If you are just joining our story, feel free to start from the beginning, first blog post titled " The Beginning" on April 18, 2013. Stacie asked me to write a post, so here we go! The first time I remember Stacie was meeting her in the Teen Mania ATF office. She had on a cream dress with cream shoes. I thought she was beautiful. I did not show her pictures of my "friend" back home, even though she said I did! But I did have a friend back home and we took a year off cause I had to because of Teen Mania rules. We planned to pick back up after my year. But, that would change. Things I remember about Stacie our internship year: her eyes, sweet soft voice, beautiful big teeth, the way she dressed, how sweet she was, and how drop dead gorgeous she was. We became very close buddies. I felt like I needed to protect her on the road. We had a few long talks on the bus. I knew off the bat that she was a Godly woman. I always enjoyed being around her. I decided to give her the nickname "Frog". The reason was cause she was sitting in a chair with her feet pulled up like a frog. Everyone I introduced her to also called her Frog, except for Duncan (drummer from the Newsboys), he said she didn't look like a frog! When our year was over I never stopped thinking about what was Frog doing. So I started writing letters and calling her as a friend. (wink wink) I was thinking about going back on the road and doing another year at the Internship and my "friend" at home told my sister that "this music thing" (the road), would get out of my system in a month. This was not long after I came home. I was missing the road and I loved it. So I knew then, that my friend was not "the one." So not long after that, I ended it with her. I was in the studio working on a CD with some Teen Mania friends, January 1999, I was talking about Frog. One of my friends encouraged me to reach out and call her, so I did. But I always thought there was no way she would be my gul! But I called anyway! I started writing letters and calling, but phone calls cost per minute. But where I worked at had a 1-800 number and I would tell her to call me there because it was free!!! Everybody knew when she called, "Frog" was on the phone! Not long after I started writing and calling I knew I wanted to pursue her even if she said no, cause I ain't no quitter! So I told her how I felt. But before I told her, I talked to her Daddy on the phone about pursuing her, which I have never done, but I knew she was special. So her Dad suggested I give her a little time to get to know each other better. So I did. Finally, we nailed down a date for me to come see her and her family. I was nervous as crap, but I was ready to see what would be next. I knew even before I saw her, I had very strong feeling for her. I wanted to smooch on them big lips! When I got there and walked in and saw her, I was speechless. I knew then that I was in love with this girl and this was it. I was blown away because I felt like she felt the same way, the one I felt like I didn't have a chance with. Later that weekend her and I were staring at each other still speechless. I decided it was time to try and get me a smooch. I leaned in and for whatever reason, I felt like I needed to ask her, which I have never never done! She told me she wanted to wait to kiss until the day she got married. I said... Ok! In my mind I said, that will be me! I enjoyed a great weekend with her and her family. I knew I fit in immediately (furp)! I went back home assuming we were courting and telling all my friends that I was courting Frog! Then she busted me and said you never asked me! I was scared she was going to break up with me, so I asked her quickly, and she said yes! One month later I put a ring on her finger! I didn't want to wait, neither did she! I knew Stacie related to me, she knew me, and not like in the bible times, knew me! I knew she would understand the call on my life and would be that special woman that could support that, because it would take a special woman. I was blown away that I was going to be marrying Frog, Stacie, from Teen Mania, is this really happening? This is why you brothers should get saved, even if your ugly God will give you a fine wife! He knows the desires of your heart. Even when you don't deserve it He lets you ween! (win) Thanks for reading and don't forget to share! Brian Click here to continue reading the next post He Drove All Night.
