There is nothing like hearing a good love story.  It is truly one of my favorite parts of getting to know other couples – hearing the whole story – from start to finish, of how they met, fell in love, got engaged, and said “I Do”.  I will be the first to admit that I am a total romantic at heart and can easily get lost in a romance novel or a good ol’ sappy Hallmark movie!

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I thought it would be super fun to share OUR love story with you!  Today (Feb. 4, 2019) marks 7 years since Derek and I met!  I’m not sure where the time goes and I can hardly believe it has been 7 years since Derek showed up on my doorstep.  You may or may not be surprised to learn that Derek and I met a little differently than most.

Before I dive in to this story.  I want you to be comfy.  So, sit down, relax, and if you’re like me, you’re reading this late at night so get in those cozy PJ’s and join me for this little blast into the past.

It was one cold, January night.  I was sitting on the couch, watching a movie with my parents – because that was always our thing to do when I lived at home!  We were talking and the subject came up about my uncle being on a dating site called “Christian Mingle”.  I won’t lie, we all laughed and thought it was crazy.  I grabbed my laptop and said, “Why not create an account?  Just for kicks.  It could be fun!”  So, away I typed about how I enjoyed long walks on the beach and talks late into the night.

Yeah, no – my profile definitely did not read like your average “dating profile”.

I put down some of my favorite things and what I liked to do.  Most importantly!  I checked that distance box and set it so NO ONE would show up outside of a certain radius from where I lived.  I mean, come on.  Who wants a long distance relationship?  Not this girl!

A few days passed and I was getting those little smiley faces and “Hellos”.  I’d flip through them and move on with my day.  Until one day, about a week after signing up, I get a message from this guy from GEORGIA!  Yes, GEORGIA!  I was in West Virginia.  Hmm, pretty sure Georgia was not just down the street.  Something was different about this one though.  I had to click on his profile and say “hi” this time.

Side note:  I ended up paying for an account just to talk to this guy from Georgia – silly me 😉

We started talking and then he asked me for my number!  *Gasp!*  So many thoughts ran through my mind, can he track me from my phone number?  Can he find me? Should I do it?  Well, I did it!  I gave Derek, this total stranger from Georgia, my phone number.

We immediately started texting all day, every day.  Derek would ask me every day how my day was and questions just to get to know me.  Then one day it happened…Derek asked if he could CALL ME!  Goodness gracious was I ever nervous for that phone call!  Guess what though?  It was so natural and felt like we had literally known each other for years!  We talked on the phone every night for about a week.  These weren’t 20 minute conversations, they went as long as 3 hours!  (Ugh, 3 hours – can you imagine talking on the phone that long these days? Oh my soul, no!)

It was the end of January and during one of our phone conversations Derek asked me if he could come meet me in person.  Of course I replied yes!  We planned it out and a week later he was driving 10 hours to come meet me!

On February 3, he left work late that night and drove 10 hours to West Virginia!  My parents agreed that he could come to our house and stay with us.  Are you thinking what I was thinking?  What if he’s a serial killer?  Could this be the end?  Have I lost my mind?  Yup, my thoughts exactly!  I know these things, I’ve seen ALL the movies, y’all!

Well, Derek drove all night and got to our house at 4am.  You read that right, 4 in the morning!  It was February 4, 2012.  I watched out the window and saw him pull up.  I opened the front door and out walked this handsome and so adorable little man from Georgia with a dozen hot pink roses just for me!  I felt like I was floating on air.  I was living my real life, very own Hallmark movie!  He came up to me, we introduced ourselves, and he gave me the biggest hug.  We didn’t feel like strangers one bit.

Derek came inside and met my parents, who instantly fell in love with him.  We talked for about an hour then went off to bed.  I snuck into my parents room just to get their thoughts.  They looked at me and immediately said, “He’s the one.”  My mind was racing.  My heart was soaring.  I knew God had brought Derek to me for a reason!

That weekend was nothing short of a dream.  I showed him around my home town, he met my family, we talked for hours.  It was unbelievable!  Towards the end of the weekend, Derek looked at me and said these words I will never forget, “Will you be my girlfriend?”  I absolutely said yes and in that moment, I knew that God had not sent a serial killer to our house.  I knew that God had worked past that radius filter on Christian Mingle.  I knew that God had brought me my prince charming that cold, February night.  Our love story was just beginning…