Our Love Story, part 1

Hey ya'll! I decided that today would be as good of a day as any to tell our love story. Let me start by first saying that I was in a relationship during my 4 years at college. It was an unstable, unhealthy relationship...complete with screaming fights, lies, heartbreak, and multiple breakups. After I graduated from college, I moved to Shreveport. My then boyfriend had another year in college, which was in Pineville...about 2 hours away. We continued to date off and on and then through the grace of God we broke up for good in the summer of 2009. I can only attribute getting out of that unhealthy relationship to God...he kept me strong and kept me believing that there was something better out there for me. So anyway, yeah, summer 2009...I'm truly single for the first time since 2004.

via

After the breakup of that long relationship, I was not looking for anything serious. I actually prayed for God to show me that I could be single and happy on my own. I prayed and asked God not to lead me to another man until he was the one I was going to marry.

Here enters one of my work besties. At this point, we had worked together for a year and she had seen how miserable I was in my previous relationship. She always joked about "finding someone better" for me, but I never thought anything else of it. One day, she had Justin (my husband) over to her house to mow her yard. It had been several years since she had seen Justin and they spent time talking and catching up on life. As soon as he left her house, she texted me saying, "I have found the perfect man for you. Ya'll are going to get married." I laughed it off and kept saying things about not needing a man and not wanting to get married anytime soon. Over the next few days, she kept talking about him and going on and on about how wonderful we would be together. I had only been single for about 2 months and Justin had JUST gotten out of a relationship, so neither of us were looking for anything. She literally forced us into meeting by tagging us both in a random picture one day on Facebook. She "suggested" that we become friends on Facebook, and of course we did...honestly because it would've been rude to hit the ignore button. Ha!

via

So one night, Justin sent me a chat message on Facebook and we talked back and forth for awhile. He seemed super nice, but I just really didn't feel like I was ready for anything. Over the next several days, we kept talking and he eventually asked me out on a date. ON FACEBOOK! Yes, I know, the horror! Haha! We love to laugh about that even now! I agreed to go on a date with him.

Our first date was August 21, 2009...a Friday night. The very first time that I heard his voice was that night on the phone, as he called to get better directions into my neighborhood. I remember being SO nervous! I hadn't EVER been on a "blind" date! When I opened the door, my heart dropped to my knees. Literally, he took my breath away. He was handsome and had a gorgeous smile and blue eyes that looked like the sky on a summer day (I feel like Blanche from the Golden Girls...anyone? Anyone??)! We went out to eat at Logan's that night. He was a true Southern gentleman...he opened my car door every time and held the door open for me. I wasn't used to that at all! The conversation was natural and easy...we spent several hours just enjoying each other's company. After dinner, we went over to the house of the friend who had introduced us. We spent several hours there, just talking and laughing and playing games with her and her children. Later that night, he took me home and we said our awkward first date goodbyes.

via

I vividly remember what happened next. I immediately called my mom...of course! I am a true momma's girl! I told her about the date: what he looked like, what he acted like, how he opened the doors, what he said, etc. She listened through it all and then said, "Well, so what do you think? Do you like him?" I paused a moment and then said the truest words I've ever spoken. I said, "Mom, he's the kind of guy that I would marry." Cue the heavenly music and confetti! Ha! We hung out the very next day and then that Sunday he met my mom. Yes, two days into it, he met my mom! She came into town for a church conference and he stopped by to see me and meet her. She loved him...she wanted him as a son-in-law. Ha.

So, ya'll think we started dating right then and fell in love right away? WRONG!!

Guess you'll have to wait for part 2! : ) Thanks for reading along! Hope ya'll are having a wonderful day!!

Love, love!

Edit: Click here for part 2!