I met my husband a month before leaving for a couple years of missions work in Nicaragua. Our love blossomed quickly, and when we parted, we knew God wanted us to be together for a lifetime. But Brian knew he wanted to let me follow my heart’s desire to serve in Nicaragua, and so we said goodbye.

A few months later, as our relationship was growing in frequent emails, online chats and phone calls, he flew to meet my family – by himself! – and ask my dad if he could marry me. He came to visit me at Christmas with a ring in his pocket. But before he proposed, I shared that I really wanted to meet his family, and I wanted to wait until we knew a date. So he took the ring home, and we waited. At Easter, I flew to meet his family. Of course, I knew he had the ring, and I knew he was dying to propose, but I also knew he had something planned. We drove to his alma mater, Clemson. We visited the beautiful botanical gardens, and I thought, “This is it! How romantic!” But he rushed me off as the sun was setting, saying he had something he wanted to show me. We drove to the edge of Lake Hartwell, where he’d been baptized in college. We sat in the setting sun, and he took out a guitar and played the song, “A Page is Turned” and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. It was so beautiful and sweet… an amazing start to our awesome life together!

My birthday has always been somewhat hard for me. Ever since I was a child I hated my birthday. See, when I was a little girl my mother and father were in a terrible car crash in which the car caught on fire. My father managed to get out of the car but my poor mother was stuck under the stirring wheel and he couldn’t get her out. So we had to arrange for her funeral, but without thinking it through my family arranged to have the funeral on May 19, 1987… my fifth birthday. Big mistake! This single incident scarred me for life, at least that’s how I used to see it.

I have had my share of problems, some of which I was responsible for, But God and his fantastic sense of humor have left me peacefully aware that All things, good and bad work together for my good. On May 19, 2008, my boyfriend, who I may not have known had I not moved with my aunt and went to his grandfather’s church, of many years proposed to me. It was the happiest I have ever been and now that day has been forever changed.

He told me once, years ago, that he would make me love my birthday and he kept his promise. I love him so very much and can’t wait to become his Wife. He is my Angel.