my love, it's been two years.

Our first week of school at New Life School of Worship. I'm rocking the gross hoodie and yellow glasses, David is behind me. Ironic? I think not.

I was 18 years old when I first met David.  It was a crisp day in September when I walked into New Life Church ready to start my first day of 10-month worship ministry school.  Except I wasn't really ready.   I was entirely terrified. 


{One month prior, my boyfriend of two years broke up with me.  Yeah, it was a pity party for me.  He was the only best guy friend I had ever had, and he fed me with gifts and words.  He could say I was beautiful in sixteen different ways. If there were ever a human dictionary, it would be him.  To make a long story short, when I finally gave him almost all of me, he cheated on me and then broke up with me before I would figure it out.  His actions left me broken--wondering if I was worth anything.  And because I relied on him for practically everything, it was almost like I had to learn how to start life all over again. I had to figure out who I was before he ever came into my life.}

I got out of my tan pathfinder and slowly walked up to the doors.   I breathed in deeply, smelling the cool air mixed with pine and made my way through.  When the doors swung open, the first thing my eyes saw was this young man standing about thirty feet away, laughing with some guys by one of the orientation tables.  His smile was instantly magnetic to me - my eyes were fixed and I did not want to let go.

As the days went on, I continuously would catch myself looking his way.  There was something completely fascinating about him; it was like he was this brand new species I had never seen before.  On day 3 he looked at my yellow music note shoes.  "I love your shoes," he said.
I smiled. "Thanks!"

On the second week he noticed my yellow purple and blue shirt.  "That shirt is awesome."
Again, I smiled (pathetically) and said, "Thanks!"

And then one day during small group time, I shared with my group what I was feeling.  I don't know how it happened, but I put my heart on a platter in front of 12 people I barely knew, expecting people might find me a little insane.  I could just see them now!  They probably would all laugh at me behind my back, and make fun of me for being the weird young girl who was so hurt over a stupid boy.

They didn't laugh.  They supported me and prayed for me instead.
After we dismissed, the "magnetic guy" ran up to me.
"Hey," he said.
"Hi," I replied.
"I just wanted to say I really like what you shared.  A similar thing happened to me recently, and I know what it is like to lose a friend who you love so much."

He became "magnetic guy" to "sweetie pie."

"Oh, thanks.  Yeah, it's been really hard for me."
"Well you seem like a cool girl!  We should hang out sometime."

And we did.  By December we were best friends spending every possible second together, sharing our hearts and learning to love all over again--with each other.

 

I believe God has a plan for everything.  He used David as a way of calming me before I ever even shook his hand.  When I look back, I'm amazed at how our friendship was so beautifully orchestrated.  We were two people who needed a friend, and in the end we ended up getting more than we ever even DREAMED.  If you would have told either one of us we would meet out husband/wife during this time, we would have laughed. In fact, my mom did say those things before David even existed in my world.  When I was crying she told me, very confidently, that I would meet an older boy in school of worship, and I'd marry him.  I guess mothers always are right!

David, I love you and I feel so blessed God brought you to me.

You are the man I always wanted but thought I would never find.

And we of course celebrated two years of being married!!

Going to the best BBQ in all the world - 4 Rivers!

{Yummmm.}


 
 

 

And then we stopped by Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando where it's free every first Monday of the month!


 

 
2 years down... endless to go!!!

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And the winner of the fall bundle is....

Jessica S!! Yay!  We met Jessica in School of Worship and she became a close friend of ours. 
Keep coming back for more prizes and fun giveaways, and thank you again for your support!