For Hayleigh, and "Tate" How I Met Your Father....

iTunes... 

Brad Paisley did it for me tonight. Songs take me back in time, and to the future. It was Brad Paisley's "Then" song that did it tonight. Going on about taking 45 minutes to kiss goodnight, and hadn't told you then, but I loved you then. That was us, is us. I never really have told about how Allen and I came to be on here. So, Hayleigh, and "Tate", this is how I met your Father...lol- (we watch How I Met Your Mother) 

Truth is Allen and I have known each other since we were little kids. We went to the same school since 4th grade- and was even in the same class in 5th grade. Allen says he remembers me being in his class back then- and I don't. He said he had his eye on me then, and I didn't even know he existed... wow. Well, 6th grade, we had opposite teachers, I had Mrs. Washburn for home room, and Mr. Doss for Science and Social Studies- Allen had Mr. Doss for home room, and Mrs. Washburn for the other two classes. It was meant to be already!! lol... I never did really "know" Allen all through middle school- I kept busy with running track- setting school records, cheer leading- hated it, and soft ball in the summer. I loved going to the school dances- he didn't go. 

It didn't all click until High School, when we finally had classes together. I didn't really see much of him my freshman year, even though we had our lockers just across the hall from each other. I kept busy with volley ball, track, going to football games, and then of course softball in the summer. My sophomore year, everything changed... That was the year of the beginning of us. I did track- lived and breathed it- didn't really do volley ball... had my first boyfriend, to this day I swear is gay, and that is where Allen came into the picture. At the Christmas dance, I started dating my first boyfriend, Cody- nothing serious. I believe all girls think they are going to marry their first boyfriend.. STUPID! The one purpose Cody served was this. I had auto up keep with Jessica, Aaron, and Dan. Dan really liked me, and I didn't see it. Well, I found out from Jessica, that on the Monday following the Christmas dance, Dan was going to ask me out. I probably would have dated him, then who knows what would have happened. Anyway, as time passed- 3 months, it became clear that Cody liked shopping with his girl friends, and didn't want to date a girl- I don't honestly know if he has since me. When he broke up with me, my parents got divorced. My heart was so broken- I thought I was going to die. What was wrong with me?? I cried every day, and I do mean EVERY day, at school, at home, everywhere, and Allen got to see it all. You see, when we came back from winter break, I got Allen in 2 of my classes- the last two of the day. He sat with Kyle right behind me and Courtney, and stared at my butt- he says. Both guys really liked me, and until that Spring, I had absolutely no idea- seems to be an ongoing thing.  I got better- less crying. I could hold myself together, and had track to focus on. 

Prom season came to be, and Kyle did not have a date- so, two weeks before the prom, Kyle asked me to go, and I told him I would. He was such a nice sweet guy, but deep down, I just didn't feel any sparks. The day of prom, I went to lunch with Allen before getting my hair done. Allen, a different Kyle, and I rode in Allen's truck to McDonalds, and then to Jordan's house. Well, on the way to Jordan's house, we dropped Kyle off at his house, so he could get his truck, and meet us there. I didn't really see anything going on, until Kyle got out of the truck, and I didn't scoot over- I had to sit in the middle then. I don't know why I didn't move, but, I didn't. We rode to Jordan's house, a mere 2 miles down the road, visited, and then, Allen took me back to the high school, to take me to my car- I did sit on the other side of the truck that time. Allen and I had science and wood design together at the time, and we had become friends, and partners with Jaleigh during class. We clicked, and were good friends. We fought like a married couple- everyone in shop class saw it but us, or ME. I liked Allen, but as friends, I just didn't see us as a couple. Anyway, I went to prom with Kyle- I really liked him and his family, but we just didn't click. I wanted it to- he was such a nice guy, and was really sweet. Anyway, after prom, Allen and I got to where we were walking to shop together from science, he would put his hat on my head- yellow Fox brand hat. We had fun in shop, and that was it. School ended, and I spent the summer trying to figure out what I wanted. I tried to get back together with Cody- he was a total jerk- led me on for a month, then dropped me like a rock again. I spent the other part of the summer, going to the races at Red Hill with my dad- every Saturday we would go, and there was Allen, in his bright yellow hat, shirt, and matching sunglasses watching me, then sitting behind us in the bleachers. 

