P.S.

I wanted to add a few little fun tidbits to my last entry, "Meet Mister", but I decided it was worth a P.S. post.

This is Meridith. My sweet friend who encouraged me to get out of bed to go to that first Charity:Water meeting. I am so glad she came to pick me up, since that was the first night I officially met my Mister. I don't think I have ever told her THANK YOU! I owe her some gas money or something.

Well, if you remember, Meridith and her new friend Will, joined us the night of our first "date" to listen to Tyler Nail perform. I am beginning to wonder if there was something in the water that night...because Meridith and Will ended up getting married on April 28, 2012. Wasn't she a beautiful bride?

Speaking of Tyler Nail...He did end up helping us with an AWESOME fundraiser for Charity:Water. I had a great time working with him and planning the whole thing. When Kenny and I were planning our wedding, it only made sense to us to ask him to play during the ceremony. It was so special to me, and really made the whole thing come full circle. I watch my wedding video sometimes just to hear him sing, "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You". It was incredible. Do yourself a favor and check out his music here .

Meet Mister

On March 5, 2011 I went on a "date" that would change my life as I knew it. I say "date" because I actually went out with him and his mother. Let me explain.

In 2009 I was given the opportunity to travel to Egypt. It was an incredible experience, and something I will never forget. I fell in love with Africa. So when my church decided to partner with Charity:Water, an organization that raises money to drill wells in Africa, I was on board to help anyway that I could. At the time, I lived almost an hour and a half away from my church, but knew that is where the Lord wanted me. In February 2011, I had surgery on a Friday morning.. 2 days later was our first Charity:Water meeting at church. I did NOT feel like going...but my friend Meridith said she would come get me, and we could leave if I needed to. I rolled out of bed when she pulled up, and we headed to church.

At the meeting I made the comment, "I don't want to just raise the money, I want to GO to Africa". A lady I had never seen before casually replied, "Well go with me". About that time, HE walked in. I had definitely seen him before. I remember the first time so vividly. I practically had to pick my jaw up off the floor. My exact words to a friend, "What a dream boat". I don't even know what that means. Anyway, he walked into the meeting and started talking to the lady I had never seen before...it was his mother.  I talked to them after the meeting (mind you, I was not looking my best...2 days after surgery, sweat pants, etc.) and his mom told me about how she travels to South Africa every year to do mission work. I wanted to know more..so we decided we would meet for dinner after I recovered a little more.

A few weeks later, I was sitting at work, when I looked down at my phone and saw I had a missed call from HIM. I immediately told my boss I was going to lunch, and went out to my car to call him back. He said he was going to join us for dinner since he had been with his mom twice before. We planned dinner for that Friday. I already had plans to go with Meridith and her new friend, Will,  later on to listen to Tyler Nail play music. We were trying to get him to do a benefit show for Charity:Water. Somehow I got the courage up to ask HIM to go along to that after dinner.

So, on March 5th, I went to dinner with HIM and his mother. After hearing the stories of South Africa, I was sold. I was going on that trip with her. After dinner, he and I  met up with Meridith and Will and headed off to see Tyler Nail perform. After the performance, I took HIM home, and as he was getting out of the car he said, "can I take you to lunch after church tomorrow?"...I almost melted in my seat. Every weekend after, one of us would make the 1 1/2 hour trip to see each other. That June I quit my job, moved home, and then traveled to meet his mother in South Africa for over 3 weeks. The rest is history.

Our Charity:Water team

Father's Day 2011 - The day he told me he loved me

September 2011 - His brother, David's, wedding

December 2011 - Our 1st Christmas

June 3, 2012 - Yes, yes, yes! A thousand times, yes!

August 2012 - One of my favorite engagement shots

October 13, 2012 - I married HIM, my dream boat

It is hard to believe we will celebrate our first wedding anniversary in just over a week. Being his wife is my greatest accomplishment, my biggest blessing, and my most important ministry. 

"Always remember there is nothing worth sharing, like the love that let us share our name"