Today I celebrate my 8 year anniversary with my man whom I have known since the 2nd grade.
Here is our story:
They met at a Christmas church event in the 2nd grade, and he caught her eyes and she caught his during an intense battle of the genders. Michael, a name she has always loved since watching the movie, The Lost Boys, challenged her to a variety of competitions to see who was the best.
They went back and forth from comparing how flexible their fingers were, to how big their shoe sizes were, to how tall they were. Draw. There was no winner.
Michael was the jack of all trades, naturally talented at everything, and he wore this crown very proudly until a green-eyed girl gazed at his brown eyes encased with the fullest eyelashes that girls kill to have.
He had met his match.
She stumped him. He could not cross his eyes no matter how hard he tried. He lost that day, and she had won.
This night left an imprint on both of their hearts. A memory that they still tell till this day. They did not see each other for some time, and their infatuation with one another was soon lost.
Lauren was now 12 years old, and she was invited to join her cousins to go to church. Her cousin, Arielle, reminded her that the cute boy she met back at that first church event, Michael, would be there. Lauren talked a lot about Michael to Arielle, I mean a lot.
Her cousins also told her that this place called church was where a bunch of kids play games, eat yummy snacks, and learn about this higher being called God.
God might have baited Lauren with games, snacks, and a cute boy; little did she know though that not only was she going to find her soulmate but she was going to fall in love with the Savior and Creator of the Universe, God, who is the purest essence of Love, who made their love story even possible to be told.
Lauren stepped foot at this church and was flooded with so much love and acceptance that brought healing to a fragile childhood that was calloused by bullying, not fitting in, and simply just not being “it”.
Being tagged “it” for the game, Tag, was more than just memories that embraced her when she thinks of the Kid’s Praise Ministry at the Covering Church; being tagged “it” silenced those lies, cut the ties of those burdensome and hurtful scars of her past, and replaced them with wings that made her feel like she could fly.
She stepped into the Kid’s Praise area, and she saw a plethora of children just racing by playing Tag. She saw that same little boy who was now so much taller, that even her most desperate tiptoe would not get her head passed his. He was taller and stronger, reflections of a man and less of a little boy; she was tender and slender, reflections of a woman and less of a little girl.
The 2nd grade infatuation that once faded awakened the butterflies that were just slumbering in the depths of souls.
Lauren was soon initiated into the game of Tag as the person that was marked as “it”, and she could see all of the kids pull back to see what she could do.
She began to jog and maneuver through the playground to see if she can get closer to Michael. She could see him peek over his shoulder while he ran ahead with a confident grin that secretly mocked because he knew that he could run so much faster than she.
Lauren’s jog began to match the competitive spirit that was ingrained in her to never lose, and Michael’s confidence only beckoned her more to really come out of her shell and play. She began to sprint, bobbing and weaving, through all of the obstacles of the jungle gym, and she quickly caught up and humbly tagged his shoulder for the very first time saying the victorious words, “you’re it”. Michael’s grin soon disappeared and utter shock and surprise washed over his face. No one could tag Michael James Cancio at this game. The memories of the crossed green eyes flashed in his memory. He had met his match once again.
They played this game for years, their bond only getting tighter, their spirits only getting closer to each other with love secretly lacing and stitching their hearts together, a bond that would be eternal and unfading.
Michael and Lauren Cancio became best friends in elementary school, dated in middle school, seriously dated in high school, and got married at the age of 21. They celebrate 8 years of marriage and over 20 years of friendship today on June 23, 2020.
To the love of my life, Michael James Cancio,
At a very young age, I have always knew you were a winner, not just at funny things like crossing eyes or tag, but in life. You fight the good fight, and you never grow weary in doing good. You love and serve even when it hurts. You truly aspire to love God and others with all that you are! I thank God that He had me in mind when He created you. We are better together, and I know with keeping God at the forefront of who we are, we always win. I love you! To many more years of winning and loving.
Love your wife, Lauren Cancio
- Star Chaser