Happy 2nd Anniversary!!

Lance and Elizabeth Wade

Fooling around in Vegas.  This was the third weekend we were dating.  Lance took me to Vegas.  We joked that if we won the jackpot, we would get married! 

What propelled me to do it? I don't know.  I do know it was against my very nature.  I do not act irresponsibly. Eloping with a man after only 2 1/2 months of dating is just  insanity.  I think we are lucky that it worked out because frankly, how well can you know someone in that brief duration? Was it impulsive?  No.  There was no inebriated bride or groom.  Our marriage was actually a planned event.   Three weeks after dating, Lance and I began discussing marriage.  Two weeks later, we actually made an appointment at the courthouse. We had plenty of opportunities to rethink and cancel the plan, but no, we proceeded onward.  No one was there at the civil ceremony, and I was immobilized with fear when we recited our vows.  I laughed nervously throughout the ceremony.  My vows were mixed with ridiculous and inappropriate giggles. It seemed surreal.  I did not think rationally about my actions.  I was acting at the direction of my heart, and on that day, March 18, 2011, I took a great risk and took a leap of faith into marriage. I only knew I was completely in love with Lance, and I wanted to be with him forever.

at the Orange County Courthouse, March 18, 2011

We kept our elopement a secret for two more months.  It didn't feel like we were married...not until we came out of the closet.  If I could be a fly on the wall and listen to the shocked and negative comments of everyone.... our marriage was received with  animosity on both sides.  I know people thought we were f--cking nuts!  I was warned about Lance, and he was questioned as to why he would involve himself with someone so much younger and with three kids? Lance had a reputation as a player, and I was a single mother with three kids.  It was difficult to listen to all that because we were so ridiculously happy, and I couldn't understand why people just weren't happy for us because we were so HAPPY!

When we announced we were married, coworkers through us a congratulations party.  I smashed Lance's face with cake.

I first met Lance when he was selected to do OCTA's Strategic Initiatives for the CEO.  I had heard of him, and how he was the most sought after and eligible bachelor at OCTA. Every girl wanted him. When I met him, I was not immediately impressed.  He was nice, but other than that, I didn't think of him much. However,  our interactions began to grow from business oriented to friendship. I felt such a natural ease in his presence.  I was severely depressed, and I began to confide in him regularly.  I told him such personal things that I didn't share freely with others.  He was just so easy to talk to... We platonically flirted, but I was not seriously interested. I even remember sending him profiles of guys I was actually interested in dating so that he could give me his opinion.  I didn't think he liked me either....until he asked to stop sending the profiles.

Because I was grappling with depression, I tried to keep myself busy by doing things, and I planned for me and the kids to visit him in San Diego on New Years Eve 2010.  If I harbored romantic feelings for Lance, I would have never brought my kids to see him, but at the time, he was just a friend.  I remember distinctly waking up that morning and NOT wanting to drive 90 miles. Depression makes you just want to sit at home and do nothing, but I was not going to allow that to happen.  I reluctantly drove to San Diego, and to my surprise, I had a wonderful day with him.  That day changed everything....I don't know what happened, but I suddenly could not get him out of my mind.   I began to see him as more than the manly man who could fix things and who was intelligent, capable, and charismatic. I began to see something more softer and deeper and sensitive.

Shortly after that trip, we started seeing each other daily.  We could not stay away. When we were apart, we would text and talk to each other all night.  It was completely unexpected, but I fell very hard for him.
 

December 31, 2010---the day I spent in San Diego with the kids. This was the turning point.

We have done so much together in the very short time we have been together.  Lance moved to OC; sold a car, a motorcycle, a boat; established a living trust; traveled to Arizona, Seattle, Vegas, Napa Valley, San Francisco, San Antonio, San Marcos, and Florida Keys; bought a new boat; did multiple half marathons; and adopted two rescue dogs.  We did all this, but we have not gone on a honeymoon.  However, in four months, Lance and I are traveling to Eastern Europe for a two week honeymoon.  Lance and I want to visit Auschwitz.

Las Vegas Half Marathon

OC Half Marathon

Ragnar Del Sol - Arizona

San Francisco

Spartan Race

Our adopted babies

Lance is good to me. He is so generous and shares all that he has with me.  He is very involved with the kids and does more than I could possible ask or expect.  He showers me with affectionate and expresses his love quite passionately.  He makes me laugh so much that I pee on myself.  He makes me feel safe, and he makes me feel secure in that no matter what happens, I know things are going to be ok with him by my side.

And I am good to him.  Lance is a very guarded individual.  He is charismatic, but so guarded, and I've been able to break down every wall he has ever had.  For the first time, he is able to stand naked with someone. I know him better than he knows himself.  He says I'm too much in his head that it freaks him out.  He has never been this open with anyone. I also give him the security he has never had....he knows now he doesn't have to rely on himself because he has someone that he can rely on.  Like me, Lance is very independent. Though we both have been in relationships, we both were the ones doing everything in the relationship.This is the first time for both of us that we actually feel we have someone we can rely on.  We finally have a partner.

Big height difference, but other than that, we have alot in common.

We have now been married for 2 amazing years, and each day, I love him more and more.  Sometimes, I just think of him, and I cry. My mom passed away in 2010, and I really believe she helped bring us together.  We were meant to be together.  We are so much alike. We both have mental problems, an off center sense of humor, are unconventional, crude, disgusting, family oriented, passionate, sensitive, and have the same values, goals, and taste in life.  No two souls were more suited to be together than ours. 

I love my husband very much. In fact, the word "love" seems inadequate.  I more than love him. He makes me indescribably happy.  My life is so much better because of him.  I only want to make him happy....support him in achieving all his dreams; make him feel safe; remind him that no matter what happens, I will always be by his side; make him feel sexy and beautiful no matter how big his ass gets; make him feel loved even when he is acting like an ahole; and make him feel like he is the most important man in the world because he is....to me.

I love you Lance.  Becoming your wife has made me the happiest woman in the world.  I am proud to be your wife.  I am proud to have you as a husband.  I love you in the most unhealthiest, passionate, necessary way.  I need you.  You make the world a better place.  You make my life so complete.  You are my best friend, and I love you with all that I am and will ever be.....I will never stop loving you.

Happy 2nd Anniversary my love, my husband, my life.......

This is how much he makes me laugh!



I can kiss him and never grow tired.



On our one year anniversary, our kids came and watched us say our vows in an informal reception

Our Brady Bunch...It really is...he has three kids and I have three kids....combined that is six kids (three boys and three girls)

Lance sold this motorcycle, but he has a mini van now!! Yeah!

Lance and I are notorious for losing rings.  I am on my third and he is on his fourth.  I surprised him once by asking him to marry me again with one of the rings (his second).