When I started my blog in February 2012, I was single. I had asked God to not let me date one more man until the man I was going to marry. I could not go through the heartache one more time, and I decided to be smarter about the men I chose to give and receive attention from. No more getting impatient with God’s plan. No more making excuses. No more settling for a “fixer-upper” in terms of spirituality. No more ignoring with red flags. No more putting up with immature behavior. No more settling for treatment I did not deserve. No more giving my heart to someone who did not plan on loving me as I loved them. Don’t get me wrong I went on dates. I said no to lots of guys for lots of reasons, not all of them bad, just simply not for me. I had what I like to call “red lights.” A red light from God that said, “this one is not the one I have for you…keep waiting, keep looking.”

In July of 2013, I met the best man. Yes, literally. Michael was the best man in my brother’s wedding. I wasn’t planning on meeting someone special at my own brother’s wedding, but from the moment I met him, I knew he was special. I don’t wanna say it was love at first sight, but…. standing across from him while my brother and new sister said their vows, I thought to myself, “I’ll probably marry him.”

Who knows what he was thinking. Probably, “It’s so hot out here, and I’m sweating, and I wish they would say I do…”

Fast forward about six months. Michael in Alabama, and me in Connecticut. Michael and I had been talking almost every day getting to know a little about each other and laughing and sharing parts of our day. I started to wonder whether this is going somewhere specific. So I called him up and asked. I told him what I thought about him, that I liked him and wanted to date him…. Much to his surprise. He’s so sweet and unassuming that he told me he liked me too, but never thought I would like him back to which I said that I wasn’t stupid and I knew a good thing when I saw it. :]

Michael means the world to me. I once asked a friend if his wife was everything he ever dreamed she would be. His answer was, “yes and no” which was completely fair. So I was prepared for a “yes and no” kinda love, but that’s not what I got. At all. Michael is everything that I dreamed of, and more. He is the guy that I thought didn’t exist. The guy I was told I would be waiting forever for. The guy I hoped and prayed for. He’s smart, and funny, and loving and giving. He always wants to do the right thing.. Not just for me or because of me, but because he loves God. His standards were already in place when I met him. I didn’t have to change a thing. He treats me with kindness and respect and love. I have never been more loved, and cherished. I truly am his treasure, and I am reminded of that every day. I know everyone says this, but I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Yes, I know, not lucky… Blessed.

I am also truly blessed to stand here before you with my story. I’m so beyond happy that I got to share my journey with you. From the times when I cried to God, and the times when I was firm in my belief that he was good and wanted his best for my life and if I obeyed and was faithful to him and trusted his hand in my life, he would be faithful to me. You helped me remain hopeful and my times of doubt, and encouraged me when I was down. We waited together, and I’m so grateful to you for that. I’m so blessed I get to share my heart with you and that you’ve received it so gracefully and lovingly. I am so blessed to stand before you as a testimony of God’s grace and faithfulness, and to be able to say once again that God’s ways are truly perfect. It works! It’s everything I said I wanted because it’s what God wants for his children, and it’s what I got and I couldn’t be happier. I honestly couldn’t make this up if I tried.

Thank you so much for sticking with me. I can’t wait to hear your stories of God’s faithfulness! And I can’t wait for the stories that I have yet to tell.

Oh yes, one more thing… His proposal was sweet, and simple, and perfect, and just how I always dreamed. We are engaged. :]

A note from Michael:

“Like Lauren said, we met at her brother’s wedding. And yes, it was very hot! We had a great time at the wedding and I really enjoyed meeting Lauren. But I thought she was out of my league (she is ) and I didn’t have a chance, so unlike her.. I certainly wasn’t hearing wedding bells. There were several times in the next few months when I thought, “You know maybe we’ll work out? Maybe she likes me? Nah no way!” But I really enjoyed talking to her and never wanted to stop. Turns out I’m pretty thick and not good with hints.. But it all worked out. Long distance isn’t very easy or very much fun, but it makes us treasure our time together. Lauren is more than I could have ever wished for in a girl friend and now future wife. I was always afraid of loving someone more than they loved me. That was my biggest fear. She has removed that fear completely, to the point that I can barely remember I even had that fear. She is beautiful, godly, patient, funny, and the love of my life. I’m beyond blessed and thankful to have such a loving and caring girl in my life. I may not get why she loves shoes and tea cups so much, but thank God I got her.”

A special thank you to my wonderful and talented sister-in-law Nicole {oh yes, and my brother Richard} who got married and introduced us! And who also took our engagement pictures. If you are looking for an amazing photographer in the Atlanta area, check her out at nmariephotography.org and nicolemariephotographer.wordpress.com and visit her Facebook page here!