-hour drive to convention. It wasn't in a snoopy kind of way; more of a curious kind of way... I ran my hand over the wood banister as I walked up the spiral staircase. I sat down at their ebony grand piano and played a few hymns. We peeked into their garage and that was the first glimpse I got into the Brake family love of snowmobiling. SIX snowmobiles sat in the garage and my brothers and I just stood and stared at them. Probably with our mouths gaping wide open. It was very clear their large home was full of love and they loved to fill it up with the people who were near and dear to them. With framed photos of friends, family and grandchildren everywhere, plus a whole bookshelf dedicated to photo albums, it was evident they led a life that was dedicated to giving and loving. This was my first impression of the Brake family. On some level, I loved them instantly.
We meandered into Corner Brook (his grandparents lived out in the country, about 25 minutes from town) that sunny Tuesday morning and I got my first glimpse of one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. The entire city seemed to be built on mountain. We got gas at an Esso, right by the big paper and pulp mill, and I remember looking up and seeing a mall, houses and other business just built up on the side of this mountain. I felt like I was in some small European sea-side town.
After we got gas, we began our trek to the Brake family business, Castle Carpet. This was a "trek" I tell you! Have you got directions from a Newfoundlander? You can stop anyone at anytime on the side of the street and they will gladly give you directions to wherever you are headed. They're just, um, not very good directions. I honestly can't even type a simu-conversation because they just have their own unique way of giving directions... and they are so sincere and kind and helpful, but our prairie brains couldn't get past the accent barrier and as a result, we got lost. But it was fun and we just loved chatting to all the different people we got to meet along the way. Life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right?! :)
We finally made it to Castle Carpet. This was (and still is) the family business and Tyler was working there for that summer. Also, his grandparents had a second-hand store (with the best shoe collection ever. I have not been in a thrift store with as good as selection, quality and style as they have.) and a fabric store in the same building, so we would get to see them again, too.
I remember meeting Tyler's dad, Barry, first. His big smile and warm handshake made me feel like I had known him forever. Then he called Tyler in from the back warehouse. Betty had wandered in, too, from the fabric store... For some reason, my heart started to beat really fast as I (we) waited for Tyler. I had saw a ton of photos of him at his grandparents house and I knew he was cute. No, scratch that. He was (still is!!) adorable.
Finally, he came into his dad's (or Pop's) office and I got my first look at my future husband. He was baby-faced. A red ball cap sat sideways on his head. He had on a dirt-smudged white tee-shirt and work jeans.
"Hi, I'm Jessica."
"Hi. Nice to meet you. I'm Tyler."
Or something like that. My heart was still fluttering away, but other than that, it was pretty uneventful.
At the time of our meeting, I was in a relationship. But my heart still tugged and I felt a definite connection when we shook hands and said hello for the first time. There wasn't much I could do about it, so I shoved those feelings down and moved on. We were headed to Brigus convention on the east coast of Newfoundland and Tyler wouldn't be coming due to work commitments. (He had been to the other Newfoundland convention the week before). However, the rest of his family was there so it was wonderful to get to know them better. It was there that Candace (Tyler's sister and now one of my best friends) and I started a fantastic friendship that has blossomed over the years. It was there that my heart was stolen by Tyler's youngest brother, who was 5 at the time. He literally reminded me of a teddy bear. Cutest little guy ever.. (he's now 15 and an amazing young person..) Candace and I exchanged email addresses and when we all hugged and said good bye that Sunday afternoon after convention, I was 100% positive that would be the last time I would see them. Ha! Boy, was I wrong. :) And I'm so glad.
Tyler and I never talked or had any form of communication for a year and half after that. A lot happened to both of us in that time period, but I'll save that for the next chapter. Also, I am pretty sure I scrapbooked this trip for my mom, so next time I am at my parent's place I am going to snag some of those pages and scan them. If they turn out, I will post them on here later. :)
-------------------------------------------------
In completely unrelated news, I am starting on closet #1 this weekend! After a three-day summer cold last week and PMS, I am back in fine form and ready to tackle this project! So expect some photos from that adventure, too!
This week has felt really long to me for some reason... I'm glad it's Thursday... I hope you have a great rest of your week and AN AWESOME LONG WEEKEND!! :)
xo ~ Jess
