"I found the one my heart loves".
Song of Solomon 3:4

Today, May 11th is mine and Austin's 8th anniversary! It has been a great 8 years and God has truly blessed me with the man that my heart loves.

Austin and I met in high school and started dating our Senior year. But, if I back up about three years when I was 14 or 15, I started praying for my spouse. At Macedonia, we had a group of ladies who brought us girls together and taught us about choosing a Godly mate. I am so thankful to those ladies for instilling in me the desire to pray for and search out a Godly man. I remember they had us make a list of the top characteristics we wanted in a spouse. My top ones were listed as follows:

1. Faithful Christian Man
2. Loves me for who I am
3. Loves his family and my family
4. Loves children
5. blue eyes
6. Tall and dark complexion
7. Hard worker
8. Big, strong hands (random, I know)

I prayed over this list almost every night. I made alot of decisions regarding my future as a college athlete/student based on the feelings from my prayers. Then, in April of my Senior year, God answered all my questions and my prayers. Austin came into my life and the questions about college were answered. Nothing about being a college athlete felt right, so I decided to be just a college student, hang around Florence, and mine and Austin's relationship blossomed and the rest is history.

I look back on "the list" and not only did God fill my every request but he did 10 times better than I expected! Because of "the list" and what I learned from it, I try to always keep prayer in the center of my marriage and in the center of my life.

Austin is a great husband, wonderful father, and I cannot wait to see what our future holds! Happy 8th Anniversary, Austin!

I Love You, More!