Meet the Newlyweds Ashley and Lucas

So did you miss the Meet the Newlyweds post last week?  I know I did, but were jumping right back into it with a great couple Ashley and Lucas.  They have such a great story on how they met, I just love it.  They also might be the busiest people I know or at least know in the blogging world; traveling, partying, playing sports, etc.  What a super fun couple and surely one I could envision hanging out with, though they would probably think were boring with our garden and babies, ha ha.  So lets meet them!

Wedding date:
February 3, 2007

Blog (s):
South Meets South – when a Southern girl falls in love with a South American man

How did you meet?
Lucas and I both played tennis for our university.  Lucas was a few years older than me, and was our Graduate Assistant my first two years on the team.  Our team was one big family, and we all spent our down times together and would often go out together on the weekends.  Lucas was always the fun life of the party, and I was the rambunctious youngster always looking for a fun time.  We got along great and were good friends for several years before any romantic notions entered our minds.  After Lucas finished his Masters, he moved to Miami for his career.  We always talked on the phone, maybe once or twice a month.  But during one Spring Break, I called him for advice on the ‘hot spots’ we should visit and advice on the area he was familiar with.  We talked on the phone every night during that Spring Break, and when I returned home the conversations continued.  After about two months of phone conversations, we decided it was time to see how we would interact together face-to-face.  He booked a plane ticket back and the sparks were flying as soon as we saw each other!

When did you know he was the one?
I have a problem with the ‘the one’ theory.  I feel like there is more than just one possible soul-mate for any given person on this planet.  What brings people together no-doubt requires a strong bond and mutual love and respect for one another, but it also has much to do with timing and perspective.  With that in mind, I am ever-so-lucky to have reconnected with Lucas and discovered what a brilliant man he is.  Lucas and I withstood the trials that come with a long-distance relationship and I think that helped us bond quicker and in a more true form than other couples are able to connect.  We didn’t have the pleasure of cuddling and kissing (too often) so our relationship was built on communication, conversations, hopes, dreams, beliefs, values.  We talked – and fell in love!

What is one of your favorite things to do together?
We met through tennis and both remain active in our local tennis league.  We love playing together and consider ourselves lucky to be able to share our talents with one another.  We also enjoy walking our puppy, Rafa.  He has certainly changed our home and made us more of a family.

What is something new you learned about your spouse after you were married?
Since we had never lived within 1,000 miles of each other during our relationship, Lucas and I had much to learn about each other once we were living together.  When we visited together before, I would always wear my nicest outfits and fix myself up as best I could.  I’m sure he had to get adjusted to the fact that I like sleeping in big t-shirts and wearing my hair in a pony-tail with no make-up all weekend long.  Also, when we visited together previously we always had our weekends planned out.  I had to get used to the fact that Lucas isn’t a planner and doesn’t like all of his weekends to be filled with activities.  He enjoys his quiet weekends at home ~ when I let him!

What do you do to stay connected during everyday stresses of life?
My favorite way to stay connected with Lucas is over dinner.  I like making a home-cooked meal and sitting down at our table and talking about our day or our weekend plans or what’s going on in our lives.  Even better over a bottle of wine!

What is your best piece of marriage advice?
Make time for yourself.  A good marriage requires two solid and happy individuals.  Many people – it seems many young women especially – think that they must be with their significant other every waking minute.  Lucas is my best friend, and I enjoy our time together more than anything.  But I also enjoy my time on the tennis court, out with friends, or with my parents.  Those things make me who I am.  Lucas enjoys his trips back to Colombia and his time on the soccer fields.  Those things make him a better person.  We are stronger because we are confident in ourselves and in our relationship.

What is your favorite quirk about your husband?
His accent; No explanation needed.

What is something special you do just for your husband?
Cook his favorite meal – Chicken Carbonara with a Cesar Salad served with White Zinfandel.  Or surprise him with a pint of Ben and Jerry’s.  Food is definitely the key to my husband’s heart.

Tell us something about yourself.
I’m 24 and loving life.  I love blogging about all our crazy adventures and you can check them all out at our blog.  Things you’ll read about:

We eat Mexican every Wednesday night with our ‘family’ of friends.  My best friend and her husband are expecting a baby boy the first of September – making me Aunt Ashley.  I ran a marathon; lots of Bachelorette parties, and weddings lately.  I’m currently working full time and in my first semester of school to earn my MBA.  I jumped off a cliff in Colombia – paragliding.  We recently participated in a Pub Crawl – hitting 25 bars in one day.  We love to travel and have been to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Cabo, and Colombia in our two short years of marriage.  We are slowly renovating our home.  I love politics.  Game nights are fun!

See – isn’t that fun!  Come check us out!

Hope you join us for next weeks rendition of Meet the Newlyweds.  If you interested in being a featured couple or know of a newlywed blogging couple, please leave me a comment.