The Original Because of Love

I met Josh the summer of 1996. The first night we met, my friend Sam told me his name was Dave. So for weeks, my sister, Danielle, and I thought his name was Dave. Then one night, a bunch of people were at our house sitting in the backyard on the trampoline. I said something about "that tall boy, Dave" being nice. Our friend Jonathan informed me that his name was not Dave, it was Josh.


Soon school started and I began to hang out with Josh a lot. Jonathan and I would go to his basketball games, we sat with him at lunch, we saw each other at church, etc. I began to realize that he was a really nice guy. I also realized that Josh had a small fan club. Apparently, he had grown up a lot that summer and a lot of the girls were taking notice.


Later that year, right after Christmas, our youth group went to a youth conference called Indy '96. Somehow, Josh and I ended up sitting together on the bus. For the next 3 hours or so, we talked, listened to music, and got to know each other better. That whole 3 days, Josh and I were basically inseparable. I came home with the biggest crush!

That Valentine's Day, our youth group gave away prizes for different things, like cutest couple, the couple who had been together the longest/shortest, etc. That night Josh and I were voted "Meant for each other - The couple who should be together, but isn't". We were given $50 and were suppose to go on a date. (Both of us were so embarrassed!)


Anyway, time went on and we still were just friends. In fact, he started to go out with a girl named Sarah (JERK!). So I "moved on" too (AKA - tried to make Josh jealous), but (because of an incident that will not be talked about!) my "relationship" with Russ didn't last long.


Soon it was time for prom. I didn't have a date. So, it was decided (by all of our friends) that Josh was going to be my date. One night, at a school dance, Jonathan got Josh to dance with me. While we were dancing, I asked him if he wanted to go to the prom with me "JUST AS FRIENDS". He said yes. Plans started to be made, and I began to get more and more nervous. I was convinced that he was going to ditch me for all his jock friends, and I was going to end up spending the night sitting all by myself. That didn't happen. He was very sweet. We went to the Olive Garden, where he talked about basketball, cars, and the movie Rocky. We did the Grand March, and we danced to 2 songs. After the prom, we went back to my house. (Our house was the hang out house in High School.) We put in a movie and Josh invited me to sit with him on the love seat. This, of course, was taken noticed of by everyone in the room. Later that night Josh, Jonathan, and I were out on the trampoline. I was laying between Jonathan and Josh. Suddenly I felt Josh reach for my hand. I was very surprised and embarrassed because Jonathan was snickering on the other side of me. After a little bit, Jonathan went inside. Josh started to tell me that he had a good time and was happy that I had asked him to go to prom with me. Then he leaned over and kissed me. I stared at him and said, "What was that?". He said, "A kiss!". Unfortunately our conversation ended because we a whole bunch of people came outside. I went inside and had a little talk with Jonathan who told me that I had to talk to him. A little while later Josh and I went to go talk. I asked him why he kissed me and told him that he "better not be playing around with me." He then explained to me that he did like me, and he wanted to talk to my Dad. (Dad had a rule that he had to talk to every boy we ever wanted to date first.) So the next day, May 10th, they had their meeting, and I had a new boyfriend.

For the rest of High School, we were together all the time. I was at all of his football games, basketball games, track meets, etc. We walked down the hall holding hands while I wore his varsity jacket.

On November 10, 2002, Josh proposed. I walked into my townhouse, to find a trail of roses and candles. On each of the steps up to my room, there was a picture and part of a part of our "love story". When I walked into my room, there was Josh, on bended knee, surrounded by roses. He then asked me to marry him. It was perfect!

On August 2nd, we were married at the performing arts center at IWU.
A year later, we moved here to Charlotte. Now, we have a happy little family of 3.

The last 4 years have been so wonderful. I thank God that He gave me Josh. He is so wonderful. I know that he loves me, and Alyse, so much. I know that he has a heart for God, and will always be a godly leader of our family. I know that he will always take care of me, and will love me forever. I trust him, and love him with my whole heart. I could never have asked for anything more!