A 2017 Update: My Life and My Future

Life has been ever changing since I moved to Nashville.  I never thought I’d see the day I was so busy I’d hardly be able to post on here.  However, after it being almost a month since my last recipe, I decided I owed all my faithful followers yet another personal update.  Afterall, being able to serve and help ya’ll is one of the reasons why I went to culinary school in the first place, which is why this special story is one I think I should share. I first wrote those post many months back.  However, with such a busy schedule and may new recipes to post, it got lost back in the drafts.  Needless to say, it remains just as important as ever.  That being said, If you are not one that is very interested in my personal life, then feel free to skip on over. Though I initially wrote it as part of my Chronic Lyme & Functional Fitness series, I decided it needed to stand on its own.  So, without further ado, here is one of the main reasons why my life has gotten undoubtedly busier, better, and brighter than ever. Here is the story of how I met my fiancé.

Busier

I started culinary school the fall of 2015.  Fast forward to May, 2017, and I am officially graduated and neck-deep in cooking for my new business, A Clean Slate.  A great deal has changed in my life since the start of school, the beginning of last year’s spring semester being where much of that change began.   April 5^th was the beginning of my spring semester, the first class being American Regional cuisine.   The routine was the same as always.  Get to school 20 minutes early, put my belongings in the locker room, put my neck tie and non-stick shoes on, high-tail it to the classroom, talk to the chef about getting a stool to sit on, get my apron and cap on, take my knives out, and line up for attendance.  As always, about a quarter of the classmates were late, which is no surprise (me on the other hand, am way to type A to ever let that happen). As Chef went down the name list in alphabetical order, he got to letter “M” and paused…Robbie? or should I say Chef Mez?  Where is he?”  Two minutes later, the so-called “Chef Mez” came rushing in the door, all suited up in his uniform and ready to roll.

Better

Now, if there is one thing you should understand before I go any further, it is that going to an art institute means there are some, well, interesting people.  Some of the classes I have been in have been a motley crew to say the least.  So, when it’s the first day of class, the first thing we students do are, 1. look for familiar faces 2. naturally gravitate towards those that seem like they have their crap together (aka this means there is a lower likelihood you won’t be forced to clean their dishes while they sit in the corner and Snapchat), and 3. look around for any normal, attractive looking people.  OK, maybe I’m just a bit conceited and number three isn’t true for everyone.  But heck, I am at school, right? If there is an attractive person in my class that ends up being a bomb cook and is genuine inside and out, well, then it’s almost a done deal (just joking of course, or maybe not? I promise I’m not that shallow). So, with all that said, you can imagine where my mind went when the infamous “Chef Mez” walked into class. Of course, it truly was a rough day. I was emotionally drained, in pain, tired, my eyes were swollen, and I was just there to cook, all business, no time to mess around. It was game time folks. No nonsense.  After lineup, the individuals at my table set up shop and we started cooking.  I was focused as heck, with not much more thought about the mysterious “Chef Mez” over at the table to my far left.  However, apparently the same could not be said on his end. The next day, my interest was peeked again.  Not because Chef Mez was late (though he was, again, haha, but for legitimate reasons I must say), but because Chef kept mentioning how Robbie knew about the health benefits of certain foods we were using that week.  “Robbie should know, this grain has good fiber and protein content.”Yeah, if you need to go the bathroom, this is where it’s at” Chef Mez joked.  Of course, no female in the room really laughed at his potty joke.  I on the other hand, couldn’t help but giggle because who are we kidding, bowel movements are a true gift from God when you battle a chronic illness (TMI? Oh well)

Brighter

As I said earlier, this man was very mysterious.  He looked like he was always on a mission, was quick on his feet, and seemed like the type of person that, if something went wrong in the kitchen (or anywhere for that matter), could handle it.  It was clear from the beginning he was a very capable person, not to mention an amazing chef. I could tell by his cooking style that he thought outside of the box, and as one who lives by this moto, it was very attractive.  Add that to the dark complexion and muscles, and I was sold. Again, kidding, but you know what I’m saying. To be honest, I didn’t think of him as someone who would notice me, maybe because (despite my comments above), I wasn’t really in the mood. Finds out, this came across in my facial expressions greatly,  a look later to be deemed my “blue steel” face.

My Life

 Fast forward a week later, while I am browsing on my Beyond the Bite Instagram, I notice I have a few new followers, one being “chefmez.”  I looked at his pictures and thought, man, this guy really looks familiar.  Then it hit me, this has to be the guy from American Regional class.  But is it? I honestly hadn’t thought too much about him since the ending of our class the past week.  What did strike me though, was that somehow, he found my blog. If you know me personally, you know that two of the big keys to my heart are 1. lamb (of course, duh, it’s amazing) and 2.  a guy actually takes the times to learn about my past and read my blog.  Of course, he didn’t know this, but what truly caught my eye was the Bible verse in his IG profile.  I also saw that he owned a gym and was big into fitness, which made all the previous comments by Chef tie together and finally make sense.  I can’t deny I thought it was really neat that he, somehow, found my blog (not such a coincidence after all, I later found out). The next day, he messaged me, which began the very beginning of one of the most important, challenging, blessed, and amazing relationships of my life.

My Future

Since meeting Robbie over a year ago, we have jumped many hurtles together, in both my life and his. His love for me and genuine care for me has shown through even since the beginning of our friendship.  Though he has undoubtedly been blessed with charm and good looks, it was his work ethic and drive that initially caught my attention.  My father has always been my standard for the men I choose in my life, and when I compare Robbie and him,  they are astonishingly similar.  He is a rock to me when I feel unstoppable, and on days when I feel like my body and its condition is going to be the death of me.  He points me to the One that is higher than I, is my biggest inspiration in life, and continually pushes me to be the very best version of myself I could ever be.  We’re both very passionate people, and for that reason we’ve always challenged each other in our weaknesses, both external and internal.  Yet it is through this that we have grown as individuals and as a couple.  It is easy to say that my love for this man stretches and grows with every day that passes, and I could not be more proud to call him my future husband.

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”