From −45° Alaska to Wedding Photographers: Our 11-Year Journey

11 Years Ago…

January 16, 2004.  It was freezing!  And when I say freezing I mean -45 degrees.

I was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska and this little Florida girl NEVER left her room except to go to work.

That day I did leave my room.  I was about to make the most frightening decision of my life.

Let me back up for a minute.  I joined the military in 2002.  Graduated Basic Training in 2003.

Sometime in March of 2003 I met this boy.  He was cute and sweet and knew just what to say.

We went out a few times and then I headed off to Alaska for the second half of my training.

I had no real previous relationship experiences so I figured we would go our separate ways.  Well this boy held on tight.

He would not let me go.  We began a long distance relationship and our feelings only grew.

In October he asked if I would marry him.  I said No.  I just couldn’t. I mean I barely knew him!

Well I ended up getting orders to Texas and he was in Virginia. Those orders seemed like it would put an end to our relationship. And then came Christmas break.  I flew home had a great time with my family.

On the way back to Alaska God spoke to me.  I knew it was God because it made no sense.

 At that moment I received confirmation.  He was the one.

I made the phone call and told him to get a plane ticket to Anchorage because we are getting married!

Although I had peace about my decision I definitely didn’t have peace from those around me.

And now looking back  I don’t blame them.  It was completely crazy what I was doing.  My family didn’t agree, my friends didn’t agree, and my supervisors didn’t agree.

January 15th He arrived.  I was terrified.  I began to second guess myself.  Did I really hear from God??

And yet again, God spoke to me and said Yes.

January 16th.  Today was the day.  As I got ready upstairs my nerves were on end.  Would he back out?  Would I?

My head was spinning.

As I walked down the stairs and approached him.  I knew.  He was THE ONE.

My head stopped spinning and my nerves grew still. I grabbed his hand and since then have never let go.

I look back at that time in my life and laugh.  We got married and I flew all the way to Virginia to be with him.

We didn’t know each other like we thought we did.  We were naive.  But God is so good and he got us through that time.

It didn’t make sense to anyone around us and even us at times.

However, God brought us together and knew we needed each other.

He knew that we couldn’t achieve much on our own, but together we would make an awesome team.

11 Years Later I can honestly say that I truly love this man I call my husband more than I ever could imagine possible.

He truly is my very best friend, and I couldn’t imagine doing this thing called life without him.