Memory Lane

Yesterday we went through some boxes that have been in our basement since the move (and probably haven't been opened before the last three moves). Jonathan stumbled upon a box of "Amy stuff", including letters, pictures, and things I had sent him through our dating years.
We started going through the box and then I went and found my own "Jonathan collection". We probably spent two hours going through piles of things. We didn't even come close to reading everything (there were piles and piles), but we still found some treasures. Here are a few of the highlights that we got a kick out of...

The Beginning: The fall of 1999: Amy attends Jonathan's youth group and they exchange email addresses on small pieces of paper. The best part...you read correctly....my family had "integrity online" - please tell me someone remembers those days of old:)! It was even a family account. It was our first form of communication. HA! I can't believe we both held on to these treasures.
This picture is one that Jonathan had in his box - a picture given to him of my little brother, Ethan. I think Eth must have been in 4th grade. He truly did grow up with Jonathan in the picture from the very beginning. Ethan's now a junior in high school and is 6 ft & still growing.
A personal favorite item, this is a valentine that Leah, my sister, must have given Jonathan during one of the first few years of us dating. Leah was in 8th grade when Jonathan came into my life, so maybe she wrote this as a 9th grader? Check it out (I hope you can read it).Here is the first (horrible) birthday card Jonathan gave me. It's only horrible because it was during the month of my junior year when he decided we shouldn't be dating. The card was covered in smiley faces and said something like "you make me happy". He has gotten a lot of grief for that ridiculous card through the years. We found it in the box.During our two years of long-distance dating, Jonathan attended a church that sent out free encouragement postcards each week. I am pretty sure he sent me one every week during his time at CWU. I kept them all. I think the one on top has some coded message puzzle. They were great.Here are copies of emails I sent to Jonathan. As you can see, there were tons!
This summer we'll hit the 10th anniversary of the day we met at Dan & Shelley's wedding in June 1999 (technically, we didn't "meet" because we never talked - but it was the first time we noticed each other) Here is the big moment...love at first sight:). He's the one on the right, singing.Okay, last picture, our first official date. February 11, 2000. Lewis & Clark Valentine's Dance. Wow:)!