Our Engagement

Two years ago today, Josh asked me to marry him! I love thinking back on that day and all the memories it holds. It was an extra special day full of surprises, travel, and jumping out of a plane! I wrote this description of the day we got engaged right after the big day, so I feel like it sums up the day perfectly and most accurately. My most vivid memories from that day are being speechless, TWICE, in one day. I thought the most exciting thing that would happen to me that day would be skydiving, but I was wrong...and completely stunned as to what was to come. August 18 will always hold a special place in my heart!

"Well, Josh and I had been planning on going skydiving for our 1 year anniversary. Because of all the craziness in our lives, it got pushed back a month. The week before, Josh told me that he wanted to go to Helen after skydiving because we both had the day off (which was a rare occasion). He also mentioned wanting to go see the Anna Ruby waterfalls.  The morning of skydiving, we left extremely early because Josh scheduled our jump for 8 am, so that we would "have more time in Helen." I didn't think anything of it because I was so consumed with nerves about skydiving. Skydiving went great and it was an amazing experience that Josh and I got to share together. I was looking forward to the rest of what I thought would be a relaxing day in Helen. I didn't think anything more exciting would be happening that day, but I was wrong. We drove up to Helen and walked some in the little town before heading to Anna Ruby Falls. When we pulled in, Josh wanted to bring his packback along for the .4 mile hike to the top. I asked him why he needed to bring his backpack and he told me it was in case we needed snacks or water for our "long" hike ahead. Again, I didn't think much of it. As we were walking up the trail to the falls, Josh was EXTREMELY excited. He was almost giddy for us to get to the top. I didn't understand why he was SO excited about seeing waterfalls that we had both seen before when we were kids. We finally made it to the top and walked over to look at the waterfalls. It was a serene and happy moment. All of the sudden, Josh took a deep breath and told me that he wouldn't want to be anywhere else in that moment. Then he told me that he had lied to me. My heart started racing and I was really confused. Why was he saying something like that in this peaceful and perfect moment? He told me that skydiving wasn't the most exciting thing that would be happening today and then he walked me into the middle of the platform next to the waterfalls. I was slowly catching on, but still very confused. Then in the middle of the crowd, he got on one knee, reached into his backpack, pulled out the ring and asked me to marry him! :) I was so happy and filled with joy. I was also in utter shock until the crowd started clapping around us and it sunk in that we had just gotten engaged! The surprises contined as some of our friends jumped out of the bushes and ran up the stairs to congratulate us. They had documented the entire thing! It was the most amazing day that I will never, ever forget."

Our Story

Today marks 3 years since Josh and I began dating! It's been a whirlwind and I wouldn't change it for anything. In light of today, I am feeling quite nostalgic and started thinking back on our story from the beginning. We get questions all the time about how we met and started dating, so I thought I would share a little bit of our story.

Most people don't know that Josh and I were actually friends for a year before we ever began dating. We met in May of 2010 through a mutual friend. My best friend, Caylyn, and Josh both went to the same college and were already good friends. I went to visit Caylyn the weekend after my junior year of college ended to kick off the summer. While I was there, I met Josh. He came over late one night after getting off work at Papa John's. He was in his uniform and covered with dough, but I instantly knew there was something different about him. It's funny because I remember being interested in him immediately. I knew he was a good, Christian guy and he was fun to be around. I also knew I needed more people like this in my life. I left GCSU that weekend thinking that he was a nice guy who I wanted to get to know more. I then asked to be his Facebook friend, so technically I originally initiated it ;)

We talked over Facebook chat for over a year and got to know each other a lot that way. We both enjoyed talking to each other and would stay up late into the night getting to know each other more. It slowly developed into a solid friendship. Although there was always a spark between us, the fact that we lived almost 3 hours away from each other (I lived in Carrollton and he lived in Irwinton), discouraged anything more from ever developing between us...until the next summer.

I went on a mission trip to South Korea in May of 2011 and because Josh had also gone on many international mission trips, we began talking much more frequently. Little did I know that he was actually starting to pursue me. We talked more after I got back from my trip and one day he decided to call me. We talked for hours. Calling turned into Skyping and soon enough we were spending a lot of time in communication with each other through calls, texts, Facebook chat, Skyping, etc. I was completely blind to the entire thing though! I was in a place where I really wasn't looking for a relationship. I had told God that I needed a break from guys and wasn't going to be looking for a boyfriend any time soon. Well, God and Josh had a different plan. At that point, I thought of Josh as a really good friend and loved his company. I was content being single, so I wasn't pushing for anything more. I do remember thinking, there's no way my future husband is someone I already know (not realizing that he was actually right under my nose the entire time). After heavily pursing me without my knowledge, Josh finally asked me out on a date. (Apparently everyone was aware this was going to happen except me). I thought; why not give him a shot? And the rest is history.

We only went on two dates before he asked me to be his girlfriend and I happily said yes. It all happened so fast, yet it had been building up for a year. Starting a relationship with Josh was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Our relationship was different than anything I had ever experienced and I was immediately smitten. I knew this guy was different than anyone else. He was my best friend and we had so much fun together. We could talk for hours and the conversation never got dull. Josh is such a wonderful, Godly man and a perfect match for me! Since July of 2011, our life together has been far from boring. We started off driving 3 hours to see each other every weekend and visiting each other as much as possible. Josh was finishing his last semester of college, accepting the call to seminary, and transitioning into post-college life while trying to find a "real" job. I had just graduated college and moved back home. I was bouncing around from job to job and was really trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. We came into each other's lives at the perfect time, but it was far from simple.

We have been through a long distance relationship, college, seminary, moving, new churches, new jobs, engagement, marriage, buying our first house, and now expecting our first child. Transition is a word I would use to describe the past 3 years. We have been constantly transitioning from one thing to the next with little stability. The one thing that has remained solid throughout everything has been our relationship. We are far from perfect as is our relationship, but we are genuinely so happy together. We bring out the best in each other and challenge each other to be better. We have worked hard for our relationship, but at the same time, it's always come easily and been very natural. I have never laughed so hard or had so much fun as I have in the past 3 years. I'm so thankful to have Josh by my side through thick and thin to encourage me, love me, and continuously pursue me. God blessed me with a man and a marriage that far exceeded my expectations for myself and I couldn't be more grateful.

So, that's our story. Here's to all the blank pages still left to be filled with amazing memories and adventures. I can't wait for our future together because I know the best is yet to come!