I spent the rest of my summer, going on a few dates as friends with Kyle, and tried to find how to get a hold of Allen. I didn't know he lived with his grandparents, who did not have the same last name as him at the time. I finally found out how to get a hold of him, talking to him at one of the races, and he was on vacation in Arkansas at the time. I left a message, and he called me back- right at the end of the summer. We talked, but never did see each other.

School started back up- our Junior year. We had building trades together, and that was it. It soon became clear that we were heading towards becoming a couple, and not so much just friends anymore. Well, the night Allen finally asked me out, I said yes, then called him back an hour later, and told him no. I don't know what the heck I was thinking, but I wanted to go out with the other Kyle- and THANK GOD that did not happen. The next day, Allen ignored me, I felt horrible, and finally asked him where he lived. I got directions, and just showed up after school. I still remember driving my BMW down his driveway, seeing the two deer targets outside, with him shooting his bow. His jaw dropped when I pulled in to his driveway, and I parked the car, and told him we needed to talk. Well, I don't remember what was said, but I remember I told him I had made a mistake, and wanted to try to date him. I think I was secretly scared to death- he made me feel like no one else since we had started talking the year before. It was like he had known me the whole time, and I didn't have to do anything to impress him. Well, after that, I went out to his house about everyday after school, or in the evening. He fixed me supper- deer steak, mashed potatoes, corn and green beans- that was our first meal together. I spent quite a bit of time with his Grandma as well, and after a few days of us dating, his mom got a glimpse of me riding on my side of his truck at lunch time, on Main St. We ate lunch every day together. I wish I could go back to those days sometimes! Anyway, found out another girl with the same name liked Allen, and his mom liked her a lot too- in fact wanted him to dump me for her- he didn't, he said he didn't like her that way.

A week and a half or so into all of this, I got invited to meet Allen's sister, and to meet his family at a Halloween party. I was then sitting next to Allen in his truck, and just holding hands. His family like to have had a fit with us sitting together on the couch- thought we were making out! Please!! I really liked Allen then, and knew something big was in store for us. It just clicked, and Kyle soon became the third wheel.

After that, we would say goodbye at night, and Allen hugged me one night for the first time, after I told him I wanted a hug before I left- he stood as far away from me as possible, and patted my back like my grandma did. I drove home, smiling and giggling about it.

 Well, after that, we finally got to go to Homecoming together- I have a picture somewhere- we look soo young then! Allen was late getting ready- he shot a turkey that night. We went to the end of the football game- our school lost of course, we danced, and left the dance, going back to his house for me to go home in my car. We stood out in his driveway by my car in that turn around, for what seemed like an hour. I was waiting on our first kiss, and was not leaving until I got it. It was clear we both were waiting on it. We talked, and hugged, and just stared at each other. Finally, I kissed his right cheek, trying to get him to kiss me... nothing, so I kissed the other cheek, then he finally kissed me. Let me tell you SPARKS flew, and with that first kiss, I knew I loved him, and was going to marry him someday! I mean it!

 My 17th birthday came, I had been fighting with my parents- they had a nasty divorce, and it didn't bother Allen. I was sure he would run, just like everyone else had in my life- but he didn't. He sat there and talked to me, comforted me, and loved me anyway. I didn't have to act different with him. I have a picture from my birthday- he got me a card, and a couple of cds- Celine Dion, and Tim McGraw- which had our song on it- My Best Friend,  and his family threw me a party- I got to pick what we had to eat- tacos! We have pictures from that party, and you can see the love in our eyes- so stinkin cute! After that, we went to prom, and I quit track- I had grown to hate it, and Allen told me if I hated it soo much, to not do it. So, me wanting to spend more time with him, and not at track practice, I quit, and made my parents so cross eyed mad. We spent the summer after school was out together, almost every day. He gave me a promise ring the next Christmas, our Senior Year, we fought a little, but loved each other more and more. His family I know knew things were getting serious- hated me. I now know why- he is such a great guy- they didn't want to let him go.

