Life – Page 4 – Rowena Francis

For a few years now, I’ve been driving a 20 year old Honda. It is fully loaded with a sunroof, heated seats, leather interior – literally, the works. The best part of it? When we all get in it, it feels like we are all in one accord.

Ok, so there have been a few flaws with my gem – 4 flaws actually. Which isn’t really that bad, except if it’s 4 pitted rims. Not horrible, but mildly inconvenient when you’re running late and notice that your tires are flat. Again. Just like yesterday morning.

Needless to say, I’ve parked ol’ faithful and upgraded a bit.

To a Jeep.

Now, I don’t know if y’all know this, but apparently there’s a code for Jeep drivers. Actually, not just any Jeep. Only Jeep Jeeps. You know, the kind that you go baha-ing in with the top off, wind in your hair, sun kissing your skin, beach in view or on the rugged terrain.

I never knew any of this, but it’s there and I’m determined to follow it. So far, this is what I know…

The Jeep Wave
Shortly after I picked up my Jeep, I started noticing people waving to me. I was so confused.

Am I that popular? Do that many people know who I am?

I told my friend about this and she suggested I was crazy. So I did what any crazy person would do. I pulled up Google and searched ‘waving’ and ‘Jeeps.’

That’s when I found out about the Jeep Wave.

Let me just tell you. If you’re having a rough day, find a Jeep to drive – your day will dramatically improve. There’s this thing about people waving to you like you belong together that just makes you feel like you’re one in a million. It almost feels similar to likes, comments and follows on social media. You matter. Someone sees you. You belong together.

Fine, maybe my new Jeep doesn’t complete me, but driving it adds fun adventure to my days. So I’ll take it.

The wave was a bit of a learning curve for me. The first few times I got overly excited and waved like a two year old desperate to be acknowledged by the Paw Patrols. After a few of those, I got my act together and started waving a bit more like a seasoned Jeep owner.

Brian asked me for my keys a few days ago. I drilled him on the code.

So, chances are, if you drive a Jeep and pass me on the road, you’re getting a wave.

Do you have a Jeep? Is there more to the code? Comment below.

Have you ever had a discrepancy in the timing of an event that happened in your life? Has it ever been a significant discrepancy?

Like, a 3 year difference?

On March 29, 2018, Brian and I will celebrate 15 years of marriage.

No, this is not the event in question!

As we approach our anniversary, I can’t help but reminisce about all the interesting things that have happened along the way.

Here are the top 3 craziest things that make our relationship unique.

The night I found out that Brian moon lighted as an actor.
I’m the type of person that falls asleep simultaneously as I hit the pillow.
Brian’s the type to not ever sleep.
Just after we returned from our honeymoon, we went to bed as usual – I slept and he tossed and turned. Sometime in the middle of the night, pitch black and can’t see my hand in front of my face, Brian pounces out of a sleeping position, pins me down and tells me to be quiet.
Of course, this freaked me out just a bit.
It seemed that he heard someone in the house, but our door was shut so I had no idea. I was paralyzed by fear! I lay there for about 5 minutes when I realized that no one was in the house. I tried asking Brian what was happening, when all he whispered was ‘Don’t move or the snake will attack!’
It took me a moment, but then I realized that he was dreaming and literally acting it out while he was sleeping.
Imagine being awakened like that in the dead of night…or even being startled awake by a tall glass of water being poured over you (apparently you were the plants, as he says)…or how about when the dog cries in the middle of the night and your husband tells you to let him be, it’s the song of the angels.

Our first date.
My version? August of 1998, he came and picked me up in his new Ford Probe GT to go rollerblading on a trail near the river. We rolled down the trail and chatted about life. Afterward, we drove to Dairy Queen where we shared a strawberry sundae.
His version? March of 2002, after years of on-again, off-again, ‘I like you’, ‘I don’t like you’, he asked me to go out for tea. He apologized to me, told me he didn’t want to play games and wanted to officially date me. He told me to go home and think & pray about it and let him know after that.
Of course, I was still madly in love with him, but didn’t want to seem desperate, so I told him I’d let him know.
The next day, I called him and told him I would be his girlfriend. He gave me his ‘helmet’ ring to signify that he was my knight in shining armour and we went to a Christian club in Michigan with a group of friends.

This leads me to #3

The beginning.
Brian spent the first few weeks of our relationship going out with other girls to let them know he was officially dating me and he would not be on the market anymore.
Oh my, that sounds so crazy, but honestly, there were so many girls after him and so many that thought they should be his rightful girlfriend/wife.
He had to do damage control.
It didn’t go over well with some of them. If I told you some of the backlash I got, you’d think I was lying.

There are so many things that happen throughout life and in relationships – some good, some bad. All in all, when you love someone, you get through it.

I love my life with Brian. It’s more than I could ever have asked for. He is a man who seeks after God with all of his heart and loves me and our kids more than anything in life. He is one of the most self-less, dedicated beings I’ve ever encountered and he strives to better our lives every day.

He truly is my knight in shining armour.

I still wear his helmet ring every day.