If you are just joining our story, feel free to start from the beginning, first blog post titled " The Beginning" on April 18, 2013. I've been pouring back over letters and my journals trying to find exact details on our story at this point. If you remember in my last post, I told you about the phone call I received from a dear friend and mentor who suggested pushing the wedding back. She wanted to make sure I was not making a hasty decision. She had all the best intensions towards me. I had a little freak out and put the wedding on hold. Well, that lasted a day maybe two! I was miserable! Brian was also, and very confused. I had to go with where I found peace and that was moving forward with Brian. I felt terrible for scaring Brian the way I did, and getting so caught up in my emotions, but maybe this would give him a tiny glimpse of what it's like being married to me! I never questioned my love for Brian or that I wanted to marry him. But it did bring about other questions that I needed to dig into. Just from looking at our letters, we started asking some very straight forward questions, and some fun communication started. I love the goo goo stage, I still consider myself in it! But I also love the straight forward questions and answers, that's how you learn about each other. I love learning about Brian, and he gets to learn about me whether he loves it or not! (I think he does) But when all was said and done, we were back on track and more in love than ever. Brian came down mid November to spend four days, and during that time we made a quick trip down to Albany to meet his new niece. We spent a lot of time talking that trip. It felt like things were different. The only way I can describe it is "real." Brian had seen me very emotional and I felt safe with him. I didn't have to be embarrassed about what I felt, or embarrassed to ask questions, and I desperately wanted him to feel like he could do the same. You know how it is when you're so high in the love clouds, nothing bothers you and everything is so cute. Well, that's great for a season! I love the coming down from the clouds part too, I love real life, and I think you can still be crazy in love and live in real life. I was starting to feel that with Brian. Now it may have taken a little longer with him to feel comfortable with telling me the way he sees things because he never wants to hurt my feelings, he's still that way! It's not always a good thing. But I appreciate his heart. At the end of November we were at a six month countdown to the wedding. It still seemed so far away. The goodbyes were always so hard. Brian would hold my face in his hands and stare deep in my eyes. Usually he would kiss my face, my forehead and my nose, then hold me for a long time. I still remember how he smelled ( like Eternity). He would leave a T-shirt for me and spray it with his cologne that I slept with. He also sprayed all of his letters and cards. I think when I'm finished writing this tonight I'm going to go snuggle up next to him just to smell him. I think God wants our relationship with Him to be like this also. We can be crazy in love with Him and know how good He is. We can be thankful for His faithfulness and giddy that He cares for us so much. But He also wants us to be real, and to feel safe to be able to ask questions and share our hearts. God is not upset with us when we are confused or frustrated. He created us, He created you! Seek Him and you will find Him! Ask and you will receive! Psalm 34:4-5 "I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." How amazing is that scripture, it says that all you have to do is seek the Lord and He'll answer you! Lift your face, NO MORE SHAME!! Lift your face there is radiance waiting for you! YOU ARE WORTHY OF LOVE! (headed to snuggle) ~Stacie Click here to continue reading the next post Brian's side.
Sorry I can't make the volume any louder!!!
Enjoy!
~Stacie
If you are just joining our story, feel free to start from the beginning, first blog post titled " The Beginning" on April 18, 2013. I just want to start by catching everyone up to speed, here's a little timeline of where we are: July 2, 1999 - Brian's first visit since Teen Mania July 7, 1999 - We're courting August 27, 1999 - We're engaged! (wedding is set for May 27, 2000) Things were moving very fast for us and we were crazy excited! After Brian proposed, he came to visit the weekend of October 3, 1999. The next several weeks would be hard because we both knew he would not be able to come back for a little while. For me, being in a long distance relationship was very hard. The days went by so slow, phone calls were wonderful, but I was desperate to be with him, and the same with Brian. So I booked a flight to Maryland, and with the help of his friends, I planned a surprise visit!! I would fly in Oct 23 and back out Oct 31!! It was priceless, Brian walked into the kitchen to find me sitting at the dining room table. I loved that week so much! Being there with Brian, knowing this is the area I would be living in when we got married, getting to know what would become my second family. It was good. But other parts of that week were not so great. There was no where else I wanted to be then right there with Brian, but the reality is, that the more I was with Brian, the harder it was to keep our conversations from going places they shouldn't, or getting too flirty. We had made the decision not to kiss until our wedding day to avoid all of this, it was supposed to be easy...it was not. I don't know why it surprised