Love Story

Matthew and I were married June 11, 2011. It was a beautiful day in the panhandle of Florida! Our ceremony took place at the general area of where we met (our college), and the reception took place at our new home church. Friends and family came from all over (well, mainly central and northwest Florida), and I married my best friend, but more importantly, the man that God led me to.

Growing up, I think I can count on one hand the amount of guys who were a little bit interested in me, and believe you me, I can't even use all 5 fingers. lol. I was very, very single for 21 years. Never been asked out on a date, never told I was liked by a guy, never held hands, never been kissed, and made fun of by guys more than ever complimented. I had guy friends, but never boyfriends. My journals from grade school are filled with tear-stained pages of letters to God asking Him why I wasn't pretty or interesting enough to be liked. Of course, at the end of those letters, I was thanking God for HIS love and HIS interest in me....He always sweetly reminded me of His amazing love before my prayers were over. Yes, I dreamed of the whole "fairy tale" love thing as a young girl, but my amazing Savior enabled me to dream of something more. By the time I came to college, God had shaped my dreams into something much more God-centered and fulfilling than romance..... of course, by the end of my sophomore year, He gave me that as well.

I can remember the first look Matthew gave me when I met him. He was staring at me so intensely that I thought for sure that he must be contemplating how ugly or unqualified I was (for I was the director of the drama ministry he was entering). Turns out, and he stated, the reason behind his look was quite the opposite of "she's ugly." =)  We met and were friends at the beginning of my 2nd year at college, and we started dating right at the end of our 2nd year. We knew we were in love in the middle of that summer, even though we were many miles apart, and, finally, he asked me to marry him in September of our senior year.

I could go on and on about how we courted/dated, but this page would be too long for that, so I'll wrap it up as best I can in a few sentences. Matt and I are very different from each other, which seems to be another point for proving that opposites attract. We fell in love with each other's families right away. We dedicated our relationship to Christ from the start, and we are so happy to advocate that waiting to become "one" until marriage is SO worth it AND possible through Jesus Christ. He is my first boyfriend, date, kiss, love.... all that, and looking back on those lonely, confused years of feeling ugly and rejected, that feeling compared to the love I have now is so pale in comparison. For all you young Christian girls who might be going through what I did, please remember that it's worth it to rest and wait in the love of our God....His love story for you is so much better written that we can ever attempt.

My husband and his Bible, which he read to me every day of our honeymoon.

Besides salvation, Matthew is my greatest blessing. We both look forward to what God has in store for our lives together.