Of God Writing a Love Story

Matt and I met on Christian Mingle which is an on-line dating service.  Both of us had protested meeting someone on-line, but in the end that is how God brought us together.  Our first email was July 2, 2011.  Although Matt lives in Maryland he was in Michigan visiting his parents who live about 45 minutes from my parents.  We were able to meet July 4th.  Our first date was spent all together - Matt and his seven children and me.  After meeting we texted and talked.  Within a short time Matt purchased a cell phone for me and added me to his plan. I was delighted to say the least.   A few weekends later I flew to Maryland and stayed at a hotel on base.  Matt, Chrissy, Amie, Madison, John, Abigail, Matthew, Josiah and I spent the weekend together swimming in the Chesapeake Bay, attending church and visiting friends.  Chrissy and a friend graciously watched her younger siblings while Matt and I went on our first alone date.  Three weeks after that Matt flew to Michigan with the intention of asking my dad's permission to marry me.  My dad agreed and I finally received that long awaited marriage proposal along with a long awaited first kiss.  My great grandma's diamond was finally placed on my finger. The next three weeks are a blur in my memory.  With the help of family and friends I packed, planned a wedding and Matt and I completed pre-marriage counseling via Skype with his pastor and an elder and his wife.  August 27, 2011 Matt and I said, "I do." The following Monday we drove home to Maryland and so in the past three months I met my husband, married, became a step mama to seven, moved half way across the country and am expecting our next child.  God's provision is complete and though the transition has been hard at times I am very well loved and grateful for the hand God has given to hold mine.  To someone else looking in it may seem rushed and quick this courtship and marriage.  However, to me it has seemed so long.  I am thankful that Matt has been a godly leader in our relationship.  He was open with me and made his intentions clear from the beginning.  We both love the Lord and seek to do His will, we believe the same on matters of doctrine, we both love children and see them as a blessing, we both firmly believe in a wife being the keeper at home and in home education.  To both of us those are the important items. Having those settled we have found our tastes to be similar in so many ways.  God truly planned us for each other.  It is a blessing to be a help meet to a godly husband who is a godly father to our children.  It is a blessing to have waited for him, to have kissed only him and I am thankful for God setting that desire in my heart and giving me the strength to wait.  God has given me more than I could ever imagine.  Though there have been difficult days and tears, God gives grace and mercies abundant and He has given me the one my soul loves.