A ridiculous love story.

random facts:

2 Friends
a small group 
3 months of dating
3 month engagement
13 inches separate us in height

I met Dan in the fall of 2010.  I had just moved to the middle of nowhere with my 6 year old son, Judah.  Just the two of us. That fall I started going to a small group that met in the living room of a couple named, the Maurers.  I didn't know the Maurers or anyone else for that matter, but showed up anyways.  The group was made up of the "uncategorized" young adults. The people that didn't fit into, "young married" or "college students".  I guess they could have just named us the "young, single and awkward" which would have been quite accurate.  This mismatched group of YSAs (young, single and awkward) was a strange bunch that included a recently released felon, formerly gay poet, a college professor, professional Christians, new Christians, unemployed, and overworked. We did find common ground quite quickly though- Jesus. That small group in the Maurer's living room became my family away from home.  We broke down barriers, shared each other's burdens and loved each other - scars and all.  I learned so much through that group and was challenged by each person and their faith, journey and testimony.  

some of my (our) small group peeps

I always thought Dan was cute, but never thought he would be up to the challenge of instant Dad. Not many people would, lets be honest.  We slowly became friends but mostly in groups.  In the following winter, I realized Dan was a pretty awesome guy which you can read about here in a comical post I wrote at the time.  In the fall of 2011, I really started to notice what Dan was all about and was attracted to his honesty and how he always spoke such truth in our small group--saying things others might not be willing to say and boldly trusting the Lord.  I figured it out before Dan did, that he was the one.  So one day I spontaneously stopped by his house to tell him so.  He opened the door and I said, "HI! are you busy?" and he said, "Yep." quite abruptly.  I could see behind him in his living room were a bunch of teenage boys (his mentor group - called dgroup).  Some might at least ask, "is there anything I can do for you, or I'm busy at the moment but can i catch up with you later?" Not Dan.  He just stared at me and I nervously laughed and said, "OK BYE." and ran away as he slammed the door in my face.  I really do believe that was an act of God.  I mean he didn't slam the door in my face, it was one of the hinged screen doors that are prone to slamming, but it certainly felt that way.  But God knew what was up. Had i stood on that doorstep telling Dan that I thought we were meant to be together (in front of his dgroup, no less), it would not have ended well.  Dan was not there yet.  We barely were even friends outside of small group.  So I patiently anxiously in agony waited.

Now lets fast forward to April of 2012 after we had started hanging out more one on one being "accountability partners" and digging deeper into The Word.  We usually hung out on Friday nights after work and cooked dinner together.  One night, after he had left and I had gone to bed, I get a call. Its Dan and he sounds kind of serious and asks if he can come over.  I hop out of bed, throw on a hoodie and my glasses (hair already thrown in a high bun for sleeping purposes) and answer the door.  I am all kinds of nervous afraid that he has bad news, not to mention, there is a cute boy in my house and I look ready-for-bed hideous.  He sits down on the other side of the long couch and tries to make small talk like nothing is up.  He hasn't even looked at me yet and I start to prepare for the worst.  As soon as he gets up the courage, I am expecting him to say something like, "hey, I've noticed you have a thing for me, but i don't feel the same way and i don't want to hurt our friendship, blah blah blah."  I have been a professional friend of boys i like that never like me back for sometime-- I know the drill.  So I say, "Dan, what did you come here to say?" And he says, "I am attracted to you."  and I'm like, "come again?" And then he proceeds to awkwardly tell me how he has developed feelings for me and needs me to know.  At this point I haven't looked up and am just not sure I can believe my ears!  He likes me? is "attracted" to me??  I finally brave it and tell him that I feel the same way and we both look up with a sigh of relief and then all i can remember is giggling like a school girl.  He got up to leave shortly after that (it was late after all and he is a gentleman!) and gave me an awkward handshake/hug.  

That is basically the start of us. We never "just casually dated".  From that moment we were so focused on figuring out if this was for real and if we were the right match for each other.  We asked each other the tough questions early, shared our deepest thoughts and concerns, and really just fell fast in love as we kept learning just how perfect we were for each other.  So 3 months later Dan asked me to marry him and I was so sure when I said yes that 3 months after that when we were saying, I do, I knew this would be the start of my happy ever after.  Thank you God for blessing me and Judah with this man who adores us and is everything we prayed for.... You are a mighty and wonderful God.   

 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11