Today marks fifteen years that I have woken up as "Mrs. Hunt". I'm so proud to be called "Josh's wife" I'm so glad we've weathered the storms and fought the good fight and I can honestly say nothing has been more rewarding in my entire life than this journey.
Both Josh and I went away to college in the Fall of 1994. It was my first year and Josh's second. We went to Mesa State and both lived in the same dorms. Shortly after starting school it was announced that student senate would be starting up and if you'd like to run, start advertising in your dorm. I made these adorable little flyers to be taped to each persons door in my dorm. I didn't talk to anyone, just taped the flyers and chatted with all the new faces I had already met and who happened to like me already. Josh on the other hand, had no advertising but talked to anyone he passed as though he'd known them for years and treated them like family. In the end, we both made it in. The first meeting time was set for a couple weeks out and life as a college student progressed along for me.
One day I met up with my long term boyfriend (good guy, just not the great guy I was looking for as a husband) in the cafeteria who pointed Josh out from across the room. I outwardly and confidently stated "I've seen that guy around but I just don't think he's as great as he thinks he is". With that, my boyfriend at the time was irritated that I had already discounted his judgement of who a "nice guy" was and defended Josh (he might have regretted that later). I brushed him off and at the end of that conversation Josh had made his way to our table and sat himself down. I very obviously and with much exaggeration stood up and started to walk away when Josh said something to the effect of "Oh, did my stunning looks scare you off?" With which I replied something like "Boy, somebody hasn't looked in a mirror lately" and walked on. Our relationship went something like this for the next couple of weeks. Josh would spot me from afar, make an effort at conversation and I would bring out the axe and chop him into little pieces. He asked if I was attracted to all his tattoos and I replied "no, I actually think they are f***king disgusting" and moved swiftly passed him in my group of friends. The whole time my roommate was saying he "had it bad" for me and the whole time I kept saying he can just keep having it bad because he doesn't stand a chance, he's not my type.
The day finally came to our first senate meeting. Little did I know, Josh was there! In a room with 20 people, he chose to sit himself down to the one he knew despised him the most, me! He mentioned that he was trying to buy my boyfriends jeep and I answered that I wouldn't allow that to happen. When our meeting finally began, Josh ran for dorm president (no shocker here) and he made it. He pushed and pushed and pushed for me to run for VP and I kept whispering to him that I would not run for a position that meant I had to be with him in any form. Finally I ran for marketing director and ended up with the position. Little did I know that the new president would find a reason why he needed to oversee the marketing committee! In the end (gosh I hate admitting this) I asked him out on our first date on a whim, he showed up two hours late, I still left with him, had a great night, dumped my boyfriend (yes, all in this order), and the rest is history!
Josh and I only dated one year before we were married. We were instantly in love and relished each others company. Josh only went to Mesa State for one year then went home to Denver and worked. Although he wasn't up at school with me, he came every weekend (sorry Jen) and stayed with me or would pick me up and drive right back home with me. Five weeks from our first date we were engaged and by the time the next fall came and school was about to start I'd made the decision that I couldn't do the long distance thing anymore! My dad said we couldn't get married until I was done with school, so I quit (hey, I was done now) and moved in together. On our one year dating anniversary Josh took me to Georgetown where I thought we were just staying the night and having dinner but instead he pulled up to the courthouse and asked me to marry him right then and there! I was out of the car before he finished his sentence, I knew he was made for me, and me for him!
Josh immediately started his real estate career and ran the show, while I was his marketing queen! Wow! The irony in that! For the past 13 years we have worked together on a daily basis and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I've adored Josh from the moment I gave him a chance. He is everything in my world. Even when my life seemed unbearable at times, his face was in front of me and his words have always guided me towards better things. We've had three children, adopted 3, lost 2 babies who were each over a year old, have had 8 dogs, started many business ventures (including a donut shop....what? why?) gained and lost 100's of pounds together, traveled to dream destinations, seen Disney countless times, cried together, laughed together, fought with and against each other, had countless pet names (with which we can only share a few...this is a family blog), moved across the country, lived in 12 houses, had more cars than I can count (seriously he loves new cars), adopted each others quirks, relied on each other, hurt each other, reached goals together, been disappointed in each other, stretched each other, grown together, stressed together, talked and talked and talked together, dreamed big dreams, lived big dreams, always pushed each other to be better, annoyed each other, and in the end have loved each other more than any other two people I know.
Daily, I pray that my kids will have relationships with their spouses that can even come close to what Josh and I have together. No, we are not always perfect and we don't always make the best decisions but in the end we are madly and passionately in love. I can't imagine having done the last fifteen years with anyone else by my side and I am hanging on tight to the adventure that life will bring us.
