As of February 1st, 2001, Jennifer and I have been in a steady wonderfull relationship for 1 year and 8 months. The times have not always been trouble free, yes we do have struggles that we have to work through. But that's just it, when your with the person that is right for you, the struggles don't drag your relationship down, they simply make it stronger. This has been the case for Jennifer and I, when problems came, her and I and God worked through them. I must point out that a successfull relationship is deeply dependant on the support that God brings into it. If you are having problems in your relationship, and God isn't involved, I strongly encourage you as a couple to invite him into the center!

Jennifer and I have known each other since we were both children. We grew up in the same town, and went to the same church. Our parents knew each other, and we always admired each other for who we were. Soon after I came to college, Jennifer and I formed a strong friendship, but we really never thought of each other as more than that, great friends. We would sit and talk about life, and our plans for the future, and our passion for ministry and God.

Then one day, it hit both of us like a ton of bricks. We had both been searching for that special someone in our lives, praying, begging God to bring them to us. We would have never thought that that person we had been praying for had been sitting under our noses the whole time. Once we both started liking each other, we thought, "OF COURSE!!" Why didn't we think of it sooner? I suppose that it was all a part of God's timing. Somehow he knew that we weren't ready to know about each other, and he kept us blind to the possibility until his timing was right.

The realization of what we felt for each other started developing in our weekly drama team meetings at the church. I was the director of the drama team, and Jennifer and I would share ideas and talk about our lives. Then we went to a Bob Carlisle concert together one Sunday night, and during that concert, our feelings became crystal clear. As Bob Carlisle talked about marriage and love, I knew for sure that Jennifer was the one.

Of course, I had always admired Jennifer. I admired her awesome Christian spirit, her leadership, her passion for ministry, her ability to resolve all conflicts between her friends, and most of all, her unshakable faith in Christ, and the burning passion she had in her heart for ministry.

At the same time, Jennifer admired me. For what I have no idea, but she claims that she saw in me many of the things that I saw in her. I have to take her word for it when she tells me that she felt the same feelings of awe that I felt for her.

After Jennifer and I realized that we really liked each other, we both knew we needed to pray about whether God wanted us to be together. We wanted to make sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt that we were embarking on God's will. I knew within a few days, after much persisting that God give me an answer. In fact, my answer came as I jumped in my truck and started driving West on the interstate, and told God that I would not stop until he gave me an answer. It seems kind of childish and selfish now, but 40 miles down the road, God spoke to me, and confirmed what I hoped was true. I remember being anxious, and then feeling a peace that said yes to the very core of my being, it was the same feeling that I still have today that Jennifer is the one. Jennifer's answer came a month later. (She has a hard time getting God to give her answers quickly!) But I didn't push her, I wanted us to both be sure, and to have complete agreement that us entering a relationship was God's will. With a double yes from God, we commited to each other on June 1, 1999.

Since then, me and Jennifer are promised to each other. I gave her a promise ring the night before Christmas Eve 2000. I asked her if she would be willing to spend the rest of her life with me, and with tears in both of our eyes, she said yes. We aren't financially ready to be married just yet, but we know without a doubt that we will. The promise ring signifies our commitment to each other, and our aggreement to enter into marriage as soon as it becomes possible.

Many people ask how I can wait, they ask why I don't just go ahead and get married despite our situations. To them I say, I want to make sure that I can provide for a family when I say I do. I want to be able to support the woman that I love so much, and besides, I'm enjoying continuing to get to know the one that I am going to spend the rest of my life with!

Both Jennifer and I are planning on entering into the field of psychology. I plan on getting a doctorate in counseling psychology, and own my own clinic as a psychologist. Jennifer plans on getting a degree in Marriage and Family counseling, and subject near and dear to both of our hearts. In case you were wondering, Jennifer and I plan to practice psychology together in a joint clinic. Through our careers we will seek to help people lead better lives, to help them in their times of need and crisis, to heal the sick-hearted, to reach out to those who cry out in desperation, to those who have no hope for the future, and most importantly, to share the love of Christ with them.

Once in a lifetime, that's it, and we plan to make the best of it! Peace and Love to all of you who are still searching! Know this, God has someone for you, and in HIS time he will bring that person into your life. Just don't be surprised if it's someone you didn't expect!