Tuesday, March 22, 2011

The story of how I lost a friend

Okay, okay. You've been on the edge of your seats waiting for this post, I know. Well, here it is. I hope you enjoy it. 

So... if you've been keeping up with my blog, you have probably noticed that I talk about a very painful situation that happened about a year ago. This post pretty much sums up how I've felt about everything, ever since. (I don't mean to keep bringing it up.. I'm sure it gets old hearing about my ex.)

Anyway, you've also probably noticed another theme among my blog posts. ANTHONY.

This post from November is just one example of how good of friends he and I have been ever since I met him about a year ago.

As friends, we've had some incredible times together. We grew pretty close last summer, since we both had weekends off of work, unlike our other friends. It was only natural that we would hang out. One of my favorite memories is of the two of us going to St. Louis on a complete whim. We were eating at McAlister's and he mentioned that he had never been up in the arch. This was remedied, quickly. We literally got up from the restaurant and went to St. Louis. I wish I had the pictures from this, but they're on a camera that I don't own and don't have access to.

Another time we went to the art museum in Springfield. That's when I decided that I wanted to learn how to paint; however, it wasn't until Christian and I broke up that I actually acted on this.

I made Ant go with me to antique/thrift stores one time, and we actually had a blast. I lost all of my pictures that I had taken, so you get to enjoy a few that Antho took. Whoopee..





Lovely pictures, I know. But we had a great time. (at least I did..)

I bought Anthony tickets to see Interpol for Christmas, so in February, we went to St. Louis again. 
He is a scary driver. 


We had some time to kill, so we ate dinner at this awesome place. I don't know what it's called, but I want to go back.


I'm not a very good photographer, but I think that this picture is pretty priceless. We were waiting for the concert to start... we played Words With Friends and made fun of a lot of people that were sitting around us. We are so nice.


I couldn't get a good picture, but at the very least, here is some proof that we actually got to see Interpol live!




(YUCK! That picture quality is so horrible. I'm super tempted to not even put them up. But since I'm writing this... I guess I'll just keep it.)

Okay, so, at this point, I'm starting to become really good friends with Anthony's family. The Martins are awesome! I don't know his other sister very well, or his parents, but the time that I have spent with them has been really nice. I love being around all of them.

It was about that time that I wrote this post.

Yes, I know. I've been in denial for a long, long time. I'm in love with Anthony. Those are strong words, but when you care about a friend as deeply as I've cared about Anthony, I guess it's a natural progression. Given that he was there through my painful break-up and the healing afterwards, he saw the broken side of me and loved me anyway. I've always valued his friendship, but I finally admitted to myself a few weeks ago that I had stronger feelings for Ant than simply as friends. 

It turns out that he felt the same way. 

We've decided to give this new level of a relationship a go, so... wish us luck.  :)

We spent this last weekend with Amy, Dave and her kids in Ozark, and as usual, I had a blast. 

When I showed up to their house after work on Saturday, Anthony gave me this sweet ring. He had been at the mall doing whatever and came across it. Does he know me, or does he know me? I love it. 


On Sunday, I went with Antho and his family to Busiek State Forest. 

(I stole a couple of her pictures, but Amy's blog sums it up better than I could. SO, check it out!)


Alright, so everything was off to a great start.

And then I got the flu. :(

BUT LO AND BEHOLD, Anthony to the rescue. (notice another trend-- he is constantly doing something to make my life easier)

He drove all the way over to my house on his lunch break at work with Sprite and soup, and then after work he showed up again with another Sprite. (I don't know how much Sprite he expected me to ingest.)

I lost my thermometer, somehow, so he went and bought me another one, along with Theraflu. It worked wonders

He's an incredible person. I haven't been taken care of this well since I lived at home. (haha)

I am realizing more and more that God provides for us in every way. I never would have guessed that Christian and I would have broken up. I never could have imagined that a simple friendship like Anthony and I had could have developed into what we have now. It's humbling to realize what a role God plays in everything. The people that I consider my closest friends right now are as a result of knowing Ant. That's amazing to me. A year ago he was this random guy that likes video games, and now he's the guy that cares about me more than I can comprehend.

Whether this relationship ends in the way that everyone always hopes, or whether it does not, I'm okay with taking that chance. I figure that being who we were created to be is the greatest thing that we can be.  To be who we are and befriend those who are complimentary to who we should be is a beautiful thing. 

"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love."
- Dr. Seuss


So, there you have it. I am now down another friend. Oh, great.


Cheers :) :) :)

5 Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
      your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
    
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
      your justice like the ocean depths.
   You care for people and animals alike, O L
ord.
       
7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
   All humanity finds shelter
      in the shadow of your wings.
    
