how I met my husband

Happy Monday, friends, and happy bonus post day! I'm linking up with Jen and the girls for this second blog post today, in their Share Our Lives link party. I couldn't resist this one, since it's all about how my husband and I met. 

Todd and I met for the first time as kids at kids camp one summer. I didn't officially "know" him, but I knew who he was; he was the annoying kid that everyone called Spanky. I am pretty sure he doesn't remember me from that age, but I knew who he was and didn't care for him all that much, truth be told. 🤣 Fast forward to our high school years, when we officially met at church on a Wednesday night. (He was much more normal at this time, and an amazing guy.) We had changed churches at this point, and other than one or two people, I didn't know anyone. There was one other girl who was really nice to me, but the other ones were all kind of snobby. Todd introduced himself, and we were instant friends. That eventually grew into us being best friends, which then led us to dating and falling in love! We were friends throughout my sophomore, junior, and first half of senior year; then we started dating right before Christmas. I think we even didn't date for a bit after, because it felt too weird dating my best friend. We started dating again in the spring, and we attended each others proms. 

I'll never forget the night I realized that I was in love with him; we were at my sister's house hanging out with my niece and nephews, and had been jumping on the trampoline with them. I remember after Erika went back inside that we stayed out there talking, and just looking at the stars; I turned to him and my breath caught in my throat when I realized that I loved him with all of my heart. It was mutual for both of us, so we dated from then on! We took a short break when I first when to college (he was afraid I'd find someone I liked more), but we got back together really quickly after that. He proposed about a month later, we were engaged for a year, then at the young age of 19 on October 4th of 1996, we got married! 

This was us in the car on our way to the beach, and then Disney World with my Dad and Sandy the summer we graduated.

And then a year and a half later at our wedding...

The notes you see in the front cover of my friend's mom's Bible is some of the best advice we ever received! 

Our marriage is nowhere near perfect and has definitely had its ups and downs, but we are committed to the Lord and to each other, and we promised to stay that way until death parts us. I can't write that sentence without acknowledging some of my family members and friends who have been affected by divorce. For them, that was never what they intended as young couples when they first got married, but sometimes the circumstances are out of their hands and they don't have much say in the matter. Know that if you're reading this and that describes you, that I pray for you as often as the Lord brings you to my mind. My heart hurts for you, because sin and separation and divorce have lasting effects that impact families for generations to come. But as I say, grace upon grace!  God extends His mercy and grace to us all, aren't you thankful for that as I am? 

Thanks for reading our story today, friends. Love to all!