me. I'm not talking about silly flirting, we did plenty of that! How was I to not awaken that desire until it was time, when the desire was so strong between the two of us? We had to learn this together, because it was only stirred up between the two of us. I got very frustrated with us while I was there and I was not able to talk to Brian about it, but he knew what upset me. I don't know for sure if it upset Brian too, but I know it upset him that I was upset. From that point on he took the initiative for us to keep conversations pure, and to guard not only his heart, but mine. We did eventually talk about it. It did get a little easier, but I won't lie, it was a fight for both of us. I had that assurance, that on my wedding day, I would not only get that long awaited kiss, but I would enjoy Brian in every way, and probably end up wheeling him around in a wheelchair on our honeymoon! (jk) So that was our first REAL issue that we faced, and again it wasn't a one time thing, we would continue to face it, but our boundaries were drawn, and Brian chose to protect us instead of push the boundaries. I thank God so much for that! But we would face something else, very serious, that would stop me in my tracks. I was back home in South Carolina, and I believe it was mid November. I received a call from a lady that had mentored me and one that I loved very much. She was concerned that our relationship was moving too fast. She had a lot of direct questions, and some I didn't have answers for. She knew Brian, but only from a distance. She knew he was crazy about his girl back home, and now he was crazy about me, would that be seasonal too? She wanted the best for me and had the very best intensions. She had watched me fall in my previous relationship, and walk through that very hard time, she wondered if I there had been enough time for healing. She challenged me to push the wedding back. I was stunned. I got off the phone shaking. With that one phone call, I questioned everything. In that one instance I was reliving my failures and even questioning Brian. Had I dealt with all of those things, I know now that I hadn't, but honestly I don't think I knew how back then. I don't know why healing comes at different times. That same night I picked up the phone and called Brian. I was confused and shaken. He was blind-sighted, I wasn't sure what to do. At the end of a very long emotional phone call, I put the wedding on hold. I knew I had to sort through all of this. Brian was hurt and confused. There was such a whirlwind of emotions as I tried to sleep that night, I felt like the air had been sucked out of my bedroom. I had to find peace, and there was only one place to find it. This post hurts my heart to relive. There are a lot of things I can't remember, but the feelings I felt that night are still painful. Times like this are not necessarily bad, they do hurt, but I know they can draw us into the arms of our Heavenly Father. He knows all our pains and fears and has the peace to bring calm to that storm, and to fill that emptiness. God desires to overwhelm us, to overwhelm you. Ask him to take your emptiness. And to the one whose arms are so weighted down with everything you are trying to carry; who feels like if you don't stay strong everything will fall apart, God wants you to drop it all, let it all spill out, let it go. Let it fall at the feet of Jesus who has already carried that burden for you, and He will give you rest. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 I pray peace over you today, you are worthy of love! ~Stacie Click here to continue to the next video blog Happy Happy Happy!
If you are just joining our story, feel free to start from the beginning, first blog post titled " The Beginning" on April 18, 2013. This is so exciting for me to relive this time. Beginnings are so fun, newness is fun and exciting, and even scary. But it makes my heart happy looking back over the last 13 to 14 YEARS. This coming weekend (May 27) is our 13th wedding anniversary, that's always the greatest time for me, like an emotional Christmas! I like to relive all the events that happened right up until the day and the hour. But I won't go into to all of that, we still have several more posts before we get there! Speaking of wedding dates, that's one of the first things Brian and I did. Brian knew that he would need to work a little while and I knew I needed to plan a wedding! We originally said October 14, I don't really know why?! I think about two weeks went by and we realized that was too far away, so we moved it up to May 27! That was exactly nine months from the day he proposed. I would have to live with that! It was so neat hearing our friends reactions to our news, especially the ones that knew us at Teen Mania. It seems that everyone in the world saw something between us, but us! Again I can't say it enough, God's timing is so perfect, and how and when He chooses to reveal things is always best. This would also mean that Brian and I could not kiss for another nine months! Speaking of...this is a card he sent me some point after we got engaged, I thought it was cute! Here is the front of the card: and the inside: Brian claims that he doesn't like cats, but I believe deep down, he is a cat lover!
He was always sending sweet little notes in the mail mixed in with those really thick envelopes of letters written late at night, missing each other so bad. It became our saying, "I love you so bad." There was no other way to describe it, I loved him so bad, and he loved me so bad!
