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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Andrew, Shay, Show and Tell ·

Show and Tell Tuesday: Meeting My Mate!



It’s Show and Tell Tuesday where I’m linking up with Andrea at Momfessionals…and today’s topic is how I met/got engaged to my mate.

I’m pretty sure I’ve told this story a few times on my blog before…but to me, it’s worth repeating :).

It’s how I met this guy…

Ahhh…this was us when we were dating.
It was July 4, 2002 and I was in-between my sophomore and junior year of college.  Ten days earlier, I had told my sweet boyfriend of three years that I couldn’t marry him and was totally and completely heartbroken (I just knew he wasn’t the one, but it still crushed me.).  I had decided at the ripe old age of 20 that I would probably never get married and was living in that post-breakup funk.
Well, on this fateful Independence Day, my parents were on vacation with my aunt and uncle and I was staying at my aunt’s house watching her middle school and high school kids.  I decided to go check on my brother who was home from college and when I walked into my parents’ house from the garage, this really tall guy was coming out of the guest bathroom pulling a shirt on over his head.  He had this head full of dark hair, a lot of scruff and he was BIG.  Like defensive end big.  He introduced himself as Andrew Shull, a buddy of Sean’s from college who had come to hang out in Dallas and stay with him over the July 4th weekend (an older buddy…Sean was a freshman and Andrew was a junior).
I was still in my “I’m going to be single forever” funk, so I didn’t think much of it.  About 10 minutes later, I found myself in the kitchen grabbing something to eat when he walked in and we chatted.  I don’t remember much about what we said but Andrew says I had a slight attitude (which sounds about right) and he liked it (which sounds about right).  I just remember he was really nice but that he was 1. big 2. hairy 3. born and raised on a farm 4. and I was destined to be single forever (still having that pity party of mine), so I didn’t think much of it.
The next day, I stopped back by the house to let my parents’ dog out (aren’t you curious what Sean’s doing during these two days???  He’s sleeping.  Sean is sleeping.  I’m taking out their dog and chatting with his friend and Sean is sleeping…sigh.) and left this note for Andrew…

…and for some reason, he kept it.  He tucked this note into his bag and took it back with him to Kansas.  And all these years later, we still have it :).

 I spent that summer getting over my boyfriend.  My friend and I went to Italy for a few weeks, I ate a lot of pizza, came home, studied some more and really, didn’t think much more of that big hairy farm boy from Missouri.

Then Sean had his very first Kansas State football game and I tagged along with my parents and grandparents.  On the 8 hour car trip to Manhattan, Kansas, I specifically remember telling my parents that this would be the one and only game I would be seeing that season.  Who had 16 hours to spend in the car each weekend to drive to Kansas?  Not me.

Walking into our first K-State game, we met this really hyper couple with enough energy for four people.  She had a head full of curly hair and he smiled non-stop.  They were funny, self-deprecating, really sweet and eventually, I would call them my in-laws.  Andrew had introduced Sean to them, so they felt like they knew us.  They also knew this was our first football game, so they took us under their wing (after all, this was their fourth season).  They told us to meet them in the football complex after the game and we could have dinner with them.

After the game, we walked past all of the fans and entered the football complex to wait for the players.  Being a lowly freshman, Sean came out first.  Because he was a leader on the team, Andrew was doing interviews and came out last…and the minute I saw him, honestly, I said “dammmmmmn” in my head.  That farm boy sure could clean up…

…he didn’t look like this back in July.

My Grandmother took this pic in the football complex that night of Andrew and his parents 🙂

So, that night, we went to dinner with the Shulls and my entire family (my brother, parents and both sets of my grandparents).

Here we are, eating our first meal together.

After dinner, Sean and I went to Andrew’s apartment and hung out a bit.  At some point, the next day, he got my number from my brother and started calling me.  It was Sunday and we were driving the 8 hours back to Dallas…and I knew that I would be driving back on Friday for another game.  The same chick who never wanted to go back to Kansas was ready to go back just 5 days later.

