The Dating and Relationships Thread!

Haha my coworker had a better idea: to, on the first date, pick her up and have ski masks, gloves, rope, and other nefarious-looking items in the car and tell her to put the ski mask on...     Hahaha I may just have to do that some day...

Aww gee!  Well it'll still be a while yet before I'm married - even if things just go spectacularly with this one!  We will see... but XL you will definitely be of the first to know about it!

Yay! I really hope things go well. I think you've been through enough break ups.

Ugh dating is so frustrating!  I really wish I could just skip this part and get on to being fully committed to one person and they-me.  I don't know what's going on with this gal or how she feels towards me.  She seems interested, genuine, and enthusiastic when talking to me... but she's so busy that in the past month+ we've only been on like four dates!  That's less than one/week!  How am I supposed to get to know someone if I can't spend time with her???  Sorry for my rant...  Last night we sat together at church which was nice and she apologized for forgetting to let me know when she's available.  I told her, "no worries, I know you've got a ton on your plate; just let me know when you're free; I'm here."  I feel confident that I'm doing my part, that God's obviously doing His part, and that I need to just give up control and let Him take it from here.  It's just frustrating...  However, it's reminding me yet again that I need to put my hope in God who will never let me down instead of earthly things...  So there's a silver-lining to it all already, no matter what happens next!

Getting married is all about giving up control so this is a good time to learn that.

Well, we had a talk last night about where things were going (or not going!) and the like and basically she's come to realize that she's got way too much to figure out right now (I think she's going through your standard mid-20's-life-crisis that I'm still coming out of), some healing from past relationships to still attain, and such.  So no more "us."  *sigh*  It's ok though, I'm just grateful for the clarity.  I am greatly looking forward to the day where I've got a ring on my finger and don't have to deal with any of the junk of breakups and guessing and all that!  I have no doubt marriage has beyond its fair share of challenges and difficulties, but nonetheless, it sounds mighty great!

For the last year (since the above post, actually...), I have been in a strange spot of loneliness coupled with severe apathy and pessimism towards dating.  I've been sick of the letdowns, frustrations, unknowns, and such - which have made dating seem far more work than it's worth.  Eligible bachelorettes came and went but I just couldn't seem to muster the motivation to do anything about any of it.

That being said... I am officially smitten. 

I met this absolutely beautiful, godly, intelligent, fun, adventurous, Slovakian gal on a church-group hike a few weeks ago.  We've been "hanging out" a fair bit since but this Friday was our first official "date" and it went so well.  But yesterday just took the cake: we spent the entire day together and it flew by unbelievably fast.  I am in awe of just how natural, easy, fun, exciting, and just good it is!  Something about her just snapped me right out whatever funk I had been in and things only continue to keep getting even better.  The only difficult part is that she's a grad student on the foreign exchange program.  In a matter of months, she'll be returning to Barcelona where she's been studying.  But I'm not too worried about that; we'll cross that bridge if/when we get there.  God is good and if this is something He'd like to see continue on, I have no doubt He'll make it possible.  Anyways, I just had to share that.

Brother Kerrick yooooo dawg!!!! Congrats man !!! I'm so happy for ya -this is awesome news ! I've said prayers for ya and I know others here have as well... and GOD HAS HEARD us ! And has answered ! Give praise to Him for this awesome person He's brought to you !!! 

Awesome, Kerrick! That gives me hope.

Thanks guys!  Yeah, everything seems to be going just so well!  Thank you for being good friends, for your prayers, and for being happy for me. 

Ha, André, you're young and I'm sure will have no problem finding a classy lady in due time.

There's always hope....I had totally given up on relationships and thought I would be single my whole life, was just a few months from my 30th birthday and I was just done. Couldn't even think about it anymore....

..and then, I ran into a girl I had known in college. She didn't want anything to do with me then, which is understandable because I was obnoxious and silly back then, but we had a good talk and then we went out a couple of times and it was obvious something was there. Our wedding was 6 months after our first date, we've been married 14 years, have 2 beautiful daughters, and life is good. Not perfect, everyone has struggles, but pretty stinkin' good.
Wasn't necessarily my plan, but God has a way of working things out.

Sweet!

I really wish the best for you guys. I am happy for you.

bassdude wrote:

There's always hope....I had totally given up on relationships and thought I would be single my whole life, was just a few months from my 30th birthday and I was just done. Couldn't even think about it anymore....

..and then, I ran into a girl I had known in college. She didn't want anything to do with me then, which is understandable because I was obnoxious and silly back then, but we had a good talk and then we went out a couple of times and it was obvious something was there. Our wedding was 6 months after our first date, we've been married 14 years, have 2 beautiful daughters, and life is good. Not perfect, everyone has struggles, but pretty stinkin' good.
Wasn't necessarily my plan, but God has a way of working things out.

