Our Story

The Love Story
For those of you who don’t know the whole story, I met Kyle over four years ago, when he started working downstairs in the Welcome Center at Focus. I had just gotten back from my DTS in England and he was working at Whit’s End at the time. I only knew of him, with the occasional conversation now and again. We actually, I remember, painted the toddler room downstairs together February of 2004 and thinking he was a nice guy, and that he might like me. Fast forward to spring of 2007, I had noticed him a few more time at theMill. He now worked in the IT department at Focus, and saw him a lot at church. He sat behind us, and since I knew him as well as a couple of friends from Focus did to, he ended being invited to hang out with us to play games at my house. From there we hung out a couple times with friends, but he was so shy and worried he would do something, mess up and I not like him at all, that he didn’t hang out with us much. However by this time he was interested in me…and I was just oblivious…well sort of. ;) It took courage on his part to even hang out with us on occasion, but finally worked up the gumption to hang around more often and looked for an opportunity….
When he saw me leaving for a missions meeting at theMill and he emailed me the following Monday asking if I was going to go to China. (Which I did go, it was an opportunity to go in a week and a half for two weeks…so amazing! It was an incredible trip! He was also the first one to text me welcome back) That’s how the emails started and a deeper friendship as I began to get to know this quiet guy, and saw his heart through those emails, as we started sharing thoughts, feelings about things, and history. We had similar tastes, love for books, passion for God’s will and ministry, and I found a friend who I could talk to almost about everything and feel confident in who I was, and who he was, and never worried once what he thought of me. With things that had happened in the past I was leery of more then friendship, but as our friendship progressed I realized I started to like him…really like him. ;)

Then, we went through the “friendlationship” stage, for about 6 months, two unofficial dates, a declaration of feelings, then back to friendship cause we felt that God had said no. and we felt that it wasn’t right time on both our parts, which that did lead to some confusion and un-sureness for a while, but was shown to be a growing time for both of us. We didn’t hang out one on one and email stopped for about a month. The emails then resumed somehow I don’t remember why and friendship deepened even more. I remember one time at theMill, I was talking with a friend, looked up and saw him, and God spoke to me, that Kyle had been praying for me, about me for a long time. That was confirmed much later one when I found out his side to the story.

So, then at Christmas things changed again, right when I had decided it was fish or cut bait time, he did to, asked my dad permission and he asked me out officially on the 18th of December we went on our first official date. New Years, was one of the best I’ve ever had, with games, laughter, seeing his glass, and fireworks in the park, above our heads, and between us, with a sweet kiss. From there our friendship only deepened and we spent more and more time together, from movies, to walks, to romantic to silly dates, we had a lot of fun and crazy adventures. Then there was an almost break up time end of February on my part, freaked out a bit, but after much prayer came back together stronger then ever. Shortly after that he declared his strong feelings, using the word love. And two months later I told him at the same spot, and had written him a poem that described our journey that far.

I left for another mission’s trip to Africa; I lead a team to Kenya. It had been almost a full time job after work took up a lot of time, with meetings, preparing and people. I came home exhausted, for it was a rough trip. He helped me get life back together again to where things felt normal.

So officially we dated for over a year and engaged since, July 3rd, he proposed at our special park. It was a normal Thursday date night, which included a re-creation of our first “date”, including mini golf and much laughter and conversation, turned to a picnic in the park, an album that contained all our adventures done and yet to come, then with sparkling cider, sparkling rain drops, and a sparkling ring! I said yes! ;)

This season is busy, but the best ever too. Lots of changes, ups and downs, ins and outs, he has been there through thick and thin over this last year. I am so thankful for him. I love being engaged! Loving planning our wedding, which will be June 6th, 2009! ;)


Kyle’s Side
April was, and still is, the cute girl working the front desk at the Welcome Center. I always remember thinking she was cute (and her residual British accent from DTS was super cute too!), but never knew enough about her to be sure enough to ask her out. Plus I was really shy. I’d worked at focus for several years before I started going to theMill (at my brother’s urging) and discovered April was there too. Being shy, and unsure of myself, I would sit in the back by myself. Still not ready to jump around like all the other crazies at theMill (of which, I am now one of), and also unwilling to let April see me for me. Tentatively, I would talk to her, or more often her friends so I could find a way to talk to her (yes, im a stupid boy). As I got more comfortable she too seemed to warm up to me. Her giggle was music to my ears and I loved Friday nights. Although when asked to join the group after the mill I politely declined for a while, still unsure of myself.

Luckily, I had a crutch. Email. Being a nerd it was a way I could communicate without feeling exposed, so when I noticed her running off to the last-minute china meeting, I found it as a way to start talking to her outside of theMill. I quickly discovered just how deep, caring, loving, smart, funny, artistic, and vivacious this woman of God was and wanted to know more.

While she was in China I couldn’t wait to find out how it was. I thought about her a lot and realized I wasn’t sure I could just be friends anymore. Somehow, I got her cellphone number (I don’t have any idea how to be honest) and kept track of the days until she would be back, and welcomed her with a text (as calling her would have been too direct for my shy self to have done). I had no idea I would be the first to welcome her back, and that it would leave such an impression on her.

After that, I hoped every Friday for an invite to come play games at her house after theMill. And for some reason they happened ;) Things continued at that pace for a while as I was unsure of how to proceed. There was a hiccup along the way, but in the end, it ended up being God’s providence for both of us.

In December, I finally was ready, with God’s permission, to proceed and asked her fathers permission to ask her out on a date. I thought this was something most people did, but found out later it really impressed her and her parents. We were dating exclusively by Christmas, and celebrated New Years together, complete with a first kiss and our own fireworks show ;)

After that I quickly fell head over heels for her, realizing shortly thereafter I could spend the rest of my life with her. She motivated me to do things I never would have imagined doing, or imagined I had the imagination for (ask her about Valentines day). And I loved every minute of it.

I declared my Love for her and had to wait patiently for her to return the word, but not the feelings, as she already displayed her love for me in all but words. Shortly thereafter, I asked for her parents permission to marry her (which was a LOT easier than I expected. Her family is awesome) and received their blessings. We then went ring shopping and it was nearly two more months before I finally proposed. I took us back to our first unofficial date, and then to the place we shared our first kiss, and also the place where I told her I was going to marry her. God decided He wanted it to rain, and for the sprinklers to turn on, but He just wanted to add to the story I think ;) The rest, as they say, is history. :)