That Saturday, after the game, we went to dinner with our families again, but this time, just the two of us went for a drive around Manhattan before he took me back to our hotel.  As we were pulling into the hotel, he was asking me what kind of music I liked to listen to.  I told him that he would laugh because I’m nerdy, but I really love listening to Standards the most and that Sinatra was my favorite…and just like that, he lowered the visor in his truck and pulled out a Sinatra CD…and I knew right then that I was going to marry this boy.  He hadn’t kissed me yet, I didn’t know what he thought about me…but I knew.  I knew right then and there…he was my husband.

So, I drove to Manhattan, KS every single weekend from that point on.  After football season, I made the drive by myself.  Due to his off season schedule with workouts and such, he couldn’t be gone over weekends, so I drove to him.  Every weekend.  That 16 hours each trip was totally worth it.

Then on May 3, he came down to Dallas to see me and took me to my favorite fancy restaurant for dinner.

My mom took this pic right before we left for dinner.

We had a lovely time and a yummy meal…and then when we were about ready to go, he realized he didn’t have his wallet in his jacket pocket (unbeknownst to me, he had an engagement ring in his pocket and had been so nervous he would forget that, that he forgot his wallet).  So, I paid for what would end up being our engagement dinner and tucked the receipt into my wallet (which is still there to this day) and we headed out.

I can’t seem to part with this receipt, so it stays in my wallet all the time.

Andrew asked me if the Mustangs were cool and I said yes, so we drove there.  (It’s this famous little area in my hometown with pretty water features and huge mustang sculptures running through them.)  We parked and walked around the mustangs and that’s when he stopped, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.  Less than one year after meeting that hairy farm boy in my parents’ kitchen, I was telling him I would be his wife.

And on March 13 of the next year, we were married…

And almost exactly 11 years later…he’s still my favorite person in the world.
Last year on our 10 year anniversary, I did my post on marriage.  You can read it here.

For grins, here are some early pictures of us…

Here we are dating…

…dating some more…

…this was New Year’s Eve 2003…

…our engagement photo…

…this was right before we  got married…

…and this is our rehearsal dinner…
…we’re at the airport about to head to Maui for our honeymoon.

We were married in March and then in April, we moved to Detroit.  It snows a lot there…

Our first Christmas as husband and wife.  This is in our apartment in Detroit.

At home in Detroit…see, it snows ;).

 We’ve been married 11 years!

And we’re so blessed by it :).

Next time on Show & Tell Tuesday…

…it’s showing you my favorite room in my house.

Don’t forget to check out my foodie blog today…

…it’s Jolly Green Joes for St. Patrick’s Day!

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Comments

  1. Laci Page says

    This has been one of my favorite posts of yours to read! I especially love the letter you left about the dog and the fact that he kept it. 🙂

  3. Anonymous says

    What a sweet story! So it sounds like you got married towards the end of your senior year, is that right? Were you still able to graduate from college before you moved to Detroit in April? Love how you drove to see him every weekend!!

  4. Alicia says

    Sorry if this is a duplicate. Aw, what a sweet story! You know, everyone loves a Kansas boy! They are keepers!! You both are adorable then and now!

  9. Anonymous says

    Wow, does that mean you completed college in 3 1/2 years? Somehow I am not surprised! If anyone could do that, you could!

  11. Donella Dulworth says

    Shay, If you think Cheryl and Steve are hyper wait till you see Cheryl and I together, we are double cousins and we feed off of each other. Hope I get to meet you in person someday. Donna DePriest Dulworth

  18. Holly says

    Awww – what a sweet love story! I didn't know you lived in Detroit for a while – I live in a sub of Detroit. Where did you guys live? Such a small world!

  32. Aubrey says

    Cuuuuuute! Love the old pics! I remember being shown a similar snap when Cheryl told me about Andrew's engagement to "the cutest little Texas gal you've ever seen" (or something to that effect). 🙂

  35. Amanda says

    Any love story that involves purple, Wildcat football,and Manhattan, KS is the most perfect love story there is. I met my hubby there too, right about the same time and were married not too long after you. It was so fun reading your story. I've never commented before…you know, always feel silly leaving comments for people who have no idea who I am. BUT, a post that involved K-State needs a comment. And while I'm here I want to say THANK YOU, to your entire family, for being a light in this world, for proclaiming your faith for others to see and for always giving Him the glory for the goodness in your life. I don't follow very many blogs anymore…they've just worn off over the last few years and being a busy mom doesn't always allow me to sit and read them all. I have less than 5 I keep up with these days, and you are one of them. 😉

  38. V @ X-tremely V says

    Love your story! So cute! And I love that Andrew has kept that note and you have kept that receipt all these years 🙂
    And I swear you and Andrew haven't aged! 🙂

  39. Anonymous says

    Loved reading your story! Are Andrew and Sean still good friends? It seems like your families are very close!