Here is something else sweet that I came across, Brian sent me a half a sick of big red gum, and kept the other half! (It was my favorite) And guess what I found when I was going through the box of letters and things Brian kept from me?! NOT half a stick of big red gum, he ate his! Oh well, that would have been a great story, but that just shows how different boys and girls are! LOL! I have all the boxes of letters and pictures downstairs since I have started blogging. I came around the corner the other day and Lila, my three year old, was holding this half piece of big red! I was able to get it from her without any damage! That was a close call! I'm sure 13 year old gum would have been really yummy to her! I started planning wedding details. The wedding would be in Albany, Ga since that is where Brian grew up, and I grew up a little everywhere. He was living in Maryland and I was living in South Carolina, it made things interesting for sure. But we were on our way! It would be almost a month before I would get to see Brian again, he came to visit me in the beginning of October. Each time I saw him was better and better, and it seemed like I just kept getting more comfortable with him. Brian is an easy friend anyway, so you can imagine how easy it was for me to love him. He doesn't meet a stranger. I can tell you story after story of how he connects with people. It's almost comical sometimes. One of his first few visits to South Carolina, Brian took me to the Cracker Barrel saturday for lunch. On our way in another man walked out and immediately noticed Brian and vice versa. They were so excited to see each other and hugged. Brian introduced me to him and he was thrilled to meet me, because he had already heard about me from Brian. While they were talking, I couldn't help but to think how crazy it was for Brian to run into someone he knows here in South Carolina, such a small world! I asked him later who the guy was and how Brian knew him. It turns out, he had met the guy the day before! While I was working, Brian scoped out the local music store and became best friends with the employee! This is so Brian! I overhear him on telephone calls now with his delivery guys from work, checking on them, or touching base with that one person he swopped numbers with in the grocery store. I love that about him. He cares so much about people. I think of him when I read in Proverbs 31:23, "Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land." Brian is full of greatness, it overflows from him, but he is very humble and always looking to serve. He is not perfect, I might have a story tucked away to prove that! But I wasn't looking for a fictional character to go through life with, and thankfully neither was Brian. I wasn't planning on this post turning out this way, but I'm so glad it did. In the next few visits we have a lot of fun and things get a little interesting. I will tell you all about it in the next couple of posts. I have gotten so much feedback from friends and new friends who are single. I want to encourage you to dream, allow yourself to do it. Envision what you see your future looking like, and as soon as negative thoughts come in, trying to tell you that you are not worthy, or not lovable, or beyond love, do exactly what the bible says to do: "We demolish arguments that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor. 10:5-6 You are worthy of love, having a failed relationship in the past does not mean you have blown your chances for a God filled, fully satisfied, growing old and still holding hands kind of love. Ask God right now to help you desire to love yourself deeper than you ever have. Let Him fill every space that is empty. And right now wherever you are, I speak life to your dreams. You are so precious to me. Thank you for reading this blog! ~Stacie Click here to continue reading the next post titled Reality.
If you are just joining our story, feel free to start from the beginning, first blog post titled " The Beginning" on April 18, 2013. Brian is so cute when it comes to gifts and surprises. He's like a little kid, he can't keep a secret! If he buys me a gift, he doesn't want to wait, he wants me to have it right away. I'm kind of the opposite, I love surprises, I don't want any hints! For our first Christmas married, he got me some perfume I had been wanting, he couldn't wait for Christmas to get here, so he gave it to me early! And if I get him a present, he wants to guess what it is, or wants me to tell him! So silly! So we had been courting a little shy of two months. Brian would be coming to see me the last week of