Our Story

THE GIRL FROM MY PAST

In order to understand just how incredible my marriage is, I must start with a few words about my upbringing and past. Growing up, my family was broken by divorce several times and I learned too much, too young about loss and absent relationships. As with many young girls in this situation, I was prone to "look for love in all the wrong places" if you know what I mean. I aways had a guy attached to my arm and turned into quite the wild woman in college. I liked the free spirited type -musicians, writers and artists. And I always wondered deep in the back of my mind if this guy would be "the one" despite our inability to have a stable relationship? After several serious relationships, it always ended in heartbreak. I was even engaged and had my wedding called off about 8 weeks prior to the wedding date. Yes, ladies, I had my dress and every other detail all planned out. Although this was crushing, this was the absolute turning point in my life.

For those of you who are questionable about God, this might make you uncomfortable. But I have no other explanation to give you for the radical turn of events in my life at this point. This is when I decide that I was going to give absolutely everything I had, every hope, every dream, every hurt over to the Lord and trust Him to work out my life for me. After all, it was too big a mess for me to figure out on my own. And so it began - the 3 year process where the only man I dated was the Lord himself. This was the time I truly realized who I was and where I was going in life. I learned my passions, my purpose, and I learned to be happy with myself as a single person. Yes, I desired to meet the man of my dreams but I was no longer looking for love.

A HUGE INTERRUPTION
I was a manager at a college bookstore and a new employee was hired and sent my way for training. My boss neglected to tell me the day this new employee would be starting. In walked Tim (eager to start work) one fine morning interrupting my work plans for the day. I was frustrated to say the least and was not the usual courteous person I tend to be. I actually told him to leave and come back in an hour so I could finish what I was doing. I had met Tim one other time and remember summing him up in my head after a brief 30 second encounter. I totally thought he was a "player" because he looked me right in the eyes the entire time he was talking to me. I was sure he was trying to be smooth. And now, this young, player of a guy was working for me at the store.


THE SIX PACK
After working together for a few weeks, I realized that Tim wasn't such a bad guy after all. He was a great worker and did everything I asked. heehee (Loyal kind of guy that he is) Then one one day, I was blind sided when I caught glimpse of his 6 pack abs while stretching and fixing his shirt. OH MY GOODNESS! As if that wasn't enough, he bent over to help me lift some boxes and I noticed just how fine his rear looked in those khaki's he was wearing. WHOA! I called my friend, Courtney, and said "My hormones are out of control - I am attracted to this young college guy and I need some serious prayer. " I kept thinking I had lost my mind. No way, no how was I going to get sidetracked by some cute college guy (who happens to be 5 years younger than me by the way). NO WAY!


HE WANTS TO KNOW WHERE I GO TO CHURCH?
One day Tim asked me where I attended church. Most people in my work environment would rather avoid that topic. So, I answered flippantly and almost fell over when he responded to me about where HE attends church. No way! This guy is a Christian too! And so it began. Tim made me feel like an innocent sixteen year old with a serious crush. From that day forward I noticed that my deodorant stopped working every time I was at work. I was sweaty and my words were always jumbled when I talked to him. It was official - I liked this Tim guy. Was I crazy? He was my employee, he was 5 years younger than me and he was on his way to graduate school somewhere in the US.


I'LL PICK YOU UP AROUND 6:30
It finally happened. Tim asked me out for Italian one evening after work. I was besides myself while getting ready. I'm sure I changed my outfit 20 times until I ran out of time and he was in the driveway. We debated a few theological ideas over dinner and had a pretty uneventful evening. I must say I enjoyed the level of intellectual conversation the man could hold. After all he is the smarty science type. We decided to keep our relationship on the down low as to not rock the boat at work.


RED LIGHT OR GREEN LIGHT?
I want you ladies to know that I prayed incessantly day after day during this part of our relationship. I was so afraid of going down a path that God had not prepared. Tim was so "not what I had imagined." I wrestled everyday with the thought of pursuing a relationship with him. Everytime we got together I would put him through the ringer - interrogation, questions, intentions. I thought for sure I would drive this guy away. But he kept coming back for more. What strange and unusual behavior. Then one day, I heard God say to my heart, "Enjoy yourself Michelle!" And so I did. I stopped fighting my feelings, I stopped hiding my feelings and I embraced the relationship in front of me. It was beautiful - truly it was. The first time Tim kissed me goodbye (a brief peck on the lips) I turned my head away bashfully and said to him, "I'm just a little girl in a big girl's body." Strange thing to say perhaps, but it was evidence of God restoring my innocence to me and it was like experiencing everything for the first time.


