So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:9-11‬ ‭MSG‬‬

“Yolo. Why not?” I laughed when my friend Kay Lee asked if I’d be interested in going out with her younger brother last December. In the previous few months, Kay Lee and I had become fast friends amid the drama of birth as co-workers at Family Birth and Wellness. It could be said that I loved her first, so when she started talking about Adam my curiosity was piqued. Apparently, his interest was piqued as well because a few days later, I got a text from Adam asking if I’d like to go out. Our blind date was typical, awkward, hilarious. We met, talked, laughed. I shared too much information about being a midwife, he gave a detailed description of his latest coding project. We came to say our goodbyes with such little fanfare that I really didn’t think I’d see him again. Six hours later, we had the following text conversation: ADAM: “Hey, I just wanted to say I had a really good time today meeting you. I know it might be a little odd because of our respective locations but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to see you one more time before I went back to Kansas? If you’d rather not I assure you I won’t be offended, but I thought I’d ask.” ME: “Lol “It wouldn’t hurt to see you one more time..” Maybe you could you act a little more enthusiastic? Sure! I could tolerate to seeing you again. ” ADAM: “Lolol, well I didn’t want to sound OVERLY enthusiastic, so maybe I under did it a bit. 😅 I would really like to see you again if you’re down! ❗❗❗❗⁉️❓⁉️❗⁉️❓‼️❓🎉🎉🎉🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊 He has made me laugh every day since. The rest, as they say, is history.

My heart started to race in time with a flush of adrenaline as the roller coaster started its slow ascent. Buckled and strapped in on the Wildfire at Silver Dollar City, Adam and I chatted casually as I remained completely unaware of the unexpected plunge ahead. Suddenly, near the first peak, a sparkle caught my eye as Adam held an exquisite heart-shaped diamond ring in front of me. “Hey! Do you want to marry me?” he said. I blinked, bewildered and breathless. “I DO!!!” Then off we went! Racing up and down, doing loopty-loops, my whole world turned upside down and righted itself again. All the while I watched the ring still held in front of me and yelled “YES!” a couple of times for good measure. When the ride came to a stop, he slipped the ring onto my finger. Then I saw his family waiting for us at the roller coaster exit. Tears came fast as they welcomed me into their family. The day ended with a light and happy heart, and one left hand that’s a little bit heavier now.

Adam and I both work in the medical field. Our hope is that when God sees fit He will lead us into medical misintry overseas. We don’t know the when or where yet, but it is our strong desire for God to use our strengths, weakness and marriage for His glory.