August. It was actually his last trip from Georgia. He had a moving truck and was on his way to Maryland. I was afraid the visits would be fewer and far between because of the distance. But nevertheless, he was coming! I was thrilled! This would make the fourth visit between the two of us. I was very nervous about this visit. Brian kept telling me he had something special planned. Could that something special be a ring?! It was still REALLY early. We had only been courting for seven weeks. But I was ready, there was no need to drag it out as far as I was concerned! He was it for me. Brian got into town around the time I got off of work Friday, August 27. I was over the moon! I remember coming back to the house and ironing a shirt for him, I hate ironing! But he wouldn't learn that until after we were married, I mean why disclose everything up front! I think he ironed back over it! He planned to take me to a nice restaurant there in Orangeburg. We had a really good time. I was still really nervous. Brian told me later that he made sure to hold my left hand that night, he had the ring in his left pocket and was trying to keep me on the other side of him, he was trying to be slick! What he didn't know is that it was very obvious it was in his pocket, at least what I thought. You know how a ring comes in a small velvet ring box and then the jewelry store puts that small box in a larger box? Well, Brian had ALL of that stuffed in his pocket! LOL! We had an amazing dinner, I remember a little boy a few tables over kept smiling at me, he was about 3 or 4 years old and such a doll baby. He had red hair and his name was Reese. Just a sweet memory of that night! I had a really yummy soup, one I had never had, I found out later it was italian wedding soup! After we finished our meal, the plan was to head over to the Gardens on the river where we could stare at each other and talk about how much we loved each other! When we got there, we found out the Gardens closed at dark, and it was dark. I could tell Brian was irritated. There was another way to enter the Gardens and it would make for a very scary night! There is another place you can park down by the river and walk under the bridge to get in, which sounds ok, but it was pitch black and I was in heels. It was rocky and muddy, but I was game! We made our way over the rocks and under the bridge to the walkway. We went back to our spot under the gazebo. It was very dark, but I could see just enough to see Brian's eyes, he was going to propose! He asked me if he could pray with me, so he put his arms around me and began to pray. I just remember it being really sweet. Toward the end of the prayer I could fee him fumbling around behind my back, this was it! When Brian said, "amen," he pulled his arms in front of me and got down on one knee. He was holding the ring out, but I couldn't see it, it was so dark! Very simply, he said, "Stacie Dianne, will you marry me?" Of course I said "YES!" (and cried) I didn't need a year courting Brian to make sure, I just knew! I didn't have to convince myself, there was not an ounce of nervousness hidden deep down, it was right! I couldn't wait to marry him! After we hiked back to the car, I was able to see the ring for the first time in the light, it was so beautiful! We couldn't get back to my house quick enough to tell my family and start calling everyone we could think of. Now I could tell Brian that I had bought my dress! Turns out my Dad had already mentioned that to him when he called to get their blessing! Now we could start planning! I was officially taken, and he could have taken me anywhere. I love that man! I was just looking back through things and I found the information on my engagement ring. Turns out Brian purchased it on Aug 13, 1999, five weeks after we started courting, wow! Looking back that's just crazy! But when you know, you know! And we were both in a place of new beginnings. I've learned that sometimes when God does something, it can happen suddenly. If you had told me six months earlier that I would be engaged in six months, I would have thought you were crazy! Don't be discouraged at what you can't see in front of you. Give God your future and trust Him with it! "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Prov. 3:5-6 I just love all the messages Im receiving! When I set out to do this, I had no idea the effect it would have. I am praying for you my friend! You are very special to me, keep me updated on how I can pray and encourage you. Remember, you are worthy of love! ~Stacie Click here to continue reading the next post titled So Bad.
