My very first memory of Jace is from a Clark Rivers Baptist church ice skating trip. I remember him sitting in the back of the church van singing, however, he has no recollection of this. Flash forward a few years and we were on the Graves County tennis team together. With Jace being 2 years older than me, I was a little intimidated by him at first. He was a great player and had a great serve. After he graduated from GCHS, he came back his freshman year in college and became the assistant coach for the tennis team. This is the time when I really started to notice him. At practice, balls would whiz by me and I would not have a clue as to the score or my opponent because I would be watching Jace. I thought he was gorgeous.I still do. At matches, I would usually be losing and he would come up to the fence and tell me to get at least two games. I always would. I would get 2 games for Jace.
The summer of 2005,I graduated from GCHS and with no job and no responsibilities that summer, I found myself hanging out with wonderful people. There is little to do in Mayfield at night, so all of my friends and I would play tennis in the dead heat and then run to McDonald's afterwards. The problem with playing tennis at night is the city court lights would shut off at 10 PM and we still wanted to play. We ended up sneaking into Mayfield Country Club and play there because their lights stayed on longer. One night we needed another player for a doubles match and I used one of Jace's friends' cell phone to call him. He picked up and I asked him to swing by the courts and play. Lord, his serve was still good and his backhand was even harder. That night, something happened. We both really started noticing one another.
That summer I was ready to head to UK and the only thing my mind thought about was joining a sorority. Jace and I met at Hill's BBQ for lunch a couple of times and he would tell me about college, sororities at Murray, and a little about his work. I left for college early to go through rush and found out that a sorority was not me. The first person I called when I decided to drop from rush was Jace. Why it wasn't my momma,I don't know. Something in me wanted to talk to him. I remember sitting in my car crying and listening to him cheer me up.
That first semester of college was something. I got used to college homework and classes and Jace and I would email occasionally and maybe talk once or twice a week. The conversations were short in the beginning but grew longer. He would talk to me on his way home from Murray and would park at First National Bank to talk to me longer (he didn't get good cell reception at home). That first semester we dated, he was in his first semester of political science and was starting to explore his major. I came home at Christmas and we were supposed to go to a Murray State basketball game together but he didn't call or invite me. I went with Mom and saw him there. He wasn't too thrilled to see me and it didn't make sense to me. We did share Christmas together and then it was time for Spring semester.
By the end of spring semester, I was ready to break up with Jace. My freshman roommate, Rachel, read countless emails that I wrote to Jace that basically told him we were over. She would tell me not to send them at that particular moment and to wait until the morning. I never sent those emails. However, I am not going to lie-that first year was the hardest. We were getting used to each other, busy with school, and trying to have a relationship 4 hours apart. Looking back on it, I don't know how we survived.
I came home that summer and was prepared to break up with him. Here I was going to break up with the only boy I had ever dated. One night we were sitting on the couch at my house and I turned and looked at him and asked if he was happy. He said he was and asked if I was. I said no. We talked through things and less than a month later we said I love you! Even though we had been together almost an entire year we hadn't spent any time together. In the month before we said I love you, we finally spent time together and I remembered why I enjoyed being around him so much. I still feel the feelings and giddyness of when he said I love you for the first time. You don't forget feelings like that.
We continued on with school, Jace at MSU and I at UK. I came home when school would permit and he would travel up for football games. We emailed and called all the time. Thank the Lord we both had AT&T. By my sophomore year, I knew I would marry Jace. We were committed to our relationship and were determined to make it work. My sophomore year, I became an RA and it limited me even more so on when I could come home. We lived for holidays but that Christmas, Jace studied abroad in London and we spent Christmas and New Year's apart. Not the way I wanted to ring in 2007!
That Spring Jace graduated from college! He took the LSAT and the score was not what we had anticipated. On his way home from the LSAT, he decided to get his MBA. Our journey to law school began that day. I say this because we didn't forget about the LSAT for 2 1/2 years. I completed college in the Spring of 2009 and started graduate school that fall. During this time, Jace worked on his MBA with an accounting emphasis. He graduated with flying colors and then he took the LSAT again. The score improved and Thanksgiving 2009 he filled out over 25 law school applications. We lived by the mailbox and were ecstatic when he got accepted into Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, Mississippi. However, with our excitement came worry. We had been apart all this time and we thought the four hour distance was hard enough. What would it be like living multiple states away? Summer 2010 was hard. I cried often and was worried if we were going to make it. I didn't question our relationship. I questioned the test the distance would put us through.
The first year of law school was a learning experience. It is still not easy and I don't have as much grace and understanding as I should. However, we made it and became stronger than ever. We found new ways to communicate through Skype and text messages.
We always knew we would get married but also knew that school had to come first. Many people would ask how long we have dated, why Jace didn't propose already, and when it would happen. We both had to accomplish our own goals before we could come together as man and wife. I became an employee of the Cooperative Extension Service July 1, 2010 and finished my Master's in May of 2012. I couldn't up and move to be with Jace, even though there were days that I wanted to.
Summer 2011, we knew things were growing even more serious and that we would get engaged soon. The countless conversations that stemmed around our "one day" was quickly becoming a reality. "One day" we wouldn't have to fight with bad cell reception, "one day" we can see each other each and every day, "one day" we won't have to convert different time zones, "one day" we can share meals together, etc.
