Date Night

Last night Chelsea had a date. I know, I know, she has a boyfriend, and no, he didn't mind. The date was with him. They have dated for about a year and a half now, but I can probably count on my hands the number of times just the two of them have gone anywhere alone. They are usually with a group of friends, so when it is them alone, it's a big deal.

Chelsea had a couple of gifts cards still from Christmas and her birthday, so she headed to the mall to do some shopping for something new to wear. When she announced she was going to do this, I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. Seriously. This is Chelsea....the girl who HATES to shop. The girl I despise taking shopping for any reason because we will both be frustrated and miserable by the end of the trip. And she was going shopping? Willingly?

I do have to admit that a small part of me got a little nervous. What's so special about tonights date that she needs a new outfit? I have had these reoccuring thoughts ever since she turned 18. LOL So I said my quick prayer that I repeat so often, it's more like a mantra: Please God, watch over her, protect her, and guide her to making the right choices. And please don't let her announce anytime in the next decade that she's getting married or that she's pregnant. Don't get me wrong, she's a good Christian girl, but let's face it....there are temptations.

It was actually so cute to watch her getting ready last night. She was giddy, like this was a first date or something. She took her shower and scrunched her hair (her boyfriends favorite way to have her wear it). She put on make-up, including lip gloss (she never wears lip gloss - I'm getting nervous again) and here's the clincher to my panic - jewelry. She wore jewelry. She never EVER wears jewelry, with 3 exceptions: she wears a bracelet and a ring her boyfriend has given her. She also wears a rubber bracelet (similar to the Live Strong bracelet) that is blue and white. It's a memorial band that says "Live Like You Are Dying" and it's in honor of a special friend who died from a heart condition. Other than those things, she only wears jewelry to a formal school dance.

So she comes out of the bathroom, dressed in jeans and an adorable top, make-up, and jewelry. She looked so cute, yet still shocking. Ashley saw her and said "Whoa. Where are you going?" Chelsea told her her plans for the evening and Ashley said "Ok fine, but your dressed up and wait OMG is that jewelry? (told you it was a big deal) You went shopping, got dressed up AND you're wearing jewelry? Are you eloping tonight? (ACK! I hadn't added eloping to my prayers "Please God, do NOT let her elope!")

Here's Chelsea in her new outfit, necklace and bracelets:


Chelsea waited and waited as her boyfriend was a little late arriving (turned out one of his cows was sick). She paced, danced, smiled and giggled while waiting. Ah, young love. He finally did show up and off they went to their date.

When she got home she told me they went out to Applebees for supper and then went back to his place (yea, he's a college guy - with his own place. Breathe deep , just breathe deep!). At his place she said he got all excited because NASCAR was on, so they stayed there the rest of the evening watching a car race.

Was there a race on tv last night? Do I really want to know the answer to that? "Dear God, please let there have been a race on tv last night."