That's a really cool story Bassdude.  God is good.  I recently heard that "God is never later, but He is rarely early."  Haha, so true.  All in His timing...

Well, I don't think I ever imagined I'd be saying this, but I am looking forward to going horseback riding and wine tasting today.    But it's with two very special ladies: the gal I mentioned above and my sister.  I told my dad that's what we were doing and he responded, "wow, you must really like her!"  (I do.)

LOL ! Go for it bro ! Nothing wrong with that... just test her a bit and make sure she likes doing things you're into as well - or she doesn't have to "like" the things you like, but rather goes along with things you like cuz she cares for you.  I always do things with my wife that I don't like (ie shopping, visiting family, shoes.. etc) and though she gave me grief at first, my wife came to the realization that my music is very important to me and now, without me pushing anything, she encourages me to pursue my music enjoyment.  She's absolutely wonderful and a hint of what God's love is like for me... I see God's love for me in the things she does for me all the time. After 18 years we're closer than we've ever been, despite a couple rough spots that I think all marriages have.
I want this kind of love and friendship for everyone - it's so incredible, and I pray that Kerrick's relationship as well as everyone elses, can be as awesome or more awesome than ours !

PS -Horseback riding is actually very cool.  I can't do it now (cuz of my spine) but I've rode several times in my late teens and early 20s and if you get a good horse (non-temperamental) you will have a good time ! Just pretend you're in the 1800s in the wild west. The men back then were bad dudes -today's equivalent would be dude's on Harley's 

Thanks Jim!  It sure sounds like you've got quite the catch of a wife indeed.    Things with my lady continue to go exceptionally well... like, unbelievably well.  Sunday's estrogen-filled day of riding and wine tasting was a lot of fun and ultimately yielded some big discussions about the future and such.  Long story short, we are now "official" "boyfriend/girlfriend" or however you want to call it.     Tuesday evening she met my parents who absolutely adore her and she-them.  It was really special to see that actually.

Such excellent news indeed ! 

Go back a while and read some of your old posts about being single and dealing with the pain of lonliness-  it's such a trip to realize your future had this in store... I always tell people who are struggling g with being alone to just hang in there.... God knows and He will not let you linger by yourself forever. I used to think the same thing as I was alone for 2 years - it was very difficult and I felt I would never meet someone. That's when we need to wait on God and trust He will supply our needs... cuz He WILL !

kerrick wrote:

.....  Long story short, we are now "official" "boyfriend/girlfriend" or however you want to call it.     Tuesday evening she met my parents who absolutely adore her and she-them.  It was really special to see that actually.

Great news!

Guilty/Forgiven wrote:

Such excellent news indeed ! 

Go back a while and read some of your old posts about being single and dealing with the pain of lonliness-  it's such a trip to realize your future had this in store... I always tell people who are struggling g with being alone to just hang in there.... God knows and He will not let you linger by yourself forever. I used to think the same thing as I was alone for 2 years - it was very difficult and I felt I would never meet someone. That's when we need to wait on God and trust He will supply our needs... cuz He WILL !

God is good indeed.    Thank you again for your prayers and support through it all!  I'm not out of the woods yet obviously (it's still early on), but things are pretty dang good right now.  Here's Veronika and I wine tasting on Sunday.  (My Alcest shirt makes it look like a hand is coming out of my wine glass haha...)

Great photo!  You two look very good together.

Regarding what Bassdude said, I was virtually the same. I was 27/28 and I decided to give up on ever finding someone, then the following year I went to a birthday party and met my wife to be.  It'll be our ten year wedding anniversary this year.

Kerrick, she is too pretty for you!!! (just kidding you kids look great together).  



Now let's see if your little sister XL approves.

Excellent!

kerrick wrote:

Staybrite wrote:

Kerrick, she is too pretty for you!!! (just kidding you kids look great together).  



Now let's see if your little sister XL approves.

Ha!  She is definitely too pretty for me.  But I'm ok with that. 

Well, our favorite Lion Girl has expressed her excitement and [presumed] approval to me already.    My biological little sister really likes her a lot too.

kerrick wrote:

Quote :

Kerrick, she is too pretty for you!!! (just kidding you kids look great together).  



Now let's see if your little sister XL approves.

Ha!  She is definitely too pretty for me.  But I'm ok with that. 

Well, our favorite Lion Girl has expressed her excitement and [presumed] approval to me already.    My biological little sister really likes her a lot too.

It's always good when our family approves of people we are interested in. (especially the women folk)