How We Met: Team Chrames Edition

Everyone loves a good love story right? I seemed that today's blog was only fitting being that it is James' 26th birthday! This is the 6th birthday that we spent together and today I will provide the notorious how we met story, so even if you know it please read anyways. :)

James and I met at work, hint at the picture. We both worked at Sam's Club, me a door greeter (yeah not only for old people) and James started as a cart pusher. This meant that we were in constant interaction because I would have to call him to load people's stuff. Look's like I have been telling him what to do longer than we have been together lol.

What people don't know is we actually met outside of our actual position. For some reason I took an extra shift in center section which is basically the clothes section, a girl needed the money haha. Anyways James had just started at Sam's and for some reason had to spend some hours in the same section. So on his first day we folded clothes together and he was terrible and still kind of is if I'm being honest, haha. So I did what I still continue to do today and I educated him on how I do it (my way), we hit it off and he likes to refer to this moment as "Love as first sight" but anyways ironically I ended up leaving after that day for a month for Christmas break while he continued to work.

When I came back we caught up and talked about things we liked to do. I mentioned that I was a big moviegoer and he invited me to a movie. In total honesty I didn't know where this was going so I brought Sean along just in case it was a bust. Well James ended up losing his wallet the day before and ALMOST stood me up. Even though he missed the previews (his favorite part) and the beginning of the movie he still showed up, and has been showing up for me ever since. The next date was just the two of us and we went to see Furious 7, you know the movie that made me cry like a baby and broke my heart. Well we get out of the movie it was like 1AM the next day and James goes "hey it's my birthday" and I was shook because I had no idea and he turned the big 21! I think I was more excited for him than he was but I was glad that we got to spend his day together. So I always correlate our "first date" with his birthday.

Fast forward through the many movie dates, swimming pool dates, game nights, and poker nights. Only July 4, 2015 we made it "official." James asked me to be his girlfriend as we watched fireworks on the tailgate of my truck, and as a party raged inside my apartment haha. Second best decision I've ever made, because the best one happened July 31, 2016. Anyways we started dating but it was much more of the same we spent time playing board/video games, learning poker (came in handy for Vegas), and we still love going to the movies.

In November 2015 we decided it was time to Meet the Parents. James and I actually grew up only 2 hours away from each other but we had no idea until we talked about a trip home to visit each others family. We planned the trip as a surprise to my sister on her Senior Night, and it was definitely a surprise alright. We got into a terrible accident about 30 minutes from Floydada, James was care flighted for a collapsed lung and I was rushed by ambulance for an elbow dislocation, and severe concussion. It was scary James spent a week in the hospital and I had surgery that put me out of school for awhile. But we recovered quickly thankfully, although I like to say that we stuck together because we literally scarred each other for life.

Fast forward some more James stuck through for my crazy schedule with athletic training showing up to all the events he could and on the other end I got to attend James' graduation from TSTC in May 2016. There have been many many big life moments for us throughout the last 5 years.

Only July 31, 2016 I agreed to spend forever with James. He asked me at "our spot." A pavilion on the river across from McLane Stadium (where I spent 1000s of hours). My best friend was there to record and witness, he placed the ring in a pair of shoes (I'm a sneaker head) and I was sold. The day is one I'll never forget!

Obviously there were lots of things that happened from that day until the big day. Notable ones were mostly getting our furbaby Ruby, getting through my bachelor's degree. James working and then moving in together. We initially planned to have this huge wedding in July following graduation but we ran into several issues due to job searches preparing for my certification etc. and then one day decided to just do it. For those of you who have wedding planned you know this feeling haha. Although I wanted a simple courthouse thing and big party later my family didn't want to miss it. We decided to have a surprise wedding and picked a day to go back home and just get married in front of family. February 23, 2018 I became Mrs. Cabello Bowers (that's right I hyphenated) lol. But I married the love of my life. Every day since has been an adventure and we spent 2019 taking many mini honeymoons including trips to New Orleans, Destin, Pensacola, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and we survived a cross country road trip without killing each other haha.

Since 2018 I have graduated from Baylor, I became a Licensed and Certified Athletic Trainer, we moved to Tyler to work at John Tyler High School, James has grown as an IT man, and best of all we became dog parents AGAIN to Judge!

Currently James and I are preparing for another adventure our next move will be to Denison, TX where I have accepted a position as an athletic trainer. I'm even more thankful for James for deciding to pack up and go where I go. Every move is a sacrifice and I chose the best partner in life to spend every day with.

What most people don't know are the struggles we have faced difference in home life and religion mostly with from other people who were thinking for us. And without shedding light to too much I just wanted to touch on the part of us that have fought to be where we are now, and how we have prevailed against those against us. We have learned through each other that it's about putting the other first and not letting anyone else have a say besides ourselves. A big moment for us was James' decision to convert to Catholicism, and for that I am thankful. It was a decision based on the future for our home and we have really grown together. Living by Matthew 19:6 we are thriving and enjoying life together.

On a lighter note, I just want to wish James a happy birthday and I hope this entry did our love justice! I love being married and I love battling life together.