Super Monday

Just Friends: August 2003

Three years ago today was one of the special-ist days of my life. One that for me ranks up there with my wedding day (though Andree thinks that's silly). I remember not being able to sleep the night before and barely even being about to find the words to put in my journal:

"I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT TOMORROW NIGHT! There are no words. I'm nearly speechless. Where did this boy come from and where in the world did he learn to make me speechless? I think he's the only one who has ever made me feel as uncertain yet... confident about anything." (My Journal, February 8, 2004)

The next morning I had my quiet time centered around the goodness of God and the wonderful truth made clear in my life that "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter." (Proverbs 25:2a).

On the outside it wasn't that big of a turning point, life-changing kind of day but somehow in my heart it was. Andree and my dad met privately face-to-face for the first time that night and Dad let Andree know that even though he wasn't ready to give him the go-ahead for courtship he wanted to allow Andree and I to begin to spend more intentional time getting to know each other and each other's families. Dad then invited Andree back to our house to talk to me and allow him to tell me what Dad had said. Even though it wasn't the first time either of us had admitted to liking someone somehow sharing the words "I like you" was a sweet and precious moment that I'll never forget. I remember the look on Dre's face when I told him how incredibly happy I was about the outcome of the talk between he and Dad.

Our "super friendship" was a sweet and sometimes scary season of getting to know each other better as friends, beginning to consider the other as a potential romantic partner, and learning to love each others families. I fell in love with Andree while we were "super friends." It was a very guarded season in our conversations and fellowship yet we began to learn to read between the lines and knew we weren't leading each other on. It was hard to be the ones being "super friends" while others were courting and getting engaged and married. The length of our relationship was different than so many in CLC but it was that way for our good and we are so grateful to be able to look back at all the ways the Lord knit our hearts together as friends before marriage--or even courtship. Though the way my parents asked us to walk out our relationship was not always our preference we both celebrated our wedding extremely grateful for the way they had led us, protected us, and taught us at every stage. What a great God to fashion each relationship uniquely for the individuals in it. There certainly is no one-size-fits-all pattern applied!

I fell in love with the most SUPER man I know during that unique season of our relationship. I am so grateful to have woken up married to the man I love today, three years later. I'm so grateful for how far the Lord has brought us in the last three years and excited to watch God continue to unfold the plan for our lives together. I love you baby!

Best Friends: August 2006

"When it was exactly right that it should be and no sooner, Edmund came to speak the whole and delightful truth."
(Jane Austin, Mansfield Park)