Allen proposed to me then November 30, 2002- he was working for my dad, and we made a special trip to Terre Haute to go ring shopping, well, looking. Well, he sent me off through the mall, bought a ring, and showed me the bag... I had picked out two rings I really liked, he teased me with that bag until we got to go eat at the Texas Roadhouse. He brought the ring box in, and I could not eat at all. He kept telling me he could propose at any time. We got lost on the way home after that, finally went past my mom's house, he showed her the ring, and asked her to marry me. She said yes, and we headed out to his house. His mom, her boyfriend at the time, now husband, Ronnie, Grandma and Grandpa were all there. I had to make an excuse to not come inside, so he could show them the ring. I went out and checked on Nelly- Allen's German Short hair bird dog, and came in the house after I thought he had enough time to tell them and show them. When I walked into that house, they were all quiet, and staring at me, including Allen. I had to say something, and went on about Nelly being hyper. Allen's mom chimed in about getting an air head for a daughter in law, and I had to play dumb, like I didn't know what she was talking about. After going to Allen's room, we watched tv, and then I had to leave. Well, that ring had burnt a hole in Allen's pocket, and he grabbed me on the way out of his doorway, spun me around, and was on the floor on one knee, with the ring box open. Allen. He had a huge grin on his face, and asked me, Ashley, will you marry me? We hardly call each other by our names, so hearing him say my name, and him on the ground was making me try to grasp that moment. I said yes, of course, and sat there trying to see which ring he got me. I felt so dizzy then, like the room was spinning- he sort of did spin me around anyway. Allen did end up getting me the ring I liked the most- the marque cut. The next day, everyone was mad about us being engaged- tried even talking us out of it.

The whole year leading up to us getting married was a blur- lots of drama with my family, and we almost called it quits- I got scared, and everyone had been telling us not to get married. The cold feet went away when Allen rescued me from my parents after my dad got married, and I almost didn't have a place to live. We got married a month later in the house of my first boyfriend, Cody- his parents ran a bed and breakfast. We honeymooned in Effingham for the night, at the Hampton Inn. We moved into our first house on Christmas Eve, and were in bliss for the first year. I miscarried our first baby very early on by the second year we were married- Allen didn't seem to care, and we had a hard time for the next year. We almost called it quits, but stuck it out. I think till this day, 2005 was one of the worst years of my life. But, we made it... and I know we love each other more than we did when we got married.

 It is simply amazing that this year, we have been together for 13 years, and married this November for 9 years. It doesn't seem possible, but does seem like we have always been together. We have had lots of ups and lots of downs. I just cannot believe how far we have come since that high school day I showed up at his house. If I wouldn't have shown up, we wouldn't have been. I wonder what we would be doing now, if we hadn't worked out. There certainly would not be a Hayleigh, or a "Tate"... and I am forever grateful for me going to his house that September day. I just cannot believe where were we are today, from where we started out at, and after all we have been though. We are blessed, and I know from what all we have been through, in the past 13 years, we can make it through anything the future wants to throw at us. We are still living our love song, and I hope we can for many years to come, and get to celebrate our 50th anniversary and many more after that with our family, friends, kids, and future grandkids, with the same love we have now, just stronger.

I look forward to growing old with Allen, and I know he does the same as well. I'm just glad that I could share everything with him. I feel really blessed with our growing family, and with us still loving each other as much as we do. I just hope that our kids can one day find the same love we have for each other, for someone special. You don't get to marry your best friend and high school sweetheart everyday, and not at twenty years old. Sure, we were young when we got married, but, like I said before, I knew he was the one when we shared our first kiss.