  42. Emily R. says

    I have the receipt from my lunch that I bought the day that my husband proposed to me, I keep it in my wallet. He popped the question on 12/13/13, and we were married on 12/13/14. 🙂

  43. Aimee LH says

    Hi Shay! I'm a big fan of Sean and Catherine from the Bachelor. We were rooting for him because we are K-Staters as well. (Bill Snyder is amazing!) And you could just tell your family had those amazing wholesome Midwest values. Fast forward and I found your blog. I feel like I know you already…reading your previous posts and you're a Sinatra fan and your lucky number is 13-me too!! My husband and I will be celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary this summer and I agree, the wedding day is nice but it's the simple every day moments that make it amazing! Love this post! Our family blog is hainfam4.blogspot.com if you ever have some free time. Thank you for being an inspiration!

  51. Courtney Westbrook says

    Hi shay! This was so sweet and congratulations for being married almost 11 years!! I was wondering if you would do a post on your college years/experience? I would really love something like that considering I am a college freshman and admire you and your family so much…thank you for letting us all into your life!

  54. Lisa says

    I LOVE THIS!!! You guys are the cutest.

    Can you share a picture of your engagement and wedding rings??

  61. Leigh says

    I love that he kept your note about the dog. I love that you kept that receipt and still have it in your wallet. It's such a cute story. I met my now husband in April 2003. Time flies when you're having fun!

  63. babyliu says

    Thanks for sharing your story~~you two are sooooo cute together ^^ and have such BIG hearts! Ya'll both have aged gracefully as well :o)

  65. Jeanie says

    Love the story and how you just happened to end up sitting next to him early on after the football game. 😉 Enjoyed seeing the old pictures, too.

  66. Maggie C. says

    Awe, I just love reading other people's love stories and yours was so cute! I was smiling through most of it (except the part about you being sad when you met) and I loved seeing all the pics of you and Andrew in the early days! Thanks for sharing your story! I just love reading about your wonderful, adorable family!

  71. Anonymous says

    How fun it must be to reminisce about such happy times. We are the same age and I love seeing old pictures of you guys. I wore the same short shirts and hair styles, pretty funny! I met my husband in college and I remember he always wore a necklace…in fact, the same necklace that Sean has in the pic of you guys at the game! 🙂

  72. Mikala says

    I love this story! I am a K-Stater who married a Kansas farm boy, they are the best! I became aware of your blog when you posted about going back to Manhattan last year, and I've been a big fan ever since! I realized I had been watching Andrew play at KSU, so it felt like a small world. I subscribe to many blogs, but yours is one of the few I actually make time to read every day. You and your family are inspiring, uplifting and fun, and even though I never comment, I decided it's time to tell you how much I enjoy your blog! 🙂

  75. Anonymous says

    Just went back and read your, "Fifty Two Shades of Shay: Marriage Blog, and I loved it! Couldn't stop smiling, agreeing, and thanking God for you! You, yes YOU, need to write a book!!! Just think… how many people can benefit from your words of wisdom and Gods Blue Print of what Dating & Marriage should be like as a Christian. And no, your marriage doesn't have to be perfect to write it. The Holy Spirit will guide and direct you. It was in my spirit to tell you this, ever since I read the blog last week. Thanks again for sharing.

    Cindy

  76. Katie says

    What a sweet story! I really love how your brother played a role in you finding your soulmate and you played a part in him finding his. Pretty cool!

  77. tea_time says

    I've been reading your blog since Sean was on the Bachelor but I've never posted before. I had to tell you tonight that I love your story! I just finished Sean's book and loved hearing about it in there too. Your blog is one of my favorites and your family is the cutest.

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