Happy 5th Anniversary...the story of how we met.

It is hard to believe we have already been married 5 years! The Lord has truly given us a love that is immeasurably more (Eph. 5:20). Having a marriage founded on Jesus Christ is very fulfilling. And after five years, we can honestly say that we love each other more than the day we married each other! Our normal words to each other are, "I love you more than I did yesterday." Well, here's to the "yesterdays." Below is the story of how we met...and fell in love...and chose to be man and wife for the rest of our lives. (Warning...this is long).

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The Big Man on Campus

(Aug. 2003) There was a young man on leadership whom every girl believed was the “Perfect Man.” He was a fashion model—he even spent three months modeling in Milan, Italy. He was exceptionally attractive, stylish, funny, charming, a great leader, and above all else, loved the Lord with his whole heart. My first impression of Mr. Perfect was honestly no different than any of those other drooling girls. My exact thought—and I can still remember the words flashing in my mind— “Oh Lord, I could marry a man like that!” A man that not only was a leader in the Lord’s work—but also looked great while doing it!

As I got to be friends with other ladies on the leadership team I began expressing my personal thoughts about this super guy. However, I was assured by those ladies that he was not interested in dating any of us and I would have to settle being his friend. So, I watched—or dreamed—from afar.

Just Friends

(Jan. 2004) I went home from college for a weekend. My family decided to attend a play at the community theater. There I shared college photos with my youth pastor from high school. When he flipped to the picture of “my hunk” I looked at him and with huge eyes joked, “I could marry this guy.”

Spring blossomed just as quickly as my growing admiration for my Prince Charming, who more commonly went by the name—Dustin. One night at our weekly bible study, a youth pastor from a nearby church came to recruit a few college volunteers to lead a Disciple Now at his church. Disciple Now is a weekend youth retreat that college students lead to guide the youth in their walk with the Lord, evangelism, and fellowship. Two were chosen for this weekend, oh yes—Dustin and me.

As time and summer went on, I felt the need to make this church my home. I told the Lord, if He had plans for Dustin and me, he would have to bring us together in the same church. I desperately wanted to do the Lord’s work, in His house, with my future prince—whoever he would be. Soon after my request to the Lord my gentleman friend felt the same calling to make Northbridge his home church—seriously, without any help from me.

Getting to Know One Another

(Spring-Fall 2004) Soon we began a deep friendship as we led the youth in Sunday school lessons and weekend outings, joined the church’s evangelism team that visited homes every Thursday night, attended church every Sunday morning; and we continued leadership with Baptist Collegiate Ministries, which met every Tuesday night with leadership meetings on Monday nights. Our lives were becoming intertwined quickly.

People at church we’re becoming a little restless in our tiptoe dance we called, “Just Friends.” But, best friends we were for almost a year. Little did he know…my heart was budding past friendship. (And little did I know, his heart was budding for me). For over a year I had been growing in my affection for him.

I prayed every day for him; I also prayed that if he was my future husband, God would open his heart to me. Dustin had dated a few girls in his life and told me directly that he never actually asked a girl out—it just slowly formed into ‘more than friends’. If God had plans for us I wanted a definite pursual, regardless of how Dustin asked girls out in the past...that just wasn't my way of starting a relationship.

Throughout my prayer journal, my prayer went like this: “Lord, you know how much I respect—and adore—your prince, Dustin. If he is the one you have chosen for me, please have him ask to pursue me.”

The Question

(Oct. 14, 2004) One night after F.A.I.T.H.—our evangelism team—Dustin asked me if I would accompany him to the Battery, also called White Point Gardens—a park in downtown Charleston where the Cooper and Ashley Rivers meet. In the center of the park there is a large white gazebo surrounded by live oaks and palmettos. Beautiful. The Battery was a favorite place of ours to visit while in college; and this particular night was no different as we sat on the railings of the boardwalk gazing at the water below. In many of our conversations, Dustin would say, “You don’t leave any room for breathing in your rambling.” In other words—I talk too much!

So, that night I decided since he invited me to accompany him to the Battery, I would stop with my chit-chatter and let him lead the conversation. We talked for over two hours and then we allowed the beauty of the night to invade our space.

As we sat there silently, touching shoulders ever so gently, he whispered into the moonlight: “I don’t want to ruin our friendship, but I believe I must do this.” Long pause… “I think if we follow the Lord, this could be something that turns into our future. May I please pursue you?”

AH! I know it sounds cliché, but my heart seriously skipped a beat at his words, more specifically his choice of words. Remember I had been praying for Dustin and that God would have him pursue me. Dustin had never in his life used that word and still today does not know why he chose to ask to pursue me instead of date me.

I later found out that he had been fasting for three days prior to that night at the Battery. The youth pastor from our church told Dustin a week earlier that he needed to make a move to date me, saying, “Girls like that don’t stay single for long.” So, in utter turmoil—trying to discern if God wanted him to pursue a future with me—he fasted for God’s wisdom. God said, “Pursue”.

I Love You

After two months of dating, Dustin admitted that he told his mom that he was going to marry me. Thankfully we were talking on the phone because my mouth dropped to the floor in disbelief—even though I knew he was the one.

I will never forget the first time Dustin told me he loved me. We were at my parent’s home on Hilton Head Island. I was upset with him for something he neglected telling me. As we walked in the front door, or as I stormed off through the front door angrily, he pulled me into his arms. As he starred into my eyes he said, “Don’t ever hesitate to tell me anything, even if you’re upset. I want us to be open with each other. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I don’t want to hurt you...I...I love you.” Pause.

At that delicate, once in a lifetime moment, my mom decides she should choose that exact moment to walk through the door! We parted from our embrace without a chance to respond.

Later while Dustin was packing his suitcase (we were heading back to Charleston), I wrapped my arms around his manly frame and whispered in his ear…“I love you too...and I forgive you.”

The Proposal and Forever

(April FOOLS DAY 2006) One year after, “I Love You,” Dustin purposed to me through a scavenger hunt—which ended at the Battery with him kneeling at the very spot he asked to pursue me.

(December 30, 2006) Nine months later we pledged our lives to each other; we vowed to love, honor, and cherish the “perfect” gift God had given us in one another as long as we both shall live. On our wedding night, I handed Dustin two journals I had written to my future husband from the time I was 17. Placing those journals in his hands was a colossal moment for me. I had prayed for and loved him three years before we ever met, five years before we wed—and in that moment I gave him not only the words I wrote in all those years of waiting, but my whole heart! God answered my prayer—my first serious boyfriend is my husband.

Dustin and I are now studying to be marriage counselors because God has built our love on the solid foundation on His Son and our mission is to teach other couples God’s truth about the covenant of marriage. Let the inspiration to wait for God's best encourage you to remain patient. God's ways are always best, whether we understand or not.

I Love you Dustin! May God bless us with 50 more!