My Dreams

When I was younger, I remember playing make believe in my little kitchen set. Sitting with my numerous cabbage patch dolls pretending to be their mommy and talking about when their daddy would be home for dinner. I imagined a tall, cute and loving man that would keep me smiling and loved me for who I was (or who I was going to be).

My youth minister growing up always told us that we were to be praying for our future mate, that God would prepare our hearts for each other. That we would see God's plan revealed in some way and know that we were the others soul mate. This was something that I did nightly. I prayed for my future husband that God was preparing his heart for me, that God was putting a plan in action for our paths to somehow cross so that we could meet and fall in love and build a life together.

Then God's plan began to unravel...

Today (October 1st) marks 13 years that Nathan and I have been together. We met at church when we were only 12 and were friends for quit some time. As time went on, we became better friends and started hanging out more. One night I get a phone call from him and he asked me out...that was it, he said, "will you go out with me?" It was so cute, we were 15 and had know idea what "going out" meant. For some reason, I said yes. I did not like Nathan that way and just wanted to be friends, but thought, "what the heck". I figured it would last maybe a few weeks or months and that would be it.

This is a picture of us only 20 days after we starting dating.

It is now 13 years later and I can't imagine my life without him.
I can now call that dream my life.
I have that man that is tall, cute, loving and keeps me smiling. But most of all, he loves me for who I am and has never turned his back on me. He has never once wished for something else. I have found the man of my dreams. That little girl who role played is now living the dream I always had.
So To The Husband of My Dreams...
Nathan, you are the first to hold me when I am full of tears.
When I question life, you encourage me.
You gave me two beautiful children
whom I adore with all my heart.
Nathan, you find the best in me when I doubt who I am.
You challenge me to be better with my talents.
You never put me down in front of others.
I admire your loyalty to me and to our family.
You have consideration for others.
You are gentle but yet strong,
and you have a true devotion to our marriage.
You are overwhelmingly understanding,
and those are only a few of your wonderful characteristics.

But then there are the things that are from a dream I didn't have.
I never dreamed I would have a husband who was in the ministry.
My dreams never showed a dad watching Thomas the Train
for the hundredth time instead of the "big game".
My dreams did not reveal that my husband like me
too would struggle with life,
but prove a man of God would overcome in victory.
I never dreamed I would want to be with someone
as much as I want to be with you.
My dreams left out the man that would know my every needs
and surprise me with a chocolate candy bar
when I was down and really needed one.
The strong athletic dad who became soft and gentle holding his newborn daughter each night as she fell asleep in his arms was never a part of my dream.

Its amazing how God puts people in our lives for a reason and we don't even realize it until years later. I would have never imagined marrying that 12 year old annoying kid that was in my Sunday school class, but I did. I often wonder how Nathan and I would have met had God not brought his family to my home church so many years ago. No matter how it happened or when it happened, I thank God each night when I close my eyes that Nathan is the one laying next to me and that he accepts me for who I am no matter what my mood may be that day. I seemed to have found something better than I could have dreamed for. I am so thankful that you are mine. You are my best friend, soul mate, dream come true and more. I love you more than anything.

('All My Life'  by  Kaci & JoJo  was our song all while we were dating)