Our Beginning: The Warp-Speed Version

+ Random Facts About Us.

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Let's kick off this blog with explaining bits and pieces of our beginning. It may or may not help you understand us better, however it feels abnormally wrong to leave these details out before diving into the greater purpose of the blog. Our beginning shapes a number of our responses and emotions in later events, which will be elaborated upon however, let's start with the basics.

Joshua and I mostly grew up in south-central Pennsylvania and met in high school. He was what I considered mischievous, a little to the "bad" side, popular and pleasing to the eye, if I do say so myself. He was not at all my straight A, right from wrong, book warm type. Yet one summer, Joshua mysteriously obtained my phone number and began texting me. I was instantly swooned and invited him over for the most awkward "meet the parents" dinner. We had pork chops and poor Joshua was so nervous, his knife shook the entire time. As instantly as I was intrigued to be dating someone outside my league, he instantly vanished. I was devastated. I didn't know what I did wrong.

Life went on. We didn't speak. I focused my attention on field hockey and AP classes and he on his friends and work. We graduated high school in 2013. I went off to school in Louisville, Kentucky to play division II field hockey but ultimately graduated from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Joshua went to Mansfield University in Mansfield, Pennsylvania but came home to work instead. It is here in the months apart, God was working. If you ask Joshua today, he would tell you that God had not fully prepared him for me yet because He was still chiseling away at Joshua. The timing was off.

In my junior year of college, Joshua texted me again. Although I had to ask who it was because I had deleted his number years ago. When he asked if I wanted to meet, I built boundary walls a mile high and then some. My heart was guarded like it was Fort Knox even though we were only going on a walk at the local park. There were no expectations yet I did not want my heart or brain to even ping with "what if" hypothetical thoughts. The walk was fine. Nothing glamorous or earth shaking. We texted often after but he knew my priority was not on him. Not only was I heading into preseason, I was heading into my most difficult year of college. The year of writing my college thesis paper...oomph.

Joshua attended almost every single field hockey game that season and while that may seem comical, irrelevant and unromantic to you, the man sat through whistle after whistle watching a ball go back and forth like ping-pong in the dead heat of summer for hours on end for the sole reason of showing up for me. Talk about selflessness or dang good patience. I guess I knocked a few stories of my wall down because we started dating soon after. A year and half later, he asked me to marry him in a DC airport (I was very grumpy, screaming kids on the airplane...need I say more) and we were married in December of 2017.

Here is where the meat and potatoes of our story begins; where the blog begins to be a resource for others and an outlet for me as I have yet to completely heal from Vulvodynia. If you haven't already, check out the 'About' section of my website before continuing. There, you will find the intent of the blog and the reason as to why I am writing.

If you've made it thus far, thank you. You're a saint. I'm a newbie and I like to talk, so I have a feeling blog posts may be on the lengthier end. I'd like to get to know my readers, as well. If you're feeling adventurous, send me a message in the chat or send an email to lorraine.hohl717@gmail.com

I must preface, I am not a medical expert and this blog should not be used as a self diagnosing tool. Always do your own research, consult with your doctor, obtain second opinions and advocate for yourself.

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10 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT LORRAINE

• I grew up as an only child but have a half brother who lives in Kentucky. He is an all-star ice hockey player. Yes, I will brag. He is also 10 years younger than me.

• My favorite food is Brussels sprouts. Feta cheese is a close second or perhaps dark chocolate.

• I have abnormally good hearing. No one can whisper around me. I hear it all.

• I eat primarily gluten free, dairy free (except feta of course) and soy free. I like meat.

• I love grocery shopping and strongly dislike ironing. I once burned the back of my arm ironing. Like how?!

• I have a cat named Mack who is more like a small human rather than a fully self functioning low maintenance feline. He thinks, behaves and walks around like he is King Tut.

• I love physical exercise. I used to swim but field hockey is my passion. Joshua and I picked up some tennis rackets from a Goodwill and we "play" in warm weather. It's quite humorous and I think I burn the most calories from laughing rather than playing.

• Is wine a food group? Perhaps that's second in line? I like a dark red wine. The chalkier the better.

• Joshua and I live in a house built in 1907. Vintage is awesome! Most of our house is furnished in second hand pieces or antiques. Ironstone is my go to decor of choice.

• I'm 5'1" and wear a size 6 shoe. That's not important but it's a fact.

10 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT JOSHUA

• Joshua is 1/3 siblings. He has one older brother and one younger sister.

• He recently became a Firefighter/EMT and we are freaking proud of him!

• Anything peanut butter & chocolate is guaranteed to be devoured instantly.

• Joshua can operate any piece of heavy equipment you put in front of him. His favorite is Mack truck. Joshua would only allow me to keep the cat if we named it after the truck.

• Joshua is really good at snowboarding except for the time when he slightly fractured his neck. Mountain 1 - Joshua 0. Oops.

• He has a new found love for sweatpants and you won't catch him walking around the house without his slippers on. He is a size 10. Again, not important.

• He is basically blind without his contacts although, the man scan happens quite frequently with them in so I'm not sure about that one?

• Joshua lost his silicone wedding ring on our honeymoon. Way to start out strong... *that was sarcasm*

• He thinks wine tastes like vinegar...gasp!

• Joshua can smoke and grill chicken like a pro.

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