THE BEGINNING OF OUR LIVES

The Inspired Meeting

Corey and I met at Christian Horizons Conference Centre. A summer camp working with individuals with disabilities. The interesting thing about our meeting is that neither of us had planned on working there that summer. Corey was asked by another person that was going to be working there, and I went to work up there because Karen was going up there and I didn’t want to be away from her that long. It was clear to the other staff working at the camp that Corey and I liked each other even though we hadn’t said anything to anyone. Corey’s brother Fred made us sit down in a room together and told us that we were not to leave until we actually talked to each other. After that Corey and I went on many walks, during these walks Corey and I got to know each other. The other counselors kept asking Corey and I, if Corey had asked me out. One night the male staff threatened Corey, that if he didn’t ask me out, they were going to shave his head! (If you know Corey, he ended up shaving his own head and kept is shaved for 9 years!) Well, that night Corey didn’t ask me out, but luckily the guys didn’t shave his head. After much bothering, Corey finally asked me to “be his girlfriend” on August 25, 1994.

LOVE AND ENGAGEMENT

Let the Romance Begin

Corey and I dated for 5 years when on September 9, 1999, Corey asked me to marry him. I wanted Corey to ask me to marry him on August 25, 1999. This would have been exactly 5 years from when we had started dating (it would be an easy way for him to remember the dates!), but Corey had to special order the engagement ring. It took longer than he had expected for it to come in. Another issue was when Corey went to ask my Father for his blessing the first time, he was not at home. The day that Corey actually asked me to marry him, when I came over after Church, he was working on his car. I was saddened by this as I thought that since he was putting money into repairing his car he wouldn’t have the money for the engagement ring. Then I had to go to work. When I got back to Corey’s he told me that he had one more thing that he had to do on his car, then he wanted to go for a walk with me. I told him to go and do what he had to do on his car and come back. Corey convinced me to get to the door and put on my shoes. He told me to come upstairs with him. I didn’t want to, so Corey picked me up over his shoulder and carried me up the stairs! He went and did the work on his car and asked me to go for the walk with him. I told him that it was too cold. He said that he could get me a sweater. I was being such a pain that I told him I didn’t want to. We went back inside and started listening to some music. Corey was pretty quiet. He then asked me to stand up. He got down on his knee, took out the ring, and asked me to marry him! Of course I said yes, and wished I had gone on the walk eariler as this was what we spent our time together doing at camp. During the following year, Corey and I were kept busy making plans for our up and coming wedding.

A DEVINE UNION

The Wedding

Corey and I got married on August 26, 2000, at Benton Street Baptist Church in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. The ceremony was ordained by Pastor Bob Parks. The wedding party included Karen Glajch as my Matron of Honour. Rebecca Grimes, Laura Ortmeyer and Heather McKerlie were Bridesmaids. Jeff Wilson was Corey’s Best Man. Fred Doughty III, Adam Doughty and Peter Coates were Groomsmen. The day started at The Fyfe’s home with pictures before the ceremony. Karen and I were driven to the church by my Grandpa and Grandma Bickle. The ceremony went off without any problems. Pictures were taken at Victoria Park in Kitchener. They were planned to be taken at Woodside National Park, but it was sprinkling a bit. The photographer suggested that we have them done at Victoria Park. Our Reception was held at the Dundee Country Club in New Dundee. To get the Bride and Groom to kiss people could either donate money or they could pop a balloon and do what was written on the slip of paper inside. On one of the slips of paper they were asked to sing the YMCA song. Nobody knew the words. It was suggested that the wedding party get up on their chairs and sing the song. Richard, a friend of the family, sang the song and the entire wedding party up on their chairs helped by doing the actions. By doing this we received over $150.00. After the reception was over, Corey and I enjoyed a week long vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Music: When The Love is Right - Original

This is “Our Song” that the bridal party walked down the aisle to, while Corey’s Brothers, Father, Jeff Wilson and a few others played. To listen to their performance click on the link. It was taken off of a casette tape, so the quality isn’t great. Followed by the song is a link where you can also hear the original by Tourniquet.

FIRST HOME

Getting Settled In

After the wedding, our lives were just getting started. We lived in an apartment on Avalon Place for a year. Corey worked at Bez Industries, an architectural millwork company, and I continued to work for Christian Horizons. Then one day I was looking at the Penny saver and I saw a place for sale. I showed Corey and he said that we could go and have a look. It ended up being a semi-detached house in a new subdivision in Waterloo. Corey and I went and had a look at it, we seemed to like it. We talked to the real estate agent and put down a $50.00 deposit to say that we were interested in the house. I wanted to have my parents look at it but they were away on a trip. When they got back we asked them to have a look. They said that they didn’t really like it, as it was a semi. When we took back the key they wanted us to sign a form. This didn’t sound good, so my Mom told us that we should contact a real estate agent who attends our church. Her name is Christine. When I called her, she asked us what we were getting ourselves into, I told her I didn’t know and that’s why I called her. She went and spoke to them and got us out of trouble. She told us that we were within 24 hours of purchasing a house that we didn’t even know if we wanted. We then told her what we were looking for and she helped us find our house. We didn’t like any of the pre-owned homes; one home we were going to have to paint the whole house, another the rough-in for the bathroom in the basement was installed improperly, another had leaking in the cold room and yet another had the garage renovated into a family room. One that we did like was a model home, but when Christine went to go and talk to the other real estate agent they had already sold it the night before. When she came back she told us that they could build us one. I called my Mom at work for her to come and have a look and she said that she liked it. So we had a home built for us with what we wanted. We got to pick all the counters, doors, carpet and paint colour. We were scheduled to move in July 28, 2001. They didn’t start digging until May. I drove by every day taking pictures of the progress and at night Corey and I went together. The house was done on schedule and we moved in on July 28, 2001.

As life is right now, Corey is working at a small woodworking company called Distincive Wood Products as part of management. I am still working at Christian Horizons. I currently work in their Day Program. We are planning on traveling to a lot of destinations throughout our life. We want to see all of Canada, but almost any destination will do (i.e. Ireland, England, The Mediterranean, etc.). We can't wait to see what life will bring us next.

Written By Julie Doughty