I’ve only been kissed by one man. That man became my husband on the 27 November 1999.

Sweet 16 and never been kissed; that was me. At this age I played the clarinet in the church band. Something magical happened after I turned 16. I suddenly noticed the boy who played the saxophone next to me. Two days older than me, this boy shared the same feeling at the same moment, like an invisible string between us was tied. That was the start of the beginning.

A month went by after this revelation without much-a-do. Until, in the evening of 4 November 1995, the tall, handsome, boyish looking boy/man bowled up to me, standing far too close in social awkwardness. Without any introduction he blurted out, “Will you be my girlfriend?” I was shocked! For a moment I just stood there, perhaps with my mouth open. A brief moment for me seemed like a lifetime to Matthew and he managed to turn 4 shades lighter until finally I said, “YES, definitely!” So we were ‘going out’, but what did that mean?

At the start of our courtship there were letters. In my day (I sound old don’t I?), there wasn’t internet or social networking sites. In a way I’m glad of this. There is nothing quite like a letter and the tangible way words are written on the page. You can run your hands over the imprint of the words, put the pretty paper under your pillow at night and listen to the sound of paper as the creases unfold. In a letter, many feeling and thoughts can be expressed and I believe it establishes a deep foundation for a relationship. Letters are a beautiful way to start a relationship and then, it grows.

The blossoming of the Matthew/Kelly relationship started after Matthew got his driving license at 17 years of age. I remember our first ‘real’ date; a date our parents did not have to drop us too or pick us up from. Matthew arrived in his Dad’s fancy car and we went to Sizzlers. After dinner Matthew dropped me home. Before he left, we spent an hour sitting on the back deck of my parent’s house. Following the wooden walkway through the trees to the deck, the railings lit up with fairy lights, we let magic of the night lead us to the oasis tucked away under palm trees. It felt like a different world; like time had stopped just for the two of us. I think it was at this moment I knew that I would marry this man. I have been asked, many a time, but how did you know?

That is a very interesting question that I’m not sure I can answer. You know when you know, and if you don’t know that you know what you know, then you don’t know. Now that makes complete sense to me The knowingness kept us in good stead when I moved to the country. I remember the many times Matthew would drive to my house after his night shift selling pizzas and I would greet him at the door of my parent’s house. Mum always had an extra bed for Matthew to sleep in. Matthew and I made a difficult choice to keep the sexual side of our relationship for marriage. Often unpopular in the time we live in, it’s a decision I haven’t regretted for a moment.

In 1998, I was working in Brisbane city. The noise, the pace and the variety gave me a sense of aliveness. Matthew and I had a date on the 4th November.  As sat on the train I remember smiling, knowing my man would be waiting at the other end.   Stepping on the concrete platform, as the train screeched away, I saw him standing tall, straight and somewhat awkward at the bottom of the ramp at Enoggera Station. Although Matthew had booked a beautiful restaurant for this night, he couldn’t wait another moment. “Will you be my wife?” he asked. Again, the moment seemed to stand still. Like the first time he asked me to be his girlfriend I was frozen, but for a moment. “YES, definitely!” It was a joyous night! A promise.

I’ve only been kissed by one man. That man became my husband on the 27 November 1999. Aged 20 years, we were married in a little country church in Minden west of Brisbane: slightly overcast, my dad giving me away, my Mum’s most beautiful smile, my beautiful sisters with me, daisies, a garden dress, brown eyed man waiting at the end of the isle, blue and yellow bridesmaid dresses, family, friends and white shoes. What a happy day; a day I will never forget; a day I promised to love this man through thick and thin all the days of my life. Thick and thin.

Matthew and I celebrate 10 years of marriage this year (2009). In this time there have been ups and downs: 8 moves, 1 pregnancy loss, 4 children, 5 years of no income, laughing, crying, hardship and joy. Matthew was accepted into Medical school located in the coastal town of Newcastle at the time of our first anniversary. Our first child was born 9 months after our move. Hence, a student plus a stay-at-home-mum produces very little income. How did we manage many people ask. It is amazing what you can do when you have to. Both Matthew and I held part-time jobs and we made every cent count. You see, we wanted to have our children while we were young and I was determined to look after our children myself. It is true we didn’t have a house and other items sometimes considered imperative before children are brought into the picture, but possessions were never important to us, family was. Was it hard with Matthew studying medicine and me at home raising a young family? Absolutely! Was it worth it? Definitely!

Can I tell you what held us and holds us still? God. Marriage, as designed by God is a miracle. I really mean that – a miracle! Ephesians 5:31 says “And the two shall become one”. What truth. This oneness happens overtime; as the choice of loving the other over oneself becomes so entwined it’s like the two beings are blurred into one. Every relationship takes work…. A LOT of work, but, through God’s strength, anything is possible.

Boy meets girl. First kiss. Man marries woman. Children. Family living for God. Blessed.

This is my love story.  Every love story is different and beautiful.  What is your love story?