So, there's this guy...

I'm pretty sure I only have like 1 person who even reads these (thanks Karen), but I thought it might be fun to tell you about my boyfriend. If I remember correctly, I was 15 or 16 when we first met, so we've "known" of each other for about 7 years. Our youth choir sang at a church where his dad used to Pastor in Louisiana. To be completely honest (and he already knows this), I do not remember meeting him then. He also remembers seeing me several different times after that at different revivals and also a few times at my church. I don't remember any of those times either. I'm terrible, I know! Fast forward a few years to June/July (I can't remember which month) 2012. We went to the same week of youth camp at Triple S. One night that week, my Uncle J.D. kept trying to get me to go introduce myself to "some guy" named Aaron Grabanski. The name sounded familiar but I couldn't remember why. Little by little things began to click and I remembered that we sang at a church he attended in Louisiana. My Uncle J.D. told me that he had prayed with Aaron and that he was talking about going to the same Bible College as me. That didn't make a difference to me. I can be very shy (as well as stubborn) at times, and this was one of those times. I refused to go introduce myself to him. A week or so went on and I couldn't stop thinking about this guy that I didn't even "know". I began to pray for him every day. Not praying that I could marry him or anything like that, just praying for him in general. Once I went to college in August I expected him to show up too, but he ended up not coming. I continued to pray for him over the next two years. I remember seeing him once each year at a camp meeting in Eufaula, Oklahoma. I didn't talk to him either time (mainly because I'm a big chicken). As each day went on, I felt like this guy was one of my best friends and I couldn't even remember ever having an actual conversation with him. At the beginning of 2014, I, being the creeper that I am, followed him on Twitter and Instagram. Once I worked up the courage, I would occasionally "like" a picture here and there or retweet one of his tweets, hoping he would talk to me. Finally, on May 8th I received a message on twitter. I don't even remember what it said, but I was ridiculously excited. I didn't want him to know that though, so I waited a few hours before replying to it. He ended up calling my Uncle J.D. and getting permission to ask me for my number. During one of our conversations I found out he was finally coming to college. Again, I was super excited because that meant I would see him in 3 months. 

In July I went to a Ladies Spectacular that Aaron's mom was speaking at. In her class she passed around a basket with little candy bars in it. Each one had either a word or a bible verse on it. the one I got had the word Patience on it.

 

I didn't realize how much I would need that. I guess if I'm honest, I have to admit I am not the most patient person. If there's something I want, I go after it. One thing I've learned over the years is that timing is everything. A quote I would (and still) repeat to myself was "The right person at the wrong time is the wrong thing." Once I stopped trying to control things, they started falling together just how God wanted them! Even though it might just seem like a huge coincidence, I think the reason behind me getting the one that said patience was a reminder from God to take things slow. 

August came along and I was kind of afraid that the first time we talked in person might be awkward, but it wasn't at all. I felt like we had known each other my entire life. He is a big goofball and I absolutely love it. He constantly has me laughing.

  

He's a little social butterfly and doesn't meet a stranger.We are complete opposites in that area. He's slowly bringing me out of my shell. We spent the next two semesters getting to know each other. (We are still and always will be getting to know each other better.) We'd prayed a lot about it and talked to our authorities and both had peace about taking a step in our relationship. So, on May 3rd 2015, we started courting. I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for our future.