It feels like just yesterday....I remember seeing him before, but I had never talked to him. It was October 2003 and I was so nervous about going on my first youth trip. He was bummed because his friend had gotten sick and wasn't able to go. Little did we know :) As we began to talk we realized that we knew more about each other than we first thought. My brother and his sister where best friends. My dad had taken him turkey hunting before. I knew I had a crush on him right from the start. The trip was over and we went our separate ways. Our friendship continued to grow as we got to know each other more and more on Sunday's and Wednesdays at church. I thought he was just about the coolest person ever. As the years went by the feelings grew.
2 years later-We spent lots of our time e-mailing and chanting on myspace. We enjoyed being involved in the same youth actives. We were on our youth ski trip at the time. I knew I had strong feelings for him, but didn't understand why he wouldn't tell me how he felt. Little did I know that he was building the courage to tell me.Finally, one night after skiing we were riding on the bus back to the hotel and we were listening to our friends iPod. Ethan looked across the seat at me and told me that this song told how he felt about me and that it reminded him of me. It was the sweetest song about a guy who liked a girl :) I couldn't believe it! You would have thought I had won a million dollars! After that we began "dating". We spent all of our time with our families because we couldn't drive..haha. We were so young.
Time went by and as we got older our relationship grew stronger. I knew I was falling in love with him and was patently waiting to hear him tell me that he loved me too. It was a year later when he finally said those special words. I knew that I loved him and was thrilled to hear that he felt the same way. As we began to grow older we were faced with different challenges. As hard as it felt at the time, I knew it was all part of God's plan and that whatever happened was His will for both of our lives.
After making it through a few rough patches God had draw us closer to each other. And through God's grace and mercy He grew our love for each other stronger. As high school graduation drew near and we began to make plans for our lives God continued to lead us in His will. He continued to open doors and show us things to confirm His will. God had placed a call on both of our lives to go into full time ministry without us knowing that the other was feeling the same way. I remember when he told me that he was feeling God call him into the ministry. I know for a fact that was God once again confirming that this was His will.
We we both dead set on going to Boyce College in Louisville, Kentucky. Everything was set and off we went. God really used our time at Boyce to mature us. We knew that we wanted to be married and that this was what God had called us to. We decided to move back home to save money and prepare for marriage. As hard as it was to leave so many friends that we loved we felt that it was the best decision for us.
Less than a month after moving home Ethan asked me to marry him! I was in heaven! I was going to marry my very best friend! As the wedding plans, showers,and engagement pictures rolled by it became more and more real!
Finally, June 6th 2009 - It was here! 6 months of planning and excitement had gone by. 3 1/2 years of dating and 6 years of being best friends. I was going to become his wife! It was a fairytale wedding. Everything was perfect!
God has blessed Ethan and I and grown Ethan and I in more ways then I could have ever imagined. My love for Ethan grows each day and I am honored to serve him, love him, and be his wife.
We look forward to all that God has in store for us, our future ministry and our future family. We are praying that the Lord would continue to lead us to were He would have us go. And we knew that He will because He always has. We are humbled to serve the God who has graciously brought us to Himself. Our God is faithful, all powerful, all knowing and merciful. There is no way that we could ever repay Him for all that He has done. What a honor it is to serve Him.
Ethan, I love you more than anything in the world. You are my best friend. I am honored to be your wife and I look forward to whatever and where ever God takes us. Thank you for loving me, serving me, and leading me. I love you!
2 years later-We spent lots of our time e-mailing and chanting on myspace. We enjoyed being involved in the same youth actives. We were on our youth ski trip at the time. I knew I had strong feelings for him, but didn't understand why he wouldn't tell me how he felt. Little did I know that he was building the courage to tell me.Finally, one night after skiing we were riding on the bus back to the hotel and we were listening to our friends iPod. Ethan looked across the seat at me and told me that this song told how he felt about me and that it reminded him of me. It was the sweetest song about a guy who liked a girl :) I couldn't believe it! You would have thought I had won a million dollars! After that we began "dating". We spent all of our time with our families because we couldn't drive..haha. We were so young.
Time went by and as we got older our relationship grew stronger. I knew I was falling in love with him and was patently waiting to hear him tell me that he loved me too. It was a year later when he finally said those special words. I knew that I loved him and was thrilled to hear that he felt the same way. As we began to grow older we were faced with different challenges. As hard as it felt at the time, I knew it was all part of God's plan and that whatever happened was His will for both of our lives.
After making it through a few rough patches God had draw us closer to each other. And through God's grace and mercy He grew our love for each other stronger. As high school graduation drew near and we began to make plans for our lives God continued to lead us in His will. He continued to open doors and show us things to confirm His will. God had placed a call on both of our lives to go into full time ministry without us knowing that the other was feeling the same way. I remember when he told me that he was feeling God call him into the ministry. I know for a fact that was God once again confirming that this was His will.
We we both dead set on going to Boyce College in Louisville, Kentucky. Everything was set and off we went. God really used our time at Boyce to mature us. We knew that we wanted to be married and that this was what God had called us to. We decided to move back home to save money and prepare for marriage. As hard as it was to leave so many friends that we loved we felt that it was the best decision for us.
Less than a month after moving home Ethan asked me to marry him! I was in heaven! I was going to marry my very best friend! As the wedding plans, showers,and engagement pictures rolled by it became more and more real!
Finally, June 6th 2009 - It was here! 6 months of planning and excitement had gone by. 3 1/2 years of dating and 6 years of being best friends. I was going to become his wife! It was a fairytale wedding. Everything was perfect!
God has blessed Ethan and I and grown Ethan and I in more ways then I could have ever imagined. My love for Ethan grows each day and I am honored to serve him, love him, and be his wife.
We look forward to all that God has in store for us, our future ministry and our future family. We are praying that the Lord would continue to lead us to were He would have us go. And we knew that He will because He always has. We are humbled to serve the God who has graciously brought us to Himself. Our God is faithful, all powerful, all knowing and merciful. There is no way that we could ever repay Him for all that He has done. What a honor it is to serve Him.
Ethan, I love you more than anything in the world. You are my best friend. I am honored to be your wife and I look forward to whatever and where ever God takes us. Thank you for loving me, serving me, and leading me. I love you!