8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
      letting them drink from your river of delights.
   
 9 For you are the fountain of life,
      the light by which we see.
Psalm 36: 5-9

14 comments:

Amy @ AGirlCalledBeloved said...

Oh I loved this post! So excited for you Liz. I could kinda tell you liked him from your other posts. He seems like an amazing guy! Congrats!

amyschmamey said...

I am so in love with this situation. I am praying for you two. Love love love! Happyyyyyyyyy!

Love you.
Amy

Janette said...

Okay.. I haven't been a reader for long..but I was even wondering about this Anthony guy.. I knew something was going on! Haha! Exciting news! Cheers! Praying your relationship is blessed and pleasing to God!
God bless you Liz!
Janette

Unknown said...

Oh Liz!! I am so excited for you and Anthony! It's been fun reading about your escapes and thinking to myself, "there's so much more there!" I am a hopeful romantic and this just absolutely fills that hope!

Like Amy I am praying for you two.

CaliChic143 said...

Ah Liz...<3 this and <3 you!! And I think you know I'm beyond happy for you two! :-)

la petite lydia said...

YAAAAY! I'm so happy for you two! Yay yay yay! This is such an amazing post and it made me happy. As everyone has said, I am praying for you guys.

Loves!

Anonymous said...

What a great post!! I love how God develops our relationships with one another. He brings the right people along at the right time, and makes sparks fly. Wishing all the best as you and Anthony "take it to the next level". :)

Shewearscrazywell said...

Oh my how sweet! I am so happy for you! ;) I really am happy for the both of you! He sounds like a fabulous guy and I already know your a fabulous girl...what a fabulous relationship!! Hearts, Janna Lynn

Gwiddle said...

Yay!!! I just knew you two were going to make it official:) So cute!!!! Seriously you are so cute! I am also very jealous of the Interpol situation.. And cute ring what a nice boyfriend you've got there!! I hope you have a great day and that you are feeling better ASAP.

Katie said...

i'm so happy for you! i'm a fairly new reader but it's so neat that he has stuck by your side through thick and thin. what a guy!

Heather said...

I am NOT happy for you.

I did NOT see this coming from your older posts.

I do NOT think its cute.

I will absolutely NOT pray for you.....


well... i didnt wanna be like everybody else....you know how i feel.


Ok so perhaps my favorite part of this post is not the lovey dovey mushy stuff.. (of course haha since i hate that stuff and i hate that I am also stuck in that ooey gooey stage of just being happy to have a chance to spend time with someone I love.) Haha but my favorite part is this:

You said, "I figure that being who we were created to be is the greatest thing that we can be. To be who we are and befriend those who are complimentary to who we should be is a beautiful thing."

I love this. And you KNOW that lately I have really appreciated being able to just be me... and to be happy. There is nothing more wonderful than the feeling of being with someone that compliments you... sometimes its frustrating when they are your "compliment" enough that they drive you kinda nuts... like when they are right all the time and put you in your place or when they are good at what you're not, but its hard not to love those things too... Its the imperfections that prove you love someone. Like you talked about--anthony loving you at your worst... seeing your beauty in your imperfections... thats the most amazing part of love/being loved. It is a God-like love...one that says, "Come as you are and I will love you anyway." (Although we cannot love as God loves, this is a small piece of it on Earth.)


***P.S. this is much different than the other comment I wrote******

But I appreciate your thoughts. To "be who we were created to be"...is such a simple concept and so fulfilling, yet ridiculously difficult to grasp.

ANNNDD dare I bring up the "chaos theory" again??? haha YES!! I DARE!!!! Its amazing to see God's hand at work, even when we had no idea at the time... When we think things are all wrong and broken and sucky, He knows what He is doing and it is perfect.

So cool to see the broken pieces are not broken at all, they are simply a part of the puzzle that is happiness.

No matter how this turns out, I am glad for you to experience it. I will ABSOLUTELY be praying for you, as an individual and as a couple.

This comment is random and jumbled and crazy but your post made me think... and by our definition, it must be a good post.

******I wish I could remember what the other comment said.. there was better stuff... oh well... I love you enough to have tried*********

Mandy said...

Cuuuute! :D

Gale said...

awwwwwwwwwwwww you have me tingly all over right now with all this lovey dovey mushy stuff. i'm really happy for you lizzery:) good people attract good comapany. beautiful<3

MissCraftyPants said...

Hi Liz :) We haven't met yet, I'm a friend of Amy's :) I just wanted to pop in to say I absolutely LOVE this story and am so happy for you and Anthony! It's so wonderful when two close friends fall in love, I wish you both the best :) Oh, and nice to meetcha!

xo,
Kim