Missed It

I missed my post...the one I wanted to do about our wedding anniversary. Perhaps it was the doctors appointments, photo shoots, laundry or trip packing that caused me to forget, but never the less, I forgot!

On June, 16th, my dear husband and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary. It seems like yesterday that we met, yet, I can barely remember a time in my life that he wasn't a part of it.

Our love story is unique...it has the Lord's hand print all over it. I had just ended a long and insanely serious relationship and was heartbroken at best. I packed up and got ready to move 630 miles south, to the gorgeous state of Virginia. A state I would move to in a heartbeat to this day...but I digress.

My second day on campus, I ran into a young man that I had met once before....

On my senior trip, to Florida, I bumped into a group of people that I knew - at the water park, Wet n Wild, none the less. We were climbing the stairs to the Black Hole, water slide. This group asked me if I was Beth...and I confirmed that I was. We were two groups from small, rival, Christian High Schools from Michigan. We chatted briefly as we waited for the ride and that was the end of that.

Several weeks later, my grandma cut out a picture in the paper. This picture was of a young man, that she thought was dashingly handsome. She handed me the newspaper clipping and said: "Look Bethanne, this handsome guy is going to Liberty too, maybe you'll meet him". I assured her that with 3,500 freshman, I'd most likely NEVER run into him there. I also informed her that I HAD in fact met this young man and he was a DORK!

Well, second day on campus, I hear someone call my name. I turn and see...you guessed it, the same group I ran into in Florida a few months before. The five of us, became fast friends and did everything together. I, oddly enough, didn't seem to think Matt was nearly as dorky as I recalled him being, in fact, I was quite drawn to him.

His personality and sense of humor enthralled me. His love for the Lord was contagious...one problem, he had no desire to go to college in the south and bring home a girl that lived 7 miles from his house and went to his rival high school. That just wasn't how it was supposed to go. He was supposed to go to school, meet himself a southern bell and woo her. Instead, he met a Northerner, who was anything but a southern bell!

Our first date was 12 years ago this August...and it was anything but conventional. Matt asked me to do his laundry - in exchange for dinner. I counter offered with dinner and a movie and he accepted.

Our relationship can be summed up in an interesting story that went something like this...when Matt was hemming and hawing about dating a northern, I told him I was done with the drama. I told him something bold and outrageous...something I never dreamt I would say. I told Matt that he wanted me, but he just didn't know it yet. I told him to loose my number until he realized that he wanted to be with me...two days later, my phone rang and a romantic "will you go out with me" moment was born...the same moment that was recreated for our engagement. Matt always tells everyone that I chased him until he caught me...which is quite appropriate for our courtship.

The love story has ups and downs from there. It has hiccups, drama, laughter and tears, but it ended with a fairy tale wedding and the story continues with three wonderful sons and an incredibly blessed life.

From Michigan, Florida to Virginia, the man I'd fall desperately in love with, lived less than 7 miles from me my entire life....it would take the Lord 18 years and many states to prepare my heart for this Godly young man, and I thank Him for His timing!

In our 9 years of marriage, we have faced some incredibly difficult times - thankfully, not in our marriage, but with our families and friends, job situations, financial and health issues.... We have also experienced numerous times of bliss and joy!

There is no one else I can imagine wading through these waters with, in fact, I can't think of anyone who would have waded them with me!! He is my best friend and my biggest cheerleader. He is a better father to our children than I could have ever imagined or even wished for. He's everything on my "list" and a few things I didn't even know I wanted!!