You Had Me From Hello...

I don't think there is anyone who could honestly say that their life turned out exactly the way that they had planned. (Thank goodness, huh ?!) Tonight at dinner, Mario and I talked about what we had envisioned for ourselves as we were growing up. We have had discussions like this many times before, but I got tickled tonight when he admitted that he prayed earnestly to be 6'1"...the same height as his favorite basketball player at the time--Isaiah Thomas. I guess the Lord heard his prayers because he stands exactly 6'1"! We laughed, saying that if only he would have prayed to be 6'7", he could've been playing in the league right now! Ha!

Ten years ago I might have guessed that I would have been married by now, or at least getting close to it. I probably wouldn't have guessed that I would be the mother of two children already, and I'm pretty sure I would never have guessed that I would be involved in a career in real estate. I'm also quite certain that I would never have guessed the university that I would eventually graduate from, much less the area I ended up living in. To say the least, I was completely wrong about what God had in store for me!

One day, I plan to write the entire story of how we met down for the kids. But for now, as Mario & I celebrate five wonderful years together, I just want to take a few moments to emphasize how grateful I am for a wonderful man of God, and how grateful I am that the Lord orders our steps!

Five years ago, we walked out of our wedding reception and into the rest of our lives. I love this picture at the very end of our wedding album because it captured us leaving our reception...exhausted, but full of anticipation about spending our entire lives together. (That, and because Jamie is peeking out from between us with a box).

I will never forget the first words we spoke to one another or the exact spot I was standing when we did. I decided the same day that I met him that I was going to marry him! I'm not kidding... hence the title of today's post.

I guess he felt the same, because he announced to his cousin the first week we met that he had met his wife. Funny how there are some things you just know.

When I met his mom for the first time, she immediately made the connection to a photograph she had seen in a dorm room at OBU when they moved Mario in his freshman year. At the time I was dating someone at OBU, and he had a photograph of me in his room. San said that when she walked into the room and saw the picture, she knew that I was Mario's wife...seriously....and it didn't just stop there. She had a dream about both of our kids before they were born and described them both to a tee. Now maybe she's just a good guesser...but you tell me! :)

At any rate , we both set out to college in totally different places having no idea that our paths would cross. It's hard for me not to think about all that we would have missed out on had we allowed the difference in our skin colors to take precedence over how we cared for one another. In all honesty, we were already in love before we even realized the obvious difference. It just never was something that was an issue to either of us, and I'm so thankful for that!

It was weeks or maybe even months before we were kind of like, "Oh, did you notice that I'm black?"

"Yeah...what about me, you know I'm white right?"

"Sure...not a problem."

In reality, our conversation was much more profound than that, but that was just to show how little it truly mattered to us. And because we both felt like God was doing something in our lives, we just felt like he would work the rest of it all out. And he did. And the rest was history.

God has truly blessed us, and we are so thankful. In times of tragic loss and despair, he has comforted us and given us joy unspeakable. In times of worry and uncertainty, he has reminded us that he is still in control. He has joined our two families together in love, and blessed us with precious children and a family of our own!

Here are just a few random photos that I had handy on the computer and thought I would share:

Christmas morning in 2006 before we headed out for Flippin...

Out to dinner in Louisville when we went to the Kentucky Derby earlier this year...

And here we are today, celebrating five happy years of marriage!

Happy Anniversary, Mario! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!