We are learning there is a big difference between those 2 things. We didn't intend to wait another 7 months but are thankful you are waiting alongside us as we all adjust to life. Everyone be well! The celebration will only be bigger!
My earliest days with Erin were wrapped around our calls to ministry and our passion to create meaningful community experiences. Working together was a joy. I daily thought- I have the coolest and greatest team of people to work with-how lucky am I! As transitions occurred in both of our lives-mine included taking a job at a different church, our relationship-well let's just say-started to shift. I found myself longing to share time and space and dreams and planning and creativity-well I guess the truth is-what I realized was, I wanted to share ALL of life with this beautiful woman (which was a surprise to me-oh by the way). It was at The Wildgoose festival (a hippy Christian version of Woodstock) in July 2018 hearing speakers talk about justice and openness and vulnerability when Erin and I shared what I was thankful to find out was a mutual love for each other. As many of you know, the journey of self discovery can be full of twists and turns and this was no exception. Coming out to each other was only step one for us. The months that unfolded in front of us were full of so much love but a fair amount of pain as well. I wanted to shout from the rooftops that I had finally found the person I wanted to share my life with. The person I wanted to partner in life with. The person who makes my heart leap for joy. The person who gives me a confidence to pursue the things I love and supports me with care. "Erin Reed Cooper is my person!" I wanted to yell. The reality is neither of us were in jobs where we could do this right away. We shared so many wonderful discoveries and our love and relationship grew and grew and grew. Fast forward-We both started new jobs in August 2019 and we now live our love aloud! It's freeing and beautiful! I get to be with the one who inspires me, impresses me, and makes me so excited to look toward the future knowing we get to do it all together!
Once upon a time there were two beautiful women who enjoyed one another's company SO much. They liked walking to the creek with the dog, combing through Goodwill for amazing finds, grilling out, watching movies, sharing favorite songs, and trying new fancy sodas. They really enjoyed spending all the extra parts of their days together. One day, as they were walking the aisles of one of the very best Goodwills in town, they came across a magical crystal box. It glowed like it was made of the purest acrylic. It was a bit cracked at the corner, as though it had had untold adventures. Inside the small clear box was a set of cards, each one with a mystical question such as, "What is the best vacation you've ever taken?" or "If you could go to the Moon tomorrow, would you go?" The women knew that this magical box was important, they wanted to share it. Right away, they bought it for only two hundred and ninety nine beans. Before the women even got to their car, the box began to work its special magic. One woman found herself saying out loud, "if we answer all of the questions in this box, our relationship will be changed forever." They decided on some rules for the magic box: one would read a question, and both would answer before the next question. They must try their very hardest to answer the question and not just say "pass," unless it was absolutely necessary. The magical box would take turns living at each woman's house until their next outing. The box went everywhere with the women. They took it to the creek as they walked the dog. They took it to Chattanooga to see the river. They held it as they sat in the backyard and tried new ginger ales. Their friendship grew and grew. They laughed and cried together. They texted each other questions late at night. One fateful day, as they spoke on the phone, a challenging question emerged from the box. "What would you try if you had no fear?" "I can't answer that." one woman said, catching her breath with nervousness.
"What do you mean, you can't answer that?" the woman asked? "I can't. I know what my answer is, I'm just... I'm not ready to tell you." The woman felt her heart pounding in her chest, the magic box pried at what it knew was the key to unlocking the kind of friendship the women would have. She felt relieved when the other woman assured her that she looked forward to the time the she would feel comfortable sharing her fear. As time passed, the women enjoyed many more questions. "Who do you admire the most?" "What do you think are your greatest strengths?" "When have you gotten in the most trouble?" But always, that question echoed in the back of their minds. Sometimes, one would pull that question out and show it to the other. She would smile and shake her head, and the card would go back in the box. Sometimes, one woman would imagine herself sharing her answer. But every time, she was certain she wasn't ready. Deeper into friendship the women fell. As the warm summer days grew long, they would watch the sky turn from blue to pink to indigo, until they would begin to shiver under the stars. One magical night, the stars twinkled over their heads, the magical box glistened between them, sometimes their hands touched as they reached for the next question. Suddenly, they caught each other's eye. One woman took a deep breath and said, "I'm ready." "Really?" she asked, hopefully. She breathed deeply and spoke slowly, nearly choking over each word. "Yes. I'm ready. If I weren't afraid of anything..." she had imagined telling her friend for so long how she was feeling. "If I weren't afraid of anything..." she repeated. The magic of the box reminded her that she was safe and could say it out loud. "... I would kiss you." The words hung out there. Their eyes glistened with tears as they realized that the magic had worked. Suddenly the air swirled with joy and excitement and the women began to imagine the wonder that awaited them, on the other side of fear.