My Favorite Love Story

My favorite love story of all time is actually our very own story. Mine and Dean’s. It’s no secret that I adore Dean. I have for almost 20 years. And I’m quite sure he adores me too.

Next month will be our 18th wedding anniversary. Eighteen years. We count ourselves as extremely blessed to have the relationship and marriage that we do. It’s not without its challenges – we are flawed human beings after all. But we are best friends, lovers and parents together. Looking back God orchestrated some wonderful magic long before we knew His Son (we only became Christians eleven and a half years ago on the very same day). And neither one of us would change a thing.

Here for all eternity is our story.

The Back Story

Once upon a time in a land long ago, there was a girl who was about 11 or 12 years old. Her family knew a really large family with eight children. The older siblings of this large family babysat this girl and her siblings on occasion. And the two families saw each other frequently at church and church events.

When Shannon was 13 her family moved away and life went on, full of crushes and school and activities. We shall skip the parts about her dating many unsuitable boys and pretty much being a mess of a teenager. Except to say that she was. A mess, that is. (For that she once again profusely apologizes to her parents.)

In the meantime, Dean too had gone through being a teenager and even a twenty-something young man. He participated in much foolery with his buddies. None of which shall be discussed here. Because that would just be unnecessary. Except to say he was rather a mess too.

Both Dean and Shannon had their hearts broken into what felt like irreparable pieces. Little did they know that the God they didn’t yet have a relationship with was really looking out for them. 

In March 1995, at 19 Shannon went back to visit her old best girlfriend and they visited the large family to say hello. They had all grown up together in part and gone to church together, which meant there was a history and familiarity there.

In July of 1995, completely on a whim, Shannon invited the youngest brother of the large family to come up to cottage country to visit for a night out with her friends. His slightly older brother Dean convinced him that it would be fun…and since youngest brother didn’t have a vehicle, Dean would personally drive him the hour it took to get to Shannon’s house.

You see, unbeknownst to Shannon, when she visited in March Dean had developed a crush on her now grown-up self.

So on one lovely Saturday evening in July, Dean and his younger brother drove to Shannon’s house. They picked up a couple of Shannon’s friends and proceeded to enjoy the evening at various establishments in beautiful Huntsville, Ontario. And while everyone else was obliviously having fun, Dean quietly began to work his way into Shannon’s heart. He did so by attempting to hold her hand, dance with her, open the doors for her and by surprising her with a good night kiss at the end of the evening, right in her parents living room.

Shannon was in complete shock. You see after the aforementioned dating disasters, she had recently sworn off dating and decided that if she should ever date again it would go incredibly slow.

God has such a great sense of humor.

After that initial, somewhat awkward evening, Dean called Shannon. (You know back when long phone calls were the thing.) And they talked for hours. And then they talked for hours again the next night. And almost every night for the next two weeks straight.

The First Date

And then they had their first date on August 12, 1995.

Given her past dating disasters, Shannon was rather skeptical of this date. So she insisted that the first part of the “date” include her own little brother, her younger sister and another friend. Nothing like chaperoning overkill.

Their first stop was Santa’s Village. Yup an amusement park. Go-karting was first. And then 18 holes of mini golf.

And that’s when Shannon was sunk. Dean was charming. And funny. And so stinking cute. And she was done-for. 18 holes of mini-golf and he had her for life.

You think I’m kidding?

After the amusement park, Dean and Shannon returned her brother, sister and friend to her parent’s house to watch a movie and Dean and Shannon went out to dinner (at The Navigation Company Diner). And a drive up to the lookout, where Dean said more charming things like “your chariot awaits” as he opened the door for her. And she really was smitten.

The Remaining Dates, Moving & a Funny Proposal

The daily phone calls continued and Dean came to visit every weekend. Dean and Shannon did everything – and nothing – together.

On the long weekend in September 1995, Shannon moved in with friends of the family in the city to be closer to Dean. It seemed a little crazy. But it was so good. Dates now happened on week nights after work too. Dinners out, long drives, movies. And always lots of talking.

By mid-September, Dean and Shannon were unofficially engaged. As in they had brought it up, discussed it and basically decided they wanted to be married to each other. They were just missing a ring and an announcement.

On one lovely October Sunday, Dean picked up Shannon for a special date. They had been dating for two months and were going out to dinner to celebrate. They went to a beautiful restaurant (at which Shannon ordered veal for the first time and then freaked out when she found out what it was). Shannon secretly suspected that this would be the date Dean popped the question with the ring to make it official. Dinner was lovely. But the evening ended with no ring. Which wasn’t really a big deal.

The next evening after work Dean picked Shannon up and they were hanging out in his room at his parent’s house. And that’s when he got down on one knee, opened up a ring box and asked her to marry him.  (Of course, Shannon said yes!)

As it happened, Dean had planned to give Shannon the ring at dinner the night before. But he hadn’t picked up the ring on time – and the jewelry store was closed on Sundays!

Oops.  😂

The Wedding

Once the decision was made, Dean and Shannon just wanted so badly to be married already.

They tried to do the “proper” thing and schedule the wedding for a lovely August summer day many months away. After all, they had only been dating for a few months.

But they just couldn’t wait.

So they changed their plans and booked a hall for a mid-April wedding. Which drew some funny comments from those who thought they were rushing it. But it didn’t matter to Dean and Shannon.

Well that day was certainly an adventure, because who really thinks there will be an ice storm in April anyway?

Shannon was NOT one of those girls who dreamed of her wedding day in great detail. There were simple sandwiches and decorations and no alcohol.

She was pretty sure her high school friends didn’t understand it.

There was no power for much of the day, some loved ones couldn’t make it because it was so icy, photos had to be taken indoors, near the windows for light.

But Shannon and Dean were happy. It was their day. Vows were said, cake was had and dancing happened.

And the next morning was absolutely gorgeous, partly because of the ice, but mostly because Dean and Shannon were finally married.

The End – which was really just The Beginning…

If you liked our love story, read about our 20th anniversary here.

What’s your favorite love story?