If you are just joining our story, feel free to start from the beginning, first blog post titled " The Beginning" on April 18, 2013. Brian and I started courting July 7, 1999. That only meant one thing, that he intended to marry me! He might as well have asked me to marry him then, cause in my mind, it was on! I started buying bridal magazines, everyone I could find, and the dreaming began! I really didn't care a lot about all the details, I just wanted Brian. I didn't want to be apart from him. Even though our romantic relationship was just beginning, I had known him for two years already. He was still living in Albany, Georgia, but would be moving at the end of August to Maryland to pursue a ministry opportunity. Brian is a drummer and he was born to play. It's not just a hobby, it's his passion, it is literally what he was created to do. Brian carries such an anointing when he plays the drums. He sets an atmosphere, and I knew even then that God had big things for Brian. He would be joining a band there and would be in ministry with some great friends from Teen Mania. I loved that Brian was pursuing ministry. But once he moved that would mean he would be 10 hours away! But there would be several more visits before that move. The next time Brian would come would be August 5-8. It was almost a month since I had seen him to begin with. It was a very long month! It was another great weekend, it just kept getting better. A few weeks after that, I would take my first trip to go see him in Albany. I got to stay several days with his family there and it was just more confirmation that we fit! Seeing him in his element just made me love him more. We started talking more about our future. We had only been courting for a little over a month, but my heart ached for him. It happened really fast, but I guess I can't stress enough that Brian was not a stranger to me. We had known each other very well as friends for several years. I would have to be patient and ask God to help me to love him from a distance for now, and soak up every second we were together. We didn't have the luxury of doing everyday things together that often. Long distance relationships have their pros and cons. It's a lot easier to practice self control when you're not kissing on each other and you only see each other every few weeks! Just keeping it real! In the middle of August, I was in Macon, Georgia with my family for a day trip. My Mama and I stumbled upon a bridal store going out of business (it really was a stumble)! I had already picked out the dress I wanted and had the torn out page in a binder. Everything in the store was 50% off, we walked in and there was my dress! I didn't even hesitate, I bought it on the spot! I know Brian said he saw himself getting married in 2 years, but no matter how long it took, I would have the dress! I mean, isn't it good to be prepared! I didn't tell Brian about buying the dress because I didn't want to scare him. We had only been courting for a month! What I didn't know is that he was doing some shopping of his own! He didn't want to be away from me as much as I didn't want to be away from him. Things were moving very fast in my mind, and I would learn in Brian's very next visit how quickly they were moving for him also! I know I keep saying how fun this has been for me to revisit this time, but it's so true! I've been sitting with Brian going over certain little details of things that happened and hearing him talk is so neat! Some of the things I am just learning for the first time and the same for him. It's been good to remind each other of that sweet time. I remember when I had the revelation with Ellie, my first baby, that I had to cherish every season of her life. I couldn't miss her two's because I was wishing she was a baby again. And now she's ten and I have to cherish that, because when she's fourteen, I'll look back and miss this time. Every time is special and we only have that for a little bit, for a season. I guess it's the same in relationships, I love love love the beginning for Brian and I, and its good to be reminded of it. But we'll only have this time we are in right now for a season too. With three kids under the age of ten, it can be a challenge sometimes to focus on each other. But I'm so glad I'm walking through it with him. I can't miss right now for looking backwards. Reminders sure are great though! Thanks for reading! Here are a few more pictures from those visits! I'm loving your feedback! ~Stacie Click here to continue reading the next post titled Yes, a thousand times yes!
If you are just joining our story, feel free to start from the beginning, first blog post titled " The Beginning" on April 18, 2013. Brian's first visit was amazing! I was able to see Brian through a new set of eyes. I don't really know if it was God's way of concealing him until the perfect time or if it was my focus? But either way, I'm so relieved that I was able to build a friendship with him first and have that as our foundation. I know I talked a lot about us staring at each other and hugs and grins, but another thing we did is laugh! I laughed the entire weekend with Brian! He is such a goof! I loved that we could have a good time. He also got along so well with my family. Brian just fit. Brian told me before his visit that he intended to court me. What courting meant to us, and what we had been taught, was that dating was playing the field, but you court someone you intend to marry. I knew I was going to marry Brian. So I kept waiting for Brian to ask me to court him. But maybe it was too soon. The weekend was almost over. I knew that he was in love with me, and I was crazy in love with him. But the time for him to leave