After a few relationships that had gone south, I decided to finally let God have a fair go of it. I never gave Him a chance before because I thought he was taking too long.
I decided the end of February 2008 to break up with the current boyfriend and move back into my parents house. I had the month of March to get out of my apartment. At the same time I broke up with the boyfriend and informed my parents I needed a place to stay I also gave it all back to God. I told him I would just spend all my free single time serving Him and let Him move me and use me as He saw fit. I felt so good and was ready to see what God had in mind for me. I was prepared to have to deal with consequences for all my choices that were not God's will, but what God was about to bring me pleasantly surprised me.
Half way through March, I was browsing through "the people you might know in your area" list on myspace (anyone remember myspace?) As I was looking through it a profile caught my eye. It was a handsome 35 year old man from Clarksburg. I saw he was a christian, and that he seemed to be everything I was wanting. But two things stopped me from contacting him. One, I was letting God work not me, and two, I didn't think he'd want a 23 year old for a girlfriend. So I just went about my business without another thought. A few days later I got an email from my yahoo personals page. I had been deleting all those emails for the previous 2 years because I was either dating someone or as of recent, was letting God call the shots. But this time I opened it. It showed a 35 year old man from Clarksburg had "winked" at me. It was the same man I had seen on myspace a few days earlier. I admit I was rather excited but also hesitant. I didn't want to do something God didn't want. I decided to go hunt him down on myspace. 20 minutes later I found his page.
I asked God to guide me, and then wrote a short email saying I saw he "winked" at me on yahoo. Short and sweet. That was a Thursday/Friday (I think). The weekend went by and nothing. No email, no friend request on myspace, nothing. I figured that was God intervening so I decided God knew best (as always). Then, Sunday night I got an email. He wrote back saying hello and telling me about himself. He was a christian (pentecostal), he loved to sing and was active in his church. He even made a cd. Oh, and his name was Todd (like you didn't already know who I'm talking about). We talked back and forth the next two days. Exchanged numbers. I asked him if he wanted to go bowling that Tuesday with some friends. He said sure. He'll tell you jokingly (to this day) he thought he was on a date with my friend because she did most of the talking. I saw him Wednesday and Thursday. My mom invited him to dinner Friday. I took him to my apartment Saturday to help me move the rest of it out. We talked on the phone or online through the following week. The following Tuesday I get a call from my friend (the date buddy) and she told me Todd asked if he could come up to her house on his lunch break and talk to her. She said she wasn't sure what he wanted but wanted me to know he was coming. After their visit she called me back. She told me he didn't want her discussing with me what they talked about that he would speak to me later. I will admit I freaked out. I went to his work to see him (at his request. I'm not that nuts). He assured me things were okay. He just wanted to talk to someone who knew me best to learn more about me.
The next night (Wednesday) my friend and I went to church with him. He was asked to sing a special. I still remember what he sang (and what he was wearing). As he sang I knew it... I was smitten. I was falling in love with him. He came back to his seat and during the service he shocked me... he was holding my hand and he let go and made the "I love you" sign with his hand. I didn't react thinking maybe I misunderstood. So, after church he took my friend and I back to her house. We stayed in the truck to talk and she went inside. As we were talking the conversation went to us and what we were looking for in life, in a relationship. He asked me a little about love and "how soon is too soon". Then... he said it, "I love you". A week and a day after our first date, he said it "I love you" and I just had to say it back "I love you too".
8 months later we were married in a small ceremony with our closest family and friends with us. At this posting we have just (3 days ago) celebrated 3 years of marriage. Todd is my best friend. My cheerleader. My reality check. I can't believe at where I started from 6 years ago God has turned my life all around and given me all and more that I ever dreamed and prayed for. Todd is an amazing leader in our family. He is the one I will grow old with. The one I will serve God with. The one I tell everything to. When I think back on how we met and how quickly everything went I can only give all the credit and thanks to God. He knew exactly what He was doing. He was just waiting for me to just stop trying myself. God's timing is perfect.
Thank you, Todd for being all I need and so much more. I love you more than anything in the world (second to God, of course). I can't wait to see what God has in store for us over the years. I'm thrilled I get to do this all with you!
