wof12daysofchristmasFourteen Christmases ago, I was in love. In love with a boy who stole my heart the moment I met him.

Now, the moment I actually met him was on a hot day in June, eighteen months before. My parents moved from Pennsylvania the week after my high school graduation back to Louisiana just a couple of months before I would leave for college. We lived in the state shaped like a boot during my elementary school years and part of middle school, so some friends from our old church asked some of the guys from the college class to come over and help move us in after church. All it took was Cliff’s dad mentioning to him and his twin brother that there were two daughters in the family, and they were eager to help. :)

I met Cliff in the kitchen of our new house, both of us leaned over the center island, eating Taco Bell Doritos. We had driven all night, I hadn’t had a shower, but the only thing I could think was what a nice smile this guy had. And how easy it was to talk to him. And how nice he seemed to be. He had a great sense of humor and made me laugh.

Two days later, I ran into him again, this time at McDonald’s. He was working there in the back for the summer and saw me with my sister and brother ordering lunch. Cliff came out and said hello as we ate and invited my sister and I to come over and watch movies that night with a group of kids from church. He invited both of us, but I somehow only heard me. (Sorry Karen!) That night I came over with another friend, Susan, and Cliff and I spent the whole night talking and barely watching the movie. He brought me home that night. He always claims he was just going to shake my hand but I’m the one who leaned in for the hug.

I don’t remember what we did the next night, probably watched movies, but I know we were together. And the next night, and the next… we were seeing each other just about every day and my parents were growing concerned. “You’re going away to college in a month,” they reminded me. “Don’t tie yourself down.”

I knew they had a point and I raised the issue with Cliff one night after he  picked me up in his car.

“What are we doing?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” he asked, with a smile on his face. “We’re going to go get something to eat.”

“You know what I mean,” I said. “I’m going away in less than a month. I’ll be 7 hours away.”

He turned to look at me again, flashing that great smile. “What? Do you think you can get rid of me that easy?”

I was hooked. Absolutely hooked.

And so began our long-distance life together. Both of us were in school, me in Tennessee and he in Mississippi, but we talked on the phone every night and wrote letters every week. Yes, the kind that you actually pen on paper. I have a large box full of them now. He came up to visit when he could and we saw each other on holidays.

I honestly don’t remember how I felt when he told me he was joining the Navy Reserves. I think at the time the only thing that seemed like a big commitment was the boot camp and A schools. And I knew I would miss him terribly.

But once again we wrote letters and the long-distance and time away from each other only solidified how much we loved each other. And while he was away, he was saving up a nice little nest egg, courtesy of the Navy….

I was home from school for Christmas and excited. Cliff was finally done with boot camp and A-school and I was more than ready to spend some good quality time with my boyfriend. Over the year and a half we’d dated, Cliff had started a tradition, more like a habit, of buying me little stuffed animals as presents and I had, starting with the first one, named them after the days of the week, the first one being Wednesday. I don’t think it had been my plan to do that so I would get more stuffed animals, but that’s how it worked out. :)

Christmas Eve that year was on a Tuesday and that was the one name I didn’t have for my growing collection. I was sure that this time, my little stuffed animal might come with a little bling. At least I was hoping! And anticipating!

Cliff came over and we had a fun time laughing at my attempt to make Baked Alaskan (I’d gotten a new recipe set – let’s just say I’m glad good cooking wasn’t a priority to him…) and then we went out, with me on his back and my arms wrapped around his neck, into the cool night air (relatively speaking considering it was Louisiana) and looked at the stars. That’s when he gave me my bear, Tuesday. But there was no bling. And no ring either. ;)

Christmas Day arrived and after having Christmas with my family early that morning, Cliff finally called around 9 a.m., and asked if I wanted my present at my house or at his.

Oooh, I thought. This is it!

I took a breath and said “My house.”

In a few minutes, Cliff walked in, carrying a little Christmas bag. My mother, less than subtle, was standing in the living room with her camera already out. I flashed her the MOOOOOMMMM look and she hastily retreated to her bedroom. Cliff and I sat down in the living room and I nervously opened the bag.

There was a black ring box.

Trying to breathe, I opened it up.

It was empty.

Looking up with a puzzled expression on my face, I saw Cliff smile.

“This,” he said, taking the black box from me, “is for this.”

He took my hand and gently pulled off the promise ring I wore on my ring finger, a ring I’d worn for years symbolizing my commitment to wait until I was married. Cliff had one too.

He put the ring in the box. “This is to replace it.”

Ever the magician, he pulled out a diamond ring from somewhere. Getting down on one knee, he slipped it on my hand and asked me to marry him.

And of course, I said yes.

And that is the best Christmas present I’ve ever received. Not just a ring, but the love of a man that has truly been unconditional, putting up with my faults and loving me for me. We have been married twelve years this next June and have loved every Christmas we’ve shared together and this one will be no different.

Looking forward to many, many more.

For more great stories from military wives on the best Christmas presents they’ve received, visit Wives of Faith.

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