Ten years ago today, I married my best friend! I made a promise to love him forever...little did I know ten years ago how easy it was going to be to keep that promise! Our love has grown by leaps and bounds over the last ten years and for that, I am thankful! I know beyond a shadow of a doubt it wasn't because of anything either of us have done in our own strength, but because of the One who brought us together in the first place, and Who helped us grow closer together and to Him as the years have gone by. What a love story He is writing! If you will indulge me a bit, I'd love to tell you about it! :)
About eleven or so years ago, I was praying over my list of qualities I wanted in a future mate. First and foremost, he had to be a Christian so that he could be the spiritual head of our household. He had to love me unconditionally. He had to love children and desire to build a family with me. And...well, I wanted him to have brown eyes. ;) It was the only physical characteristic on the list. And the whole reason I wanted my husband to have brown eyes? I wanted my child to have brown eyes. Well, as I was praying over that list one morning during my quiet time, the brown eyes jumped out at me and it was almost as if God were asking me, "Really? Is that a deal breaker for you?" I finally agreed that if he had the other qualities, brown eyes weren't really all that important after all. I look back on that day now and realize, that was what God was waiting for before revealing my mate to me...He wanted me to come into agreement with Him on what the man He had chosen for me would be like. David does not have brown eyes...but he fits all the other qualifications to a T! :)
The funny thing is that pretty much our whole singles group at church saw that God had chosen us for each other before either of us realized it! In fact, on one of our singles trips to Orlando, they kept "ditching" us so we would have time to spend "alone" together...yet we found out later, they were never all that far away from us. They could probably all have jobs in the CIA for their surveilance skills! :) It was on one of these trips that the veil was removed and David and I saw each other as more than just friends for the first time. We had been friends in the singles group for years, but never thought of each other as more than a friend until God decided the time was right. I remeber David and I walking from Universal back to the hotel were our group was staying (boys in one room, girls in another - back in the day when they would allow you to pack in as many people in a room as you wanted). As we walked, I kept silently praying and asking God, "Is this the one, God? If it is, thank you! If not, please let me know!" I silently repeated that prayer over and over as we walked. You see, I'd never had a dating relationship that made me feel like being with David felt. David treated me with such love and respect...like he really enjoyed being with me! He pulled chairs out for me at restaurants, paid for my meals, and carried my shopping bags for me at the outlet mall. That may sound silly and old fashioned to some of you, but it just melted my heart in ways that I can't even begin to describe! :)
This was a trip our singles group took to Orlando (we all had annual passes to Universal) just after Christmas 2001. I had spent Christmas with my family in Alabama, but met them in Orlando. On the way back, everyone in the van decided that David needed to ride back with me so I wouldn't have to drive back alone (of course, they were right behind us in the van). It was on this 4-hour drive that David and I really got to know each other as we shared stories about our family, our dreams, our interests, etc. We had so much in common and thought so much alike on so many things...it was like God made us for each other! Imagine that! ;)
We spent the next several weeks getting to know each other even better (always in a group or in a public place, so as to not be tempted to do anything we shouldn't before marriage). Then, on March 30, 2002, David asked me to be his wife at our church's fountain right after the Easter worship service. How very special! Our friends were gathered around us, taking pictures and blowing bubbles! David presented me with a boquet of roses...yellow for our friendship, white for the purity of our relationship, and red for love! :)
It had always been my dream to get married on my maternal grandparents' anniversary...and it just happened to land on a Friday that year! So, on Friday, September 27, 2002, I walked down the aisle of our church, which was the beginning of the best ten+ years of my life! :)
Our life has not always been sunshine and unicorns...we've had our struggles along the way. But, those struggles have served to bring us closer to each other. One of those struggles was going through infertility and miscarriage. I had always imagined that once I got married, pregnancy would naturally follow. But, that was not to be the way for us. However, God had greater blessings in store for us as a result. Because of our struggles with conceiving children, we sought out adoption earlier than we probably would have otherwise...and as a result, we have two precious sons! And...if you remember, the whole reason I wanted a husband with brown eyes is because I wanted my child to have brown eyes...well, Christopher has brown eyes! God is sooooo good!!!! :)
Today, I am thankful for a husband who loves me just as I am and also encourages me to be my best! He loves me even when I don't love myself. He encourages me when I'm feeling down and discouraged. He helps me in more ways than I could ever name. He is my rock, my confidant, my encourager, my friend! Without him, I would not be who I am today...and I'm thankful! And I'm thankful that God brought us together! When you let God write your love story, it is always far more amazing than anything you could ever write yourself! :)
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