Today’s featured Spouse Date couple is Ryan and Cassie Celestain!
Cassie and her husband Ryan live in Tulsa Oklahoma. They are approaching their third anniversary this year, October 29th to be exact! Cassie writes about marriage and family at TrueAgape. This July they welcomed their first child, their precious daughter, into the world!
How did you first meet?
Ryan and I met at a 15k running race held in our town. Thousands of people come out to it so us meeting was just meant to be. After the race we both were standing around waiting for the race results. Although we have different stories on how we met we both agree that we struck up a conversation at the race and later used Facebook to connect.
What was your first date and what encouraged you to keep dating?
The day after the race and we connected on Facebook and we decided to meet up. We went to a place in town that has trails, playgrounds and benches. We sat on a bench facing the river for hours talking. I knew then that Ryan was special. He had a lot of the same philosophies that I did and I felt I could really be open with him about things. I left there thinking, “I have to get to know him more.” I am not sure if that is considered our first date or the following day when we met up there again, but this time for a run. After our run we then grabbed a bite to eat at a sandwich joint.
What was your best date ever and what made it so outstanding?
Call me crazy… I think our best date ever was when we ran a half marathon together. A few weeks before the actual race there was a mock one set up on the same course to test things out. Ryan and I decided to go for it even though it was 32 degrees outside! We talked during some parts of it, but it was nice just having someone there that totally understood my love for running and my desire to accomplish a half marathon. I wanted to complete the race at an hour and 50 minutes. That day with the encouragement from Ryan as the seconds counted down I was able to finish right at an hour and 50 minutes. This was only a few weeks into our relationship, but it showed just how supportive Ryan was and the beginning of great things that we could accomplish together.
How do people describe you as a couple?
I think most often it would have to be the crazy running couple that goes to bed and gets up way too early. (We are typically in bed by 8pm. Depending on the time of year and our training schedules we can be up as early as 4:15am. Hence the 8pm bedtime!)
What’s one of the biggest challenges you have faced as a couple and how has that challenge affected your marriage? How would you encourage other couples that may be facing this challenge?
Understanding our different unique personalities. For me I am very organized and on top of things where Ryan uses organization and deadlines in a different manner. Early on I realized that our differences in personality could cause me to become a nagging wife. I knew that was something that could cause a lot of grief in our marriage. I openly explained this to Ryan and let him know I was working on it. Ryan began to consider my personality when it came to this matter as well. What would happen would be I would ask him to help me do something. Days would pass and it still wouldn’t be done. If I could have done it on my own it would have been done that day. I would start getting antsy and upset that he never helped me. Where in Ryan’s mind he just hadn’t got to it yet, but it would get done. We started realizing that being more specific about when I needed it done would help clear this issue. Ryan said he realized that if I asked for help it was because I couldn’t do it on my own and it needed to be tended to pretty quickly as I often don’t ask for help. Really for us it came down to communicating openly about the issue.
What is something you are most proud to have created together?
Our precious baby girl of course! Besides that? I would say growing our speaking business and our marriage blog – True Agape.
What are some marriage resources that have helped you in your efforts to build a better marriage?
The number one resource that I always recommend is The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman. We each feel loved in one of five ways that Chapman explains. Knowing how our spouse feels loved is extremely important to make sure their love tank is full!
Another resource that is great is For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn. This really requires an open mind, but it is a wonderful read that will challenge the way you think about your relationship. (There is a For Men Only as well, but I have not read it. I am sure it would be just as good!)
When you think about your future together, what are you most excited about?
We have huge goals that we work daily towards. I am very excited to see us meet those goals in the future. Ryan and I plan for him to be retired from his full-time job in a matter of just a few more years. He would then be speaking and training for triathlon full-time. Then, in a matter of a few more years he would become a professional triathlete. Speaking and being a triathlete will allow us to travel the world with our family while I home school our kids. Like I said, we have huge goals, but we work towards them on a daily basis to ensure that we meet them. It is going to be so rewarding for our whole family when all of our hard work pays off!
What is your idea of the ideal date?
My Love Language is quality time so an ideal date would be anything that we get to spend time really connecting. This could be something adventurous where we laugh and have fun together or a simple evening at home talking. Personally, I feel really connected with Ryan after we discuss ideas, plans and goals for projects we are currently working on. It is wonderful to work as a team through those things. I always feel so supported, encouraged and full of energy afterwards!
Do you realize that there is incredibly valuable treasure hidden away in your relationship. The aim of our Featured Couple interviews is to “mine” for some that treasure.
You too have a story to tell that can encourage, inspire and motivate others to become better spouses and build better marriages!
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