A Long (and Overdue) Story

So...
It has been way too long since I have posted anything. I am sure you all are getting tired of coming to my blog and seeing the same pictures of Ireland (though how could anyone get tired of that?). I have a huge and exciting story to tell, and finally have some time and desire to tell it here. Many of you already know it. Some of you know a little bit, but you need details. Be prepared--this is going to be a LONG post!

I'll start by telling you the biggest piece of news in my life as of late. That is, I'M GETTING MARRIED!! Yes, it's true :). Matthew Taylor, my fiance, proposed to me on August 4, 2009 at Cheekwood in Nashville. I must say that right now, I am the happiest woman on the face of the earth. I do suppose, though, that this piece of news demands an explanation--a story. Well, here we go...

I met Matt two years ago through our mutual friend Mandy. Mandy, my sister, and I went to the Opryland Hotel to hear Matt's sister Meagan play music. I don't remember much about that night, except that Matt had a nice, full beard :). I saw him a few other times over the course of about a year when he visited our church while he was in town to see his family. We would talk a little bit, but I didn't really get to know him that well.

Then, on March 14, 2009, I saw him again at our friend Mandy's wedding. I was a bridesmaid, and the fact that Matt would be there never even crossed my mind. I had been downstairs getting ready, and as I came up the stairs to wait in the foyer, I saw a very handsome man with dark, curly hair. Immediately I wondered, "Who is that, and how can I get to know him?" All of a sudden I realized who it was....it was Matt Taylor! I didn't recognize him because he had shaved off his beard! As I walked up to him, he recognized me and we began to talk, although not for long, as it was time for the ceremony to start. Afterwards, we talked to each other throughout the entire reception.

After that wedding, Matt kept "coming around" a lot. Of course, I didn't mind...I rather liked him :). At some point, he asