What a Day....

Before I share my story I want to stress something to the millionth degree. I never thought I would get married. I wanted to. Oh, how I wanted to more than anything but it felt hopeless. I had never even had a boyfriend prior to Andrew. I remember looking at an old picture where me and 10 girls were surrounded by a bride at a wedding and I was the only single girl in the picture. It felt terrible. I didn't trust that God would give me the desire of my heart. I felt like the rabbit who never got to the Trix. Abraham who never stepped foot into The Promised Land. I dated a little bit. I tried to make every guy "The One" in my head. I would envision the wedding, the whole bit, but it never played out. Then I stopped trying. I gain 100 pounds and go femi-Nazi, but I just lived life. Some people say you have to be perfect when you meet The One? Look good. Have it all together. Well, that 'aint true. I was in a weird place when I met Andrew. I had some issues with my church that had just split. I felt like God disappointed me in some areas so I was angry. To be honest, I was a bit lost. Then I met Andrew. And guess what? He wasn't the missing link to my soul. I didn't meet "The One" and then bam, life made sense! (Thank goodness!) When you fall in love, you still have problems! You still have fat days! You still have issues with your church split and with God that you have to work out. But guess what? God is a brilliant God. He didn't wire us to be filled completely by one person. He created us to be filled by Him. And though Andrew helped me want to work on some issues, he wasn't the answer to life's problems. He is simply icing on the cake. Because y'all....God takes the cake!

Enough rambling, here is my point. The fact that flawed, imperfect, talks too much me can find an incredible man like Andrew allows me to draw 2 conclusions. 1) God's a God of grace. I have failed and not trusted Him so many times, yet He went before me and gave me this wonderful gift anyway. I do not deserve such a gift, especially when other girls better than me have yet to receive it, so I bow my head in thanks. How amazing is His grace! and 2) If someone as imperfect as me can find someone as incredible as Andrew, anyone can!

I love the journey He has taken me on. And I know there's more to come, but my point for writing all this is to encourage girls out there to live! Live life like God has it for you. I am not God. I can't promise anything, but I know that I know that I know that He is faithful. He has a plan and I pray I can help people understand that Andrew, a huge house, perfect children, none of that is the answer. God is. So kick your heels off, put your feet up and rest in the fact that God has a plan. And a man! (That totally rhymes). Live life with wild abandonment!

Now here is the short version and some pictures of my proposal....

I am a CIA agent when it comes to surprises and my snooping and talking about it could have ruined everything if Andrew weren't so sweet and patient. He was determined to surprise me and make this special, no matter what. We flew to Knoxville for a wedding. The following day, me, Andrew, and Andrew's brother went to Cade's Cove to "take a Mother's Day' picture" in the mountains. Now mind you, I was in a bad mood because I hadn't gone #2 the entire time we were there and looked and felt pregnant! On the way there I even made a comment to Patrick that I was bummed because I checked Andrew's pockets and there was no sign of a ring! (Of course he told Andrew this....traitor!) Patrick pulled over for the picture and I was so enamored with the turkeys running around the field that I didn't even notice that Patrick was at a distance taking pictures. When I turned around, Andrew was on his knee. Y'all, he had been on his knee before and presented me with cuff links as a joke so I looked at Patrick as if to say "Is this for real?" When Andrew began to speak shakily, I knew. He was nervous and my heart was racing. It was so surreal! I don't know how other girls have felt in this moment, but I didn't cry. I was too shocked. It didn't sink in for awhile. I knew we would get married and that it was coming one day, but still....It was so surreal! My phone didn't work in the mountains for like 20 minutes so I stuck my head out the window and told every hiker that came by. It was perfect. We even celebrated at Taco Bell afterwards, my favorite. Andrew's family was waiting in the parking lot of Patrick's apartment complex. Andrew's Dad hugged me and said I had a glow. I told him yes, I was ecstatic but I was also glowing because Taco Bell had done its' job!

One More Thing.........I start writing in a journal and I told myself I would give it to my husband, along with a few letters I wrote. I love the idea that I was writing him letters and writing out prayers before I even met him.

(Notice the pre-Taco Bell stomach)

(I just love him!)

(So much that I forgot how much I weighed!)

(What a great day! I am so thankful!)