came and I was heartbroken. This started a series of goodbyes that would be the hardest goodbyes of my life. I had no doubt that Brian would ask me to court him, I just had to be patient. I couldn't hug him long enough the day he left. I know it's cheesy to say, but I feel safe in his arms. I didn't know when I would see him again. It was about five and a half hours between us, which was really not that far to us road dogs! But putting that distance between love, it might as well have been oceans. After Brian drove away, I was lost. I had just had the best four days of my life, discovered Brian was "the one," felt love deeper than I ever had, and then he was gone. It was a sad moment, but was soon replaced with an overwhelming excitement for my future! For the first time, I knew exactly what my future looked like, and he looked good! After Brian left I was sharing my feeling with my Mama. She asked me if I thought if Brian was assuming we were already courting? I knew for sure that wasn't the case. I remember how Brian was with his girl back on the road. He was very romantic and put a lot of thought into things. I knew that when Brian asked me to court him, it would be a big deal, there was no doubt in my mind! I started imagining different ways he would ask. But really it didn't matter to me, I knew he would ask, I just couldn't know when! The very next night was July 7, it was a Tuesday. I was so excited when Brian called! He was missing me so bad. He was telling me all about work that day. He had a couple of buddies that he worked with and they wanted to know about his weekend. Brian said, "I was telling the guys about coming to see the girl I'm courting." Without thinking twice, I responded, "THE GIRL YOUR WHAT?!" Bless his heart, he stuttered and repeated, "the girl I'm courting?" I said back to him, "I don't believe you ever asked me." Again, almost stuttering, he nervously asked me to court him! Of course I said yes! I feel bad for scaring him, but I was so taken back! Looking back it makes me laugh to know that Brian was on such a high being with the girl he was courting all weekend, while I was waiting for him to ask me! And so the communication game would begin! And that was that, we were courting, nothing dramatic or overly romantic about it, but we were courting! And I couldn't be happier, I was just thrilled we were both on the same page. The future sure was handsome! Jer 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Thank you for reading! This is so fun reliving all of this, I think Brian is enjoying it too, I can't stop kissing him! ~Stacie Thank you for your wonderful comments! Please share with your friends if you're enjoying this blog! Click here to continue reading the next post Good to be prepared!
If you are just joining our story, feel free to start from the beginning, first blog post titled " The Beginning" on April 18, 2013. The days pasted slowly, but finally, July 2 was here!! Brian would be coming in town to see me when I got off of work! I had not seen him in almost a year and had spent the last 4 months writing letters and getting close over the phone. I knew that I loved him and that he loved me, but seeing each other would tell us both what the future would hold. This was it! The ladies I worked with at the bank knew that Brian was coming and that he would be spending the long weekend with me and my family. They were all a little giddy for me and eager to know how it would turn out. I had expected to see Brian back at my house some point after I got off work. Remember, this is before everyone carried cell phones, so I knew about the time he would leave his town and would arrive in mine. I was so incredibly nervous. What I didn't know is that Brian got to my house early and arranged to come pick me up from work. I truly was not prepared as he walked through the doors of the Bank of America in Orangeburg, SC about 4:45pm. I remember everything in slow motion. I saw him come through the first set of glass double doors and it wasn't until he entered the bank that I realized it was Brian. My heart was beating in my ears. I was so nervous I couldn't seem to catch my breath. Brian took his sunglasses off and the world stopped. There he was, that curtain being drawn back for the big reveal. My eyes seeing "him" for the first time. I have this thing about eyes, I've always prayed that my husband would be so full of Jesus that his eyes would smile, like my Daddy's do. Brian had the greatest smile on his face, but it couldn't match the smile I saw coming from his eyes. He walked over to my empty teller window and with the sweetest grin said, "I'd like to make a withdrawal please." Still makes me giddy thinking about it! I was so locked in on those eyes. I couldn't come around to hug him, but everything inside me wanted to, bad! He was so dang fine, and he was there! We talked a few minutes, we were both so excited to see each other. I met him outside a very long few minutes later and finally got that hug. There he was, Brian, Brian from Teen Mania, MY Brian. I had no more doubt, no ounce of fear, it was him! He smelled so good too! We were both so giddy on the ride back to the house, I couldn't believe he was there with me. He had already met my family again earlier in the day, so when we walked in, it was just easy. That would be one of the best weekends of my life. Brian stared at me the whole time his eyes were open. I think we were both trying to grasp that we were for each other all along, it was just a wow kind of thing! When Brian looks at me with those eyes, I can feel how much he adores me, he never has to say a word. And honestly, we did do a lot of talking that weekend, but more than that, we