Just celebrated the 4th anniversary of...

[Stevo]

our first meeting on the 11th of October.  And the 4th anniversary of her proposal to me on the 12th of October.  See, it CAN work for 2-day wonders.  Heck, how long do you need to wait to get engaged after meeting?! I wouldn't necessarily recommend this hasty action for everyone, but I LIKE the risk taking!

Seems to me that if you are the very cautious type, then looking to the FSU for a bride is the wrong approach...stay in the home market.  Pursuit of an FSU bride is very risky and demands someone who is not afraid to take risks, otherwise you are just wasting your time and energy.

If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch.

Stevo

[Ukrainelover]

... in response to Just celebrated the 4th anniversary of....., posted by Stevo on Oct 16, 2003

Congrats Stevo. Risk taking works.
I recently celebrated our 6th anniversary. I rarely post; those who want to read my original post about my story, try the archive here:
http://www.planet-love.com/wwwboard/search/searchdisplay.php?page=russian&archive=000201&id=80669&bold[]=ukrainelover

My wife recently completed her Masters in computer science. She got her first job (or rather the job found her since she was not looking for a job and had not even completed her degree) as the Founding member of a new startup wireless company. I am not too happy that she is working (my own selfish reasons) since I see less of her lately. I still have the same excitement that I had 7 years ago when I met her.

[tfcrew]

... in response to Just celebrated the 4th anniversary of....., posted by Stevo on Oct 16, 2003

First meeting/date/proposal/birthday/wedding..
Which reminds me..our 3rd wedding anniversary is next Tuesday!
Hang in there...

Karl

[SteveM]

... in response to They like to celebrate don't they?, posted by tfcrew on Oct 17, 2003

Actually, we do that too.  Usually, both the anniversary of the first day I came to Russia and of the first day that they came to America get at least a candlelight dinner at home.  Maybe this doesn't count as celebrating, however.  We usually do candlelight dinners at least a couple times a week.  Just like most American families, right?

I'm sure that there are as many bad stories as good ones, but we are also coming up on our third anniversary, and the struggles of our first year together are long behind us.  Both the kids (hers and mine) are doing great; they are as close as any biological brothers we know.  My wife has been working as an interior designer for nearly two years, and is doing better than nearly everybody she works with.

She is not always happy with me.  Last night she was hoping that I would come to bed instead of watching the end of the Yankees/RedSox game.  But our kids are sleeping over at someone else's tonight, so I bet I get a chance to make up for the lost time in that department.

Of course, by all means, do something like this with your eyes wide open, and don't assume that it works for everybody who tries it.  I certainly am in no position to give advice, since neither my wife or I were looking for any one when we met, let alone someone in another country.

But having said that, there do seem to be several stories on here about two people who were just perfect for each other from the first time they met, and I am really glad to be half of one of those stories.

Steve M.

[tfcrew]

... in response to We do too., posted by SteveM on Oct 17, 2003

..your first arrival, her arrival to the US.
We watched baseball together for the very first time
this week.

[Zoidberg]

... in response to Yikes ! Forgot to mention those arrival ..., posted by tfcrew on Oct 18, 2003

I am a big baseball fan and have shared season tickets for years. My fiancee is looking forward to going to a baseball game for the first time but I hope she will like it. She says I can go if she doesnt like it but not sure how long she will put up with me going to 40 games a year! Of course I will cut back on the amount of games I go if she doesn't like it but I hope it will be something she will enjoy... One positive is the Padres move into a shiny new stadium next year so maybe the glitter of it all will help.... I hope... hehehehe...

Z.

[tfcrew]

... in response to How did she like baseball? , posted by Zoidberg on Oct 18, 2003

No cable here or dish anymore.
I know (the dark ages).
With my new HD antenna I've seen more football this season
than the last 3 years.
Going to the games always makes the difference.
I think ..go Marlins. Why not?

I was becoming a BackslidinCowboyFan!

[KenC]

... in response to Just celebrated the 4th anniversary of....., posted by Stevo on Oct 16, 2003

it was about this time 5 years ago that I first called Lena.  I wouldn't trade the last 5 years for anything and we are more in love today than ever before.  I don't condone marrying a woman 26 years younger, but it can work.
KenC

[Travis]

... in response to Just celebrated the 4th anniversary of....., posted by Stevo on Oct 16, 2003

I love hearing these kinds of success stories!!!

[thesearch]

... in response to Just celebrated the 4th anniversary of....., posted by Stevo on Oct 16, 2003

Congrats to you both.

Risk taking.....

Nothing ventured nothing gained. However, you are going to have those that say the risk needs to be evaluated and although that is true - life is always a risk. It also seems that we are usually willing to risk more the higher the potential return.

However, blind risk increases the odds of no return and in these marriages it can mean a tremendous cost. So, some of those big dogs are going to come back without a bone in their plate and some will lose their dog dish in the process. Glad you still got yours and blessings to you that it stays that way. Someone has to win at this, so why not you. We do not need too many Travis experiences do we.

[Stan B]

... in response to Just celebrated the 4th anniversary of....., posted by Stevo on Oct 16, 2003

Thats great and I couldn't agree with you more, thou I don't think its that big of a risk if in your heart and mind you know that you're doing the right thing.

[thesearch]

... in response to congradulations, posted by Stan B on Oct 16, 2003

Stan,

You know the story, you took the plunge after a first meeting and all is sweet and warm on the home front from your reports.

Are you guys beating the odds with meetum marryum approach or is this success more common than is suspected by those such as LP - keep posting to show the up side to all of this.

[Stan B]

... in response to another big dog, posted by thesearch on Oct 16, 2003

for others, but I say do whatever is right for you. Maybe I just got lucky and hit a 'hit a hole in 1' on my 1st swing and probably wouldn't hit another 1 til who knows when. I also got lucky in that she felt the same as I. I don't think it would have happened so fast if the feelings weren't mutual.
And for those who don't know, we met over there without any previous contact. I did go over there to meet another girl whom as soon as we met, we both knew that their was no chemistry. I knew that could've happened so I did have an alternative plan, and that wasn't meeting more girls, but to enjoy Ukraine for about a week and then meet some friends in Amsterdam for the 2nd 1/2 of my stay.
My interest in Ukraine stems from the fact that all my great grandparents came from there and since I grew up in my grandmom's house, I was raised on borsht and all the other 'home cooking'. Thus my original interest was a trip to visit the 'homeland'.  Meeting a girl was added in as my plan to go developed.
I also never expected to get engaged on my 1st trip over there, but I did know about the K-1 and the time it took to get 1 and if during that time our feelings changed that she wouldn't be coming over. I then knew that once she arrived we had another 3 months to see if we thought it was going to work.
And yes things are going great here. Maryna just picked up some new accts for her business and is going to make more than me for the next few months. You can't imagine how much that can add to your self-esteem to go from what you made in a month to what you make in 1/2 a day. And being just about the sweetest and nicest ladies anyone has ever met, I have to say I know I couldn't have ever done any better.
Aloha...

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Just celebrated the 4th anniversary of....., posted by Stevo on Oct 16, 2003

Another success story :-)

Always like to hear of those.

And, I couldn't agree more with you on the risk-taking thing.

Happy anniversary Stevo!

[AJ277]

... in response to Just celebrated the 4th anniversary of....., posted by Stevo on Oct 16, 2003

congradulations on the "proposal anniversery" stevo and mrs stevo!

and agreed it takes a certain personality type to see things through in this process- for good or bad..
and a healthy dose of "patience" LOL