We are totally in love, and fall more and more in love every single day! God has blessed us with a wonderful marriage and happy family! Here we will share our fairy tale story…..shared by Spring

First off you must know that I had grown up and never desired to date, marry or have children.  Many who know me can attest to this.  God obviously had other plans.  And of course his plans are always best! For me, it all started in the Summer of 1998.  I was leading a group of Jr. Highers through a Bible study. God used that study to open my eyes to the fact that I’m not in control and that I needed to give my life up to Him and not try to do things my way all the time.  Later on that Summer I was praying on my way home from Ventura College (eyes open), and I got into an accident.  Right before I got hit, I was praying that God would do something different in my life and that He would SHOW me what He wanted me to do.  I gave Him the wheel and wanted Him to lead in my life from then on.

August 1998 I met Brian in a speech class we were both taking at Ventura College.  Brian had tried to transfer out of the class but couldn’t (he was meant to be there!).  One of our very first assignments was an introduction speech.  Brian was sitting in front of me.  I remember him turning around and asking me to be his partner.  At the time, I never knew it would be partner for life! : ) We had to chat a lot over the phone for our speech.  One night while we were talking, he asked me out on a date.  I remember thinking for a few seconds before saying yes “ummm this could be what God wants me to do“.  I was letting go and letting God take control of my life at the time.  He was working on me.  He had been working on me all through that Summer, just preparing me for Brian.  As I look back, I’m sure of it! Normally… I would have said No.  I never dated anyone!

On our honeymoon

Our first date was September 17, 1998.  This was my first date ever! Boy, you should have seen the hype in my house! It was pretty funny!  We went to Denny’s for lunch.  Then he took me to a parking lot because he wanted to teach me to drive his stick shift car! (I still don’t know how to drive that car!) Then we went to see a movie “Ever After”.  I remember sharing with him about a bet I made with Dave Hatton (family friend).  The bet was that I would not be married by the age of 20, and Dave said that I would.  We bet $200.  Brian couldn’t believe I had never dated before. He was surprised that he was the first. He brought me home after our date and walked me to the door. That was a crazy day at my house…. my sister was babysitting three kids, The freezer man was there, it was just loud and chaotic. Brian came in and sat for a while. Peter came in not knowing Brian was sitting right there… and said “So how was the date!!” If you know Peter… he can be loud at times. It was pretty funny. I remember saying goodbye at the door and my mom pushing me out and told me to go give him a little hug…. I guess I was just so new at dating… didn’t really know what to do or what to say…

We said our first “I love you’s” in Oct/ Nov (I think).

Proposal
On April 2, 1999, just about 6 months after our first date. I had a feeling it was coming! Prior to this, Brian had asked my Dad and Mom about it. They gave him their blessing. We got all dressed up to go to the Pier Pont Inn. After dinner he walked holding my hand to the car, and he seemed nervous for some reason.  He got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife, and gave me a pretty ring! I said YES (obviously!) 

Wedding

on our wedding day

Us celebrating 11 years Sept 2010