Besides the seriousness of our relationship, Jace grew more serious about a tax LLM program. Basically an LLM is a Master's degree of law and he wanted to specialize in tax law. Only a handful of schools provided this program. University of Florida was one of these schools and as Jace grew more serious about this program, I started researching more! I wanted to know what he could do with this degree, what it entailed, and how long it would take. The program is difficult but only lasts a year. We can do anything for year. Jace told me he would do the LLM program the Fall semester after the BAR exam.
I started googling tax LLMs like it was no body's business. I looked up when UF started their program and when the Tennessee Bar exam was for 2013. As of right now, we would love to reside in Nashville after his schooling in finished, hence the reason for the TN bar exam. According to the 2011-2012 UF LLM program, the start date was Aug. 16. The TN July Bar exam is July 30-31 2013. If UF stays on schedule, I knew we would only have one weekend to get married and still have time to take a honeymoon and move to Gainesville. Needless to say, I started wedding planning even though we weren't engaged.
Y'all I ran with wedding planning. I knew what I wanted and knew we only had one date to work with and needed to get on vendors' calendars. Jace was fine with this and supported my planning. In one month, I secured the church, reception ballroom, rehearsal dinner site, photographers, caterer, and had talked to two DJs. My goal was to get the big ticket items reserved before we went on vacation because you know, that is where I thought we were getting engaged. Was I wrong!!!
This past weekend, my best girlfriend got married and it was a beautiful day. She was stunning and I am so excited about their new marriage. She has a wonderful husband and you just know they are going to make it. I wished them farewell and after they were sent off, I got in my car for the 2 1/2 hour drive home. I talked to Jace and Mom the entire way home and told them about the wedding. I called Jace right before I got home and told him to come over because I was ready to see him even though it was after 10 PM.
When I got home, he wasn't there. I got out of my car stretched and started looking for my pup. When Jace pulled up, I gave him a hug and a kiss. It had only been 2 weeks since I had last seen him but I had missed him terribly. Two weeks prior, he had got a new car but the one he wanted was in Bowling Green and I didn't get to see it the day it was purchased. While in my driveway, I was admiring the car and sat in the back seat and moved to the driver's side. I was looking at everything and opening up every compartment. I opened up the console and found the box!!! I immediately shut the console and said "I didn't need to see that". Jace later told me that he said "well that is ruined". He told me to walk around the car to the passenger side. In the passenger side door, I keep little trinkets. I sound like a little kid when I say this, but they are toys. We get them out on trips and they make us laugh. He had put the ring in the compartment and had wanted me to find it in there. I didn't and I did ruin his plans being my nosy self! He pushed me back just a little and got on bended knee and told me he loved me to death and would I marry him. I said yes and dropped to my knees and hugged and kissed him. I told him I will always love him and that my cup runneth over. I didn't cry. I didn't scream. I was in pure shock. I didn't expect it at all.
Together, we walked into my house and I hollered for Mom. She was in her bedroom but was up and I told her that we were engaged! This is our first picture as an engaged couple:
Jace stayed until 1:30 AM and we talked and enjoyed the moment of being engaged. I wanted to soak up the night and live in that moment forever. The next day, Sunday, I cried. The shock was still there but the happy tears were flowing. I started crying at 6:30 in the morning and didn't stop until 10:30! I could say a sentence without crying for joy. After 7 years and an uphill battle with school, our "one day" was finally here.
When Jace proposed, his parents knew about the ring but didn't know it was happening that night. We were so anxious to tell them! We decided to tell them before church on Sunday morning. Well, Jace left at 1:30 AM and this girl didn't move so fast the following morning. Jace ended up picking me up and we walked into church during the announcements. I couldn't hold it together at church and cried the entire time. I didn't do the nasty cry but more of the side eye swipe cry. I got through the service and was ready to tell Dana and Rickey afterwards. Wouldn't you know it, those two decide to go to Sunday school which meant another hour of waiting. Jace and I went home after church and decided to tell Nan our good news. I lost it at Nan's. I couldn't say anything and was overcome with emotion. Thinking about sitting at her kitchen table and telling her makes me tear up now.
As soon as Rickey and Dana got home from church we told them and Dana Stamper let out a scream that could be heard in South Graves County! I held it together much better on that round of announcements. Dana presented me a ring box that her grandmother had used to store her ring when working around the house. That little box means the world to me and I am thankful to share something with 'Cill!
That afternoon, my Mom, Jace, Nan, Rickey, and Dana and I met at Jace's MeMaw's house. When she got home from church I asked her if she had any plans on August 3, 2013 and then showed her my hand. She screamed and gave us the biggest hug. Afterwards, we ate lunch and it was wonderful to have our families together and share a meal.
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| Lunch celebration at MeMaw's |
As for a date and location, it will be August 3, 2013 and will be in Lexington. Jace will take the TN bar exam and 48 hours later will be at our rehearsal dinner. 2 weeks after that we hope to be living in Gainesville, FL if that is where the good Lord allows us to get in for his LLM program. Life is about to happen and I can't image going through this life with anyone besides Jace Stamper. I pray the Lord blesses our marriage, that we continue to be each other's best friend and supporter, and that we live a happy, God centered life. My cup runneth over!
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