In January 2009 I had just gotten out of a long relationship. I had been attending a very small church with my previous boyfriend so it was time for a change. My parents invited me to their church, but before I agreed I asked to look at the church directory. I wanted to make sure that there wasn’t anyone at their church that I would be attracted to or could be interested in. I needed to go to focus on my relationship with God, not another boy. I looked though the directory carefully making sure there would be no distractions at my new place of worship.
After a month of regularly attending, on a rainy February night Daniel walked into Wednesday night Bible study. I hadn’t met him yet and assumed he was already with the girl he was sitting next to, so I didn’t take much notice of him. But he sure noticed me! The very next day, February 19, I got a friend request and a message through Facebook. He apologized for not introducing himself the night before. I was excited to be making a new friend but noticed that he was in a relationship on Facebook so I didn’t push it. We exchanged friendly messages back and forth about how long I had been attending and that his work schedule had prevented him from being a regular attender but that he had gone to the church since high school. Also, realizing that we had spent our whole lives living just 15 minutes from each other and attending many of the same youth events in high school. He mentioned in one message that his schedule allowed him to be at church for both Sunday School and church that week. I was so excited to have made a friend at my new church, (who I was kinda crushing on but wasn’t going to do anything about it because Facebook said he was in a relationship; however, he never mentioned a girlfriend). I couldn’t wait to get to church the next morning. Only problem was that it had snowed over night and the roads were ice. However I was determined to get there! I was not going to let a little snow get in my way. Halfway there, I felt so silly thinking he might not even show up and how crazy I was. But, he made it to Sunday School too! He was amazed that I made it too, since I lived further away. Together we helped break up ice on the sidewalk and were the only students in class. We ended up sitting together during the church service and he introduced me around (many church members assuming we were already a couple). Miraculously, after church I checked Facebook and he wasn’t in a relationship anymore!
That was my cue! I sent him my Instant Message screenname and we chatted even more that week. He explained that things had been over with his ex for a while but he just needed a push to make it official (me being the push!). He asked me out to lunch with some friends the next Sunday. Our first date was on Sunday, March 8 we went to lunch with some friends and then just the two of us went for a hike Bowie Nature Park. Our first date lasted 8 hours! I didn’t want to leave. When I finally got home and was gushing about Daniel, my mom reminded me of a plaque I have on my wall, it says "Do not worry, the Lord will provide." And boy did He!
We both fell fast and hard for each other! Coining the term “I yeah you” after just a few dates because we both thought it was too early to say ‘love.’ That didn’t last long. We talked multiple times a day and saw each other as often as we could. Even though it had only been just a few months I felt like I had known him my entire life. He was so easy to talk to and made me smile and laugh more than I ever had before.
In May, Daniel picked me up for what I thought was just another afternoon hike. It turned out to be much more! Halfway though the hike I was talking about the song “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name” and how funny I thought it was that prostrate and prostate are so similar. At that moment we stepped on a bridge I had never hiked to before, only seen from another trail. We took a minute to just look around, when I turned around to look at Daniel he was on one knee! I’m sure he said some lovely words about just being together for three short months but knowing that I was the one the night he met me. But honestly, I have no recollection because I was beyond surprised and out of my mind excited! However, my exact words after saying ‘yes’ were, “Is it real?” To this day Daniel and I debate whether or not I was talking about the ring. I stand firm that I was talking about the situation. I was making sure it was a real moment and he wasn’t joking, since one week before I told him if he asked me to marry him I wouldn’t say yes because we hadn’t been dating long enough. :)
We raced back down the trail to find my sister and a photographer waiting to capture the moment and my parents waiting with our first wedding present... an egg slicer.
Nine months later on February 6, 2010 (less than one year from the day we met) we were married. Four years later, I am still the happiest I have ever been and so glad Daniel’s directory picture did not do him justice. He makes me smile and laugh everyday. The verse engraved inside our wedding rings is Mark 10:9 “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Because it was truly the Lord that brought our hearts together.
We now have a house and a dog and are living out our happily ever after!