And so we spent endless hours talking. I emptied the closet of my past to him and it didn't change a thing. He loved me just the same. He loved me for who God had made me today. He made me feel safe. In fact I learned that Tim always looked me in the eyes when talking to me and that was because he had nothing to hide. I came to see how God was loving me through Tim and that this type of love was vastly different than anything I had ever known before.


A LONG STORY MADE SHORT
We dated for 5 brief months and were engaged for another 5 months. The wedding planning was intense but well worth it. So 10 months total for us love birds and we tied the knot! We knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that we were meant to be together and that God creatively brought two very different people together to make a very lovely union. He's laid-back, I'm intense. He's a country boy, I'm a city girl. He's as steady as can be, I flutter around like the wind. He's younger, I'm older. He's full of faith, I tend to worry. He can be forgetful, I am extremely organized. As you can see... A match made in heaven!!!


Tim and I just celebrated our 5th anniversary and we are about to have our second child in May. We are still in love and we are still everything I never thought could ever be in my life. We have joy, peace, kindness and security in our home. I give God all the credit, because with Him I know all things are possible. My marriage is evidence!

Happy 5th Anniversary!!!

Our first year we were madly in love and couldn't spend a moment without each other. We always ate out on Friday nights and we had all the time in the world to snuggle and watch movies together. It seemed like you were always by my side. We discussed our dreams and spent hours pondering what the future would hold.

Moving into our second year, we learned a bit about the vow we took, "in sickness and in health." It was a rough year - one with many sacrifices but still we came out strong. We learned the art of caring for one another and putting the other first. It amazed me how positive and full of faith you were despite our circumstances.

In our third year we were blessed with our son after a rough pregnancy. Again, we learned a bit more about being selfless. The colic and sleepless nights were tough and my postpartum complications didn't help matters. Still we managed to find joy in parenthood as we began to watch Samuel grow and he has become such a precious treasure to us both. You were amazingly steadfast and loving to me each and every day. You were my rock when I thought it was all falling apart.

Our fourth year seems to be the one were we learned how to iron out the wrinkles. I think we worked hard at our marriage and matured so very much. I know it wasn't easy at times and in fact it was sometimes down right ugly, but we were determined. Without our faith in the Lord we might have drifted apart, but instead we decided to draw from Him and He has strengthened our marriage indeed. I truly feel like you know me better than you ever have before. You understand what makes me tick and I appreciate all your efforts to love me the way I need to be loved. You've also proven to be an amazing, hands-on father over the past year. Samuel truly adores you and looks up to you so much.

As we head into our 5th year, we are about to embark on our second journey through parenthood. I guess we are a little more seasoned this time around and I'm really looking forward to it. We have a lot of transition coming up but thankfully our marriage is stronger, our love is deeper, our commitment is solid and our faith has matured. I'm certain that you are the one and only for me. After all you are still my favorite!!!

I love you!
Happy 5th Anniversary!!!

Our Caribbean Cruise!

I am back after 4 nights and 5 days of vacationing with my honey! We had a wonderful time and Samuel did great while we were gone. Big thanks to Mimi and the gang! We sailed aboard Royal Caribbean International's Navigator of the Seas. I believe it is the 2nd largest ship on their fleet and it is truly amazing. The ship holds over 3,000 passengers and over 1,000 staff members. The staff of the ship come from 70 different countries and they treat you like kings and queens! We had a chance to sleep, nap and eat lots of delicious food at our leisure. We also watched a few theater performances, an ice dancing show, went to an art auction, mini golfed, got a massage at the spa, played in the arcade, sunbathed, snorkeled and relaxed on the beach. Needless to say, we feel restored and reconnected. Enjoy the slide show!

Still Lovebirds

This photo was actually taken last Saturday at a friend's wedding. Thought I'd share it with you all. Isn't my hubby handsome? Well... you don't have to answer that one!