stared and smiled! I think Brian took my hand from the very beginning. The entire time he was there he held my hand or was touching my arm, it was just very surreal that we were together. One of the best things I remember was going down to the river with him. There is a beautiful garden there and a walkway along the river with different sitting areas. At the very end is a gazebo. We went and sat under the gazebo on the river and talked about our future for hours. It was a very serious talk. He said he saw himself getting married in about two years. TWO YEARS?!! I remember thinking that was way too far off for me! He was still feeling me out though, we were just spending the first few days together! One thing Brian did that day is take my hands and pray over our relationship. He asked God to seal it, and protect our love and our future. I was crazy in love with this man! He held my face so many times and told me he loved me over and over. We walked out of those gardens on such a high. I never knew love could be like that. I know your wondering, so I'm going to tell you now about him kissing me! Actually no I'm not, because Brian didn't kiss me that weekend! This is how it went... =) Brian and I were sitting in my room staring at each other. He looked so delicious to me and love was swirling all around! Brian started to lean in for a kiss and stopped midway and then leaned back. He looked at me and asked, "can I kiss you?" Without a hesitation I said, "I'd like to wait until my wedding day." HUH??? What did I just say?!? Brian smiled at me, kissed my forehead and said, "then so do I." So there it was, I knew I would kiss him eventually and I knew he would be worth the wait. We talked more about it later, just about how we wanted to keep our relationship pure and not even open a door for anything else. The best way, was to not even go there. As badly as I wanted to kiss him and he wanted to kiss me, it would just have to wait. Even a little kiss from Brian would have swung that door wide open for me, I mean have you seen the man?! This was not just about not kissing, this was about protecting this love at all cost, and for us, that's what it meant. Brian was never disappointed in that decision to wait on the kiss, he respected me so much, and he really did agree that was the best for us. He kissed my forehead a lot and my hand and my cheek and my nose!!! But never did he push me to kiss him, I don't know why, but that kind of respect only made me love him that much more! I would get to kiss him, the day we married, and after that point, I could kiss him anytime I wanted! But for now it would have to wait. Here's a few pictures from that weekend! Thank you for reading and I really appreciate all the great feedback! Stay tuned, it just gets better!! ~Stacie Click here to continue reading the next post We're Courting!
If you are just joining our story, feel free to start from the beginning, first blog post titled " The Beginning" on April 18, 2013. Things with Brian shifted for me at the beginning of June 1999. Or maybe it was more that I was allowing myself to feel what was going on in my heart. Our phone calls got sweeter and letters got longer. I knew that this was someone I could trust with my heart. Brian was a mystery to me though. I was used to guys that were interested in me falling all over me! Brian was a little more slow going, he kind of kept me guessing. I hated that and loved it at the same time! One letter he wrote he told me I had captured his heart, and the very next sentence, he said, "so your birthdays coming up?" He confused me a lot! I wanted to hear lots of mushy stuff and he was just easing into things! He says it's because he was nervous! I never thought to ask him before now, so fun! I was falling for Brian, and I was loving the process. The phone calls and letters were great! I remember one particular card that I got from Brian. It was my birthday card. I think I read it a thousand times. There it was on paper right in front of me. Was this real? "Stacie Dianne I love you!!" This was big!! The best birthday gift I could have ever gotten! But there was still one thing, we hadn't seen each other since Teen Mania. I always had it in my mind that he was Brian, Brian from Teen Mania. I did love him too, I just had that fear in the back of my mind and I knew it would be there until I saw him in person. So Brian set the date to make the trip from Albany, GA to Cordova, SC. He would come see me July 2nd and stay until the 6th. We both knew this trip would tell us everything. I was crazy excited and nervous! I went and bought new clothes, a new dress for Sunday, and a disposable camera! I counted the days down, I just could not wait! It had almost been an entire year since I saw him last and I didn't even remember that last goodbye. He would come in town on a Friday. I had to work that day at the bank until 5pm. I knew he would be coming in not long after I got off work. This was it!!!! I keep staring at the computer, wondering how to make this post longer, but I guess this one is just going to be short and sweet! My honey is home after a long day and I just need to be near him. I can't wait to share with you this next part, my heart leaps just thinking about it! I know I've said it before, but I am such a dreamer, I've always loved love! I look at what I have with Brian and I know its special, but I truly believe that God designed it to be this way, not just for us, but for you too. Dream big, don't settle! You are worthy of big time love! Thank you for reading my story! I'd love to hear from you! ~Stacie Click here to continue reading the next post The Reveal!
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