A Valentines Story… Part 1
The moment I first caught a glimpse of Josh I knew one day I would marry him. Something about him seemed so calming. It was love at first sight. At the ripe old age of 12 I knew he was the one for me.
From then till now there is a long, comprehensive redemptive love story. One I have shared bits and pieces of over on Instagram but never felt the go ahead to share more in depth. Until now. Sharing a story not only of yourself but one of your spouse and yourself can be complicated and tricky. Different perspectives, different memories of how scenarios played out, and things that are too personal to share. But as valentines day approaches I want to tell you just a short story of incredible redemption and a miraculous journey between my husband and I. There may be many many parts to this post, so please be patient with me as I sort this all out. But here is to part 1.
If I were to share from the very beginning you would be here for days…. so let’s try to consolidate as much as we can at the beginning and then i’ll try to share more in depth as the story unfolds.
First off- we met when my brother started dating his sister. They got married. And a few years later my sister started dating his older brother.. and got married. Yes you read that right. My brother marries his sister and my sister married his brother. There were two of my siblings married to his siblings so I knew it was only fate that we were meant to be. lol.
Our families got to know each other very well through the years and with our sibling being married to each others siblings we would be together quite a bit. We also attended the same church.
Through the years I held on to hope but always thought surely he was out of my league :) He never really noticed me ( lol)
My family and I moved out West to Montana in 2011 and I knew my chances with Josh were even slimmer than they were before. And I figured he would for sure never remember me. Haha.
I was 16 the year we went on a mission trip to South Africa together ( with my sister and his brother). I wasn’t aware that he was going, he wasn’t aware that I was going. We both booked our tickets and headed to South Africa together. I don’t know why but I figured that if I was going to be spending all that time with him in S. A. I shouldn’t have a crush on him and I should get over it. So I, being the emotionally shut down person that I was, just got over it.
Yup that’s me on the right and Josh in the black shirt second from the left. South Africa 2014
We got back from the trip said our goodbyes and that was it. I was really shy and introverted and we literally hardly ever talked. Like ever. We would say the occasional passing words to each other. But I was very socially awkward, scared of boys, and didn’t see the need of talking.
Apparently the trip that made me realize that it was time for me to move on, was the same trip that Josh actually noticed me for the first time.
I mean come on, how couldn't you notice that beautiful brace, I mean face?
To be continued….
