Cruisin' Together
Our story began almost 19 years ago, in a small establishment at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. The last thing on my mind at the time was starting a new relationship; I didn’t think my heart could handle one just yet. But then Rob Phelps walked in with some mutual friends and it was as if he had this magnetic force that drew me near. He was kind, caring, and so much fun to be around. Fun was something I needed. Life was good, but I had some healing I needed to do and Rob was like a breath of fresh air.
We spent that first summer becoming friends and getting to know each other through emails and the occasional phone calls. We met up a couple times, but we were both back and forth between our home towns and Stevens Point that summer. Looking back, it was pretty obvious from the beginning that we were meant to be more than just friends, but we needed to take the time to be sure and not jump right in.
That fall (our senior year), we decided to give this thing a go and be more than just friends. It was a great year and he quickly became my best friend and love of my life. We were both in the education program (but ironically we had never met prior to that summer evening before our senior year) and did our internships in Wausau together in the spring. We loved Wausau and talked a lot about moving there after we graduated. So, we did just that. We were both very fortunate to get teaching jobs that summer - Rob as a 7th grade math teacher at John Muir Middle School and me as a 5th grade teacher at Riverview Elementary. That was a busy summer full of anticipation, school and classroom prep, as well as the excitement of this new life we were building together in this new place. Little did I know, there was more excitement right around the corner!
Our first week of being in the classroom was amazing, exhilarating, and absolutely exhausting! We were too tired to travel anywhere for Labor day, but it also happened to be our one year anniversary that weekend so we figured it would be nice to just spend the weekend with only each other. Rob said I could plan the first part of our anniversary day together and he would do the afternoon/evening. I fell short big-time compared to what he had planned for me…
Rob sent me on a scavenger hunt that started at a spa (he delivered one of my dresses while I was in the massage), then I had a clue leading me to the salon, then back to my apartment where he taped the sweetest note on my door followed with the instructions to knock 3 times and wait 30 seconds before going in. There he was, all dressed up and adorable in the middle of the living room. So many sweet proclamations and promises were made, and then he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Sigh…. If I close my eyes, I can see it and remember it all so clearly. I can’t believe so much time has passed since then.
We were married on June 5, 2004 . This was our wedding song and it still holds so much meaning. Since then…
We’ve grown our family by 5 children through birth and adoption: Madi (15), Brady (almost 14), Ali (9), Avery (6), and Lucas (4).
We’ve traveled all over as a couple and as a family. Our best trip so far (also most stressful) has been traveling to China to bring Lucas home.
We’ve lived in 5 different homes, all in Wausau. Rob has a knack for fixing homes up in his spare time. ;)
Rob has earned his Master’s Degree and Doctorate of Education.
Rob taught 7th grade math for 10 years at John Muir Middle School and then hopped across the river to be an Associate Principal at Horace Mann Middle school for a few years and is now the Principal there.
I taught at Riverview Elementary for 4 years, did in-home daycare for 6 years, taught 4K for a year, and have been a stay-at-home mom for 13 years.
Together, we have trained and run a half marathon, we’ve taught Sunday school, we’ve completed many puzzles. We have built, dry-walled, mudded, and painted a couple of basements together. We have had several getaways together to many wonderful places. We’ve watched the entirety of The Office on Netflix at least 3 times. We love playing Mad Gab (I’m MUCH better than Rob). We have laughed together….A LOT. We have held each other up when times are difficult and found so much joy together in celebrations.
I think it’s so important to put effort into our marriage and not let it become stagnant or put on the back burner when life gets busy, which it does quite often! Let’s be honest, there will always be difficult days in marriage, but we’ve learned how to better communicate through them, not dwell on it, and move forward together. The gift of time and practice has taught us how to do that. I think our marriage thrives when we make it a priority, even after all these years (going on 17 years!!!)! It makes all the difference in the world to show each other that we are our priority and I think it helps our children to see that, as well. One of my favorite things to do is every once in a while send Rob a love letter in the mail to his school so he can get a little reminder in the middle of his busy work day of how amazing I think he is, how proud I am of him, and how much I adore him.
No matter how many things are pulling our attention in other directions, be it children or meetings or appointments, we always meet back in the middle - the core of what our lives are - each other, together. For that, I am so very grateful. For that, I thank God every day.
What is your tip to staying connected with your partner? I’d love to hear your love stories! Please share in comments and inspire us all!
Until next time, just be…
❤Lindy