In honor of Valentine's day...my love story

I'm getting married in June. Everyone I encounter must know, I talk about it all the time. It's a major part of my life right now. And it's getting close to Valentine's day in honor of it I am going to tell my love story.

I didn't actually meet David until 2 and half months after we started talking. I friend-ed David via facebook. I was not searching for a guy, he was not searching for a girl. I was on Facebook and he was on my suggested friend list. To make myself clear, I had never, and have never since then, friend-ed someone I did not know or had never met in person before this. I did not think anything of a relationship and I do not know why, to this day, I friend requested him and messaged him. I suppose it was God's leading in some way.
Prior to this event, about two weeks let go of finding a man. I realized that God would bring a man into my life, on his timing and when I was ready for it. I was focused on God. Looking back on it now, I realize that God was just waiting for me to give him the control. And if you ask David he'll say the same thing, he gave God the control when it came to meeting the right girl just a few weeks before we started talking, or texting.

David and I got to know each other and became friends, he said he liked another girl. And at this point I had begun to like him, but I accepted it because I knew God had control and David might not be the guy for me anyway. So, I went out on a couple of dates with a really jerk, who kept asking me to go out with him repetitively and he tried to grab me in a way I didn't appreciate. I cringe every time I think of that.

Shortly after that David admitted he liked me and we agreed to meet. We decided a public place would be could, because I still didn't know if he was a creeper. (He sounded good via text, but you never know.) I met him in the Papa Murphy's parking lot, were he works, and than I followed him to a near by Mexican restaurant where his whole family was in the back, I could not see them. They were making so much noise. David and I sat up front and talked and got to know each other. Both of us were so nervous. When his family finished eating they paraded out in front down the isle past me and David each saying hi to me or introducing themselves. It was so funny and different, I could tell they were tight knit and I fell in love with all of them instantly. I remember someone from the family, I don't know who, throwing a breath mint from the front, it landed right in my lap. I loved it. After lunch, we were to go our separate ways I remember him asking if it was all right to give me a hug. I said yes. It was a very awkward side hug, as it should have been, and I went home.
For the next month we were back to texting again, we talked about dating some and we talked about the outcome if we dated. It was either get married or get hurt. David and I both came to a decision that "if" we dated, marriage was what we were after. So, David asked if he could date me and I said that I wanted him to meet my family first and so that's what he did, and his parent's came a long. I remember a good dinner mama made and apple pie. We played Nurtz, David and I were on a team I remember feeling that electrical kind of shock that goes between someone you really like for the first time sitting that close to him when we played. It was fun. That night he left and I remember seeing him walk out the door and wave good bye briefly as I stood on the porch. That night, via text, David asked me to be his girl friend and I said yes. That was March 7, 2009. I was 19.
Our first official date was about a week later. We went to a movie, Paul Blart Mall Cop, I know so romantic...:P And we held hands for the first time. He was the first guy I'd ever held hands with. It was perfect. David said later that his arm fell asleep, but he didn't want to let go.
A week after that we both new that we loved each other and told each other so It sounds so fast, but when you know, you know. I was "in love" and I loved him and I will never ever change my mind. We are in it for the long hall. We might not always like each other, but we will always love each other.
About a week after that we went to a concert with my family and another family from our church. It was so cool. 5 Christian bands all together, it was my first concert. And you'll never guess, we held hand through almost all of that concert. Poor David, his hand fell asleep again. On the way home...well it was perfect. I was falling asleep on him, I was so tired. It was so late.When we got home that night he kissed me goodbye. It was the most perfect first kiss for the both of us and I won't forget it.

....Fast forward....

6 month "anniversary" he gave me a promise ring, saying that someday he wanted to marry me. I wore it everyday. I kept it on my right ring finger...I didn't want to spoil the left one.

...July 17, 2010...

David's parents took us to a beach house that they rented. David was acting weird, he wanted to go the the beach as soon as we got there. His parent's were acting weird too. David took me to the beach. Gave me chocolate covered strawberries and when I'm eating one he starts telling me how much he loves me and I go into shock when he pulls out a ring and asks me to marry him. David laughs about this, and I get embarrassed, I had strawberry dripping off the side of my face and all I say is, "did you ask my dad?"(...he had the week before, without my knowing. He did buy the ring before asking). I did say yes, duh. When we got back to the house there was his mom camera in hand. That was a good weekend.
Later, we set the wedding date to June 25th, 2011. And we are learning so much about each other and growing closer to one another and letting God lead the way in out relationship. We know what we are getting into isn't easy, but like I said we are in it for the long hall and we are both looking forward to spending our lives together.


Now, as most of the people who read this will know, not all the detail is there. Part of a love story or actually almost all of it remains between us two. It also blends together and that's okay.

Something I learned from my devotions today

I was doing my devotions this morning. I am reading Ecclesiastes and am only in the second chapter. And I'm also reading a book by Francis Chan called "crazy love". Today I learned a couple things and thought I'd share.

1) Chasing after things of this world gains us nothing, chasing after God and what is eternal is what gains us something and lasts.

2) God is the movie, and we are the extras. We convey God's message...God does not convey ours.

Lately my focus has been on what I have to get done and what my life will look like. Especially with the wedding, and school, and finding a job, and just living day to day.

I read something today that made me think and changed my perspective in a crazy way. And I want to share it.

"I used to believe there are two kinds of people the natural worriers and the naturally joyful people...But there's that perplexing command: 'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice!' (Phil. 4.4). You'll notice it doesn't end with '...unless you're doing something extremely important.' No, it's a command for alll of us, and it follows with the change, 'do not be anxious for anything' (v. 6).

This came as a pretty staggering realization. But what I realized next was even more staggering.

When I am consumed by my problems--stressed about my life, my family, and my job--I actually convey the belief that I thing the circumstances are more important that God's command to always rejoice. In other words, that I have the "right" to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities.

Worry implies that we don't quite trust God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.

Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.

Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional."

If you're like me, you'll be totally blown away and convicted by this. I was really wrapped up in my life and worrying all the time, making myself sick from stress. And I don't need to do that, and I was being selfish. I didn't realize I was conveying that my life was more important than God's plan. I'm not saying that the change I need to make will be easy, but I know that the life I live will be so much better without worry and stress. Becoming reliant in God and not myself.