This story first appeared in the Feb. 12, 2010 print edition of The Eagle’s Tale.

I met my husband, David, when I was 10 years old and he was 15. It was “crush at first site” for me. David was and still is my older brother’s best friend.

David was a regular fixture at our house on weekends, so we knew each other very well. I saw all of the girls he dated and knew that he wore a baby blue tuxedo to his prom. I still like to make fun of that! He was all of my goofy clothing styles and my “Bill” haircut (ultra short, bad year for me).

After graduating from high school, David went into the military. Four years later, when he was finished with that, I had just graduated high school. We started dating that year. David tried to ask my dad permission to date me, but Dad had a hammer and was having a bad day putting an entertainment center together, so he decided to just date me anyway.

We’ve known each other for 27 years and have been married for 16 of those years in May. I have the best husband and marriage ever! There’s nothing better than marrying your best friend!

Update:

David and I have been married for 20 years now–21 years in May. My advice for a successful marriage is make God the center of your marriage, love and respect your spouse as if they are the most precious gift you have ever received, and make each other laugh.