In honor of our upcoming anniversary, I’ve decided to share our love story.

It’s hard to believe we’ve been married for five happy years now! The Lord has been so good to us and allowed many things to happen in those five years- deputation, moving overseas, two gorgeous children, and so much more! There is no doubt our relationship was put together and has continued to be focused around the Lord.
  
In 2007, both Matt and I had dedicated our summer to traveling with a program from our college. The program was designed to send small groups of people around the world to assist in new church plants, help missionaries, or even just to be an encouragement to someone in the ministry. My group of four ladies traveled around the United States helping in about 10 different churches. Matt’s team went to Cambodia. Before we set off, we attended a “pioneer training camp” to give us the tools and resources we may need throughout the summer. It was here that I first became friends with Matt. 

Our group of 17 individuals traveling that summer became really close. A fatal accident also contributed to our group staying connected. Throughout the next semester our “pioneer group” seemed to always be together. From participating in the same ministries to always eating at the same supper table, we were always having a good time together. 

The fall of 2008 presented a new opportunity with our college. I, along with two other “pioneer friends,” decided to study abroad at the England campus. Matt was one of those friends. At this point our relationship would be considered “just friends.” However, during our time in England, we were paired together as soul winning partners. Every Tuesday we would go out witnessing door to door for a few hours at the time. This is where I truly got to know Matt. We were often paired together and spent hours figuring out different ways to work together in telling people about Christ. We also were able to talk about countless other things the Lord was doing in our lives. 

One weekend, while I was speaking with a friend, she asked me if I was interested in anyone. In my answer to her, I realized I had become attracted to this guy that I now considered my best friend. What was I going to do? I wouldn’t dare tell him.

Christmas of 2008 I had the privilege of spending with my best friend, Katie, and her family. Her parents gave me lots of nice gifts which included a really nice journal set. I decided that night I would begin a prayer journal specifically for Matt. I knew at this point he had no idea of my interest in him, but I knew I could tell the Lord and He would work it all out. I wrote in that journal every single day as a prayer for God to grant this desire of my heart. I prayed without ceasing. I found scripture verses on why Matt would be a good husband for me. Everything went in the journal.

Spring semester 2009 held many ups and downs in the emotional department. While Matt and I were still really good friends, that’s about where it stopped. All of my friends knew I liked Matt, except for Matt himself. It became a very stressful and awkward secret to keep, but I did not feel it was appropriate for me to initiate any relationship. Call me old fashioned, but I wanted my man to pursue after me. 😊

Even though Matt graduated that semester, he took an opportunity to stay as a graduate assistant for another year. Whew! I was relieved! This left him staying in the area over summer. I stayed over summer, too, because of my job. It was perfect! Our friends invited us over almost every night for dinner and games. They knew I had fallen for Matt and was trying to help in every way. 

Finally, the day came when they wanted to spill the beans. They worked with Matt and thought it would be a good idea to just let him know what was going on. I agreed with much hesitation. They told me the day they would tell him and had it all planned out. I was a nervous wreck the entire day! I was unable to find out his reaction to it all right away, thus leaving me in tears most the night. What did he say!?

The next day I called our friends to find out his reaction. More or less they said Matt was shocked. He said he knew something had been going on strange, but couldn’t tell what it was. He said he didn’t know how to react because I was one of his best friends and he had never thought of me as more than that. He was almost upset at it all because he feared losing our friendship. Thus begins the season of awkwardness.

The rest of that summer was good, but faced with many awkward conversations and run ins. We had never looked at each other as more than friends. Now, we had to talk about how we felt about each other. It didn’t take Matt very long to realize we really do work well together. We enjoyed each other’s company so much and had great conversations! 
  
After a short season of going back and forth on what was the correct timing of it all, Matt finally asked me to be his girlfriend on January 2, 2010. He made it special by calling my dad and getting his permission. He took me to Starbucks that evening to ask me. I was so nervous about going I told him I needed to cancel due to a sudden onset of tuberculosis. Of course he didn’t buy my scheme and I’m glad he didn’t. We spent a nice time talking about how the Lord had orchestrated it all from the beginning.
  
June 5, 2010, Matt took me to a gazebo. He had written a short book for me. Each page contained words written in a different language. On the last page was written in English “I love you.” This was the first time he told me he loved me. Of course I told him I love him, too. This is such a special memory to me.

    
July 31, 2010, Matt took me on a hike to Abrams Falls. It had been a rainy foggy morning, but really turned out to be a nice day. We hiked to the beautiful falls. On the way back Matt asked me to climb a rock with him. I refused the first few times, but finally he convinced me up. When we were seated on top he held my hand and asked me to marry him. He pulled out my beautiful ring and placed it on my finger. He kissed my hand and my cheek after I exclaimed a proud “yes!”
January 3, 2011, we became husband and wife. It seems as though this would be where our love story ends, but in fact it is just the opposite. We have a story of love that has continued these past five years and we look forward to many more years together, Lord willing.
  
My relationship with Matt is more than I could’ve ever dreamed of. One of our most thankful aspects of our marriage is our openness with each other. We see the importance of an open and honest relationship. It helps us when we are dealing with spiritual issues, physical issues, and even emotional issues. Being able to communicate with each other has definitely added to the joy in our marriage.

God has given me so many blessings. Outside of my salvation, Matt is my biggest blessing of all. He was patient and careful enough to make each step in our relationship special. He’s never mistreated me in any way. 
We often look back through my journal to see what it was that I specifically prayed for Matt each day. It’s wonderful to compare journals and see how God used my prayers for Matt even before we were a couple. Our God is so good!
  
Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.