How We Met

I started this blog about 3 years ago and I quit over the past year and a half because of getting pregnant. I think that most normal pregnant people can continue on with their lives, but I was tired and lacked any ambition. Then I had my sweet baby boy and have thought about starting to write again, but between a newborn and part time job, who has time to do anything?

Now I have a 7 month old, and my crazy season of ministry is slowing down. So, I decided to start back.

Despite the time off, I continue to be a lover of Jesus, wife to Brian, mom to David, Young Life staff person, reader, and someone who likes to start a lot of things and then realizes she does not have time for anything new. Kind of like right nowJ

This past week we had the Young Life banquet which is our biggest fundraiser of the year. In two weeks we will have our leader and committee Christmas party. Both of these events will always be very special in my life. Not only because I love the ministry of Young Life, but because this is how I met my husband.

My first year on Young Life staff in Greensboro, I got up on stage at the banquet to explain what we do at campaigners. I had no idea that my future husband was sitting in the crowd at a table with his parents discussing how they thought the “Portuguese chick” was cute. (Side note- I worked for young life in Portugal for a few years, I love Portugal, but I am NOT Portuguese).  The crowd was pretty big at these fundraising events so we both went on with our lives not really thinking a lot about it. (I actually thought nothing about it because I had never met Brian).

Brian was going through training to become a Young Life leader. I heard that we had one guy who was being trained, but I did not think anything about it because most young life leaders are college students. I was definitely not going to be interested in a college student because I am just SO mature. Ha!

So a few weeks go by and it is Christmas time. We have our yearly Young Life Christmas party. Since I am the new girl in town, I am the one to dress as Santa Claus to introduce a game for all of our leaders and committee. Yes, I wore a Santa suit, with a pillow under my shirt and had a beard.

At the end of the festivities, Brian approached me and talked to me about what it was like to be a leader. All I could think the whole time we were talking was how in the world did I just dress like Santa Claus when there was a guy this cute in the room?

I did not know this until later but apparently Brian had talked to his parents (who were also at the party) and said that he had spoken to me and although my breath smelled like coffee and I dressed like Santa, he was interested in me. Yes, I said my breath smelled BAD! Ha, oh the embarrassment.  Somehow, this is how he knew I was different… my breath smelled bad, I was in a sweaty Santa outfit, and he still wanted to ask me out!

I drove home, and called my mom (which I normally do call my mom after events to catch her up on my life, even though we had already talked two other times that day) to tell her that I think I just met the man of my dreams. I will say I was smitten at first sight. I am not sure what I think of love at first sight, because I did not know enough to love him. But I definitely knew I wanted to get to know him.

After that night we had a few months of talking via Facebook and me freaking out. You know, what normal people do when they first start “talking”.  We were officially dating at the end of March and 3 months later he proposed.  I would definitely say we are not normal.  This whole process was fun, exciting, and I knew he was the right one.

We have been married for three years now and still have SO much to learn. But this time of year is always fun to look back and remember what started our new family. I love hearing how relationships start. It is such an exciting time. But, goodness, I am really thankful we are past the “I just met you” stage.

Ecclesiastes says that there is a season for everything. Every stage of relationships is important. Some seasons are glamourous, and some are mundane. But In every season we have the choice to be thankful. So today, I am thankful that I got to dress up as Santa.