The Story of Us

In honor of We Are THAT Family's carnival this week, I thought I'd tell the story of how my hubby and I met and ultimately got married. For those of you who thought you were going to be reading about my story of giving my life to Christ, then you're in luck because the two practically go hand-in-hand! So, here they both are.

I'll start by telling you that like many people, I was living my life for myself. I thought I was really living it up, but I was still yearning for more...feeling an emptyness that partying and boyfriends could not fill. I was attending a church with a boyfriend when I saw truly devoted Christian families, and I thought a lot about them. I remember trying to figure out what they had that I didn't (and it wasn't just a husband!).

Now, I was one of those people who would say they were "born a Christian". I was raised in the church, my grandfather is a retired preacher, my uncle is a preacher, yada yada. I'm still looking for the passage in the Bible about God's grandchildren. I would have told you during those days of my life that I was a Christian. I fully believed that I would go to heaven. I believed there was a Hell, but I thought it was pretty empty with the exception of some pretty awful murderer types.

One of those days that I was thinking about a sermon I'd heard in that little country church, I prayed that God would show me what He had for me. I wanted to give my life over and let him have control. Not surprisingly, my first act of obedience was to break up with the boyfriend.

Meanwhile, I was carrying on with other parts of my life working and going to college. One day at work, a tall handsome dairy farmer walked in. I had no idea that he was the next part of God's plan! That was October 15, 2002. On October 25, 2002, Joel and I had our first date.

I did some asking around about him and learned that he was a Christian. I didn't know it at the time, but he and some people from his church had been praying that he would find a godly wife. I'm not sure I really fit the bill early on, but I'm trying to grow towards a worthy wife still.

Pretty soon, we were inseperable. Sometime in December we started talking about the future. We began praying together on the phone each night, and we began to see doors open for us to be married.

We were engaged on December 29, 2002; and exactly 5 months after I saw him for the first time, we were married on March 15, 2003.

It has been almost 6 years. I have heard so many people say that marriage is hard work. I agree, but the rewards are so great! I can't believe that we have such a wonderful marriage and friendship. He is everything I never thought I'd be able to find in a man. He is a godly man who loves me and our children. He is generous and kind. He puts up with a lot from me and as far as I know doesn't complain (he rolls his eyes when he comes home and I've moved the furniture around again, but he doesn't complain!). He works hard so that I can be home with our kids, and he balances it with lots of quality time with us.

God continues to grow me all the time as well. I will continue with more of my testimony another time. Check out the other participants in the carnival by clicking on the button below.