Melinda & Michael in Syracuse

Our relationship actually began about 21 years ago, when our mothers were pregnant together. Our families have always known each other very well and have been friends. So when my mother(Dorothy) and Mike's mother (Karyn) found out they were pregnant at the same time, our futures were already being planned for us. Mike and I recently came across a picture of our once pregnant mothers sitting with bellies facing each other at my grandparents 25th wedding anniversary. My mother recalls the conversation as going "Wouldn't it be wonderful if one of us had a girl and the other a boy? Then they could grow up together and one day get married. How wonderful would that be?" Well sure enough four months later we were here, ready to go. I won't get overly sentimental and tell you we were lovebirds from Kindergarten. That was so not the truth. I grew up with three brothers and when I started school I wanted nothing to do with boys. AT ALL!!! To be completely honest, Mike and I didn't get along very well when we were in grade school. With were both considered "The Smart Kids" and very always in competition with one another. I'm telling you, spelling bees can break any future relationship. Fortunately though things did pan out for us. We managed to travel and overcome the awkward teenage years together in high school and came out as juniors who were all of a sudden very attracted to one another. So when push came to shove, we managed to manipulate our friends into setting us up, as all good high school relationships come about this way. Then during our second year of college Mike pulled the biggest surprise on me yet. We were at the mall Christmas shopping with my brother and his girlfriend. We came across a sale in Zales. After scoping things out, Mike bought the most gorgeous diamond I saw in the store. It was so unique with its swirling baguettes and round diamond center. It fit us perfectly. So I just figured that with the ring bought, I was engaged. It didn't quite work out that way. Mike, as much as I love him, has always been quite predictable. I love it. I always know what to expect. So with him proposing, I envisioned a long drawn out scavenger hunt, or a huge banner, or maybe even a recording of Frank Sinatra wooing me into saying yes. I was so wrong. It was so much more simple and elegant. On December 21st 2004 I was in my bedroom finishing up the last of my Christmas wrapping. Mike was pretending to help, but really just playing sword fights with my younger brother. But then the hitting stopped. As I got up to go downstairs for more tape, I hear a very harsh high pitched "Where are you going?" I turned around to see Mike looking only as what can be described as a child looking at a long time friend leaving the playground while in the middle of a very competitive game of tag. So I said, confused at first "I'm going to get more tape" I continued downstairs to retrieve what I needed. As I came back up the stairs I saw the most incredible sight of my life....Absolutely nothing...except Mike down on both knees...(There was still no ring at this point) With tears in his eyes and trying so hard to tell me how much he loved me without totally losing it. He managed to pull the ring out of his pocket. (this is when I lost it) My engagement was absolutely amazing because it was so simple. After our long history together, we didn't need to glam it up. I was so used to guessing how everything was going to go, that it was so amazing to be fooled and totally caught off guard when it came to one of the most memorable moments of my life. So I am happy to say once again that as of June 9th 2007 I will be Mrs. Michael Stanton Reeder Jr. and I couldn't be prouder to be anything else. We have gone through so much together already, I cant wait to see what's next