Two Years After "Hello"

Today is the two-year anniversary of a day that changed my life forever. Two years ago today, Mark Cragg introduced himself to me through (blush of shame) Facebook--it was, more or less, a new introduction, though we had plenty of friends in common from Wheaton. Admittedly, he remembered me better than I remembered him, and something about me piqued his interest.

Immediately interested as well, I responded to his gesture of friendship. And thus began a carefully played email exchange over the course of a couple weeks. This string of getting-to-know-you emails led to a phone call two weeks after Hello; which led to a visit in Atlanta one month later; which began a school year of seeing each other as often as we could (about every 3 weeks) and talking long hours on the phone every night (at about 10 pm); leading to a summer together in Chicago ... at the end of which he asked me to marry him (and I said, rather famously, "Yes ... oh my gosh, it's gorgeous ... Yes!").

Mark and I took a moment this morning to look back through some of those initial correspondences--I sitting at my computer, with Mark standing behind my chair, resting his unshaven chin on my head. It was almost surprising to see how forthright we were with each other from the get-go. We dove right into conversations about our parents and families, theology, aspirations for the future ... and were vocal in affirming those things about each other we were impressed with. I guess that's what's different as between long-distance dating and getting to know someone in closer proximity. But I'm thankful for the speed of our relationship's progress. When you know you've found someone unlike anyone else you've ever known, you know moving forward can only bring good things.

Still, as sure as I was from the beginning that Mark Cragg was someone very special, I'm still undone by how perfect he is for me. How did God know I so direly needed everything he offers--from our alignment on shallower issues like style, striking the balance between caring about fitness but not caring too much, and being incorrigible snugglers, to the way we virtually know each other's thoughts on more significant matters because they are our own. He challenges me in precisely the areas I need to be sharpened the most: his confidence, strong sense of leadership, selflessness, and tremendous love of people while being an independent person.

We marvel aloud (and often) at how it's possible we've only been married less than 8 months, and only known each other 2 years. It's difficult to remember life before him, and impossible to imagine life without him now. We're the other's best possible companion--how did our love not find the other sooner?

And... We're Back!

After too long a silence, I am henceforth going to try posting more regularly. To say the least, the Bar exam became quite consuming during the last month, and from 8 am 'til 10 pm, I really did very little other than study. While I found the test much less dreadful than all the preparation for it, the experience must have marked me more than I initially realized. Last night, I had the fourth quasi-nightmare about having to take the Bar exam again, even though I didn't fail it the first time. There's always some understood reason why this is necessary; there's always a lot of stress in the dream (like not being able to find the right classroom, the "chairs" being muddy bleachers, etc.); and the test is always much more difficult and foreign than the actual exam was. I am apparently still unwinding, nearly two weeks later!

Much has happened while I've been out of commission. Along with taking the Bar, I've also been offered and accepted a position with the Chicago office of K&L Gates. I'll be working in the Corporate practice area, so the job is pretty much a dream job--well beyond what I could have asked or imagined. I'm extremely excited to begin work in September, and very grateful for this answer to prayer. Securing a job has also changed Mark's and my outlook on a few things ... one of which is the speed with which we would like to buy a house. I shall keep you posted as the hunt ensues.

In even thinking of opening this tremendous box of possibilities, one thing that's surprised me is what I find myself looking for as I browse Realtor.com (which is quickly becoming too much of a habit). In true Southern fashion, I must have a house with a kitchen that is designed for entertaining, that is a place where people want to be. If a house is splendid in other regards but has a small or dark kitchen, I'm not even interested in fixing up the place. (And I can feel my mother beaming across the 500 miles that separate us.) Natural light, good storage space, a real backyard ... and even a good school district are also more important to me than I thought they would be. I feel like I'm growing older just writing that, but it's true--and I've reconciled myself to the fact that "growing up" doesn't have to be terrifying.

Enough prattling, though. I hope to have more edifying posts up soon; I simply wanted to get back in the habit of writing. I have more time than I know what to do with on my hands as of late, and I have resolved to use that time in productive ways. For the past two weeks, I've not done much more than keep my house clean and laundered, cook, journal, and read Anna Karenina--my classic for the summer--and I hope to continue to put this free time to good use. I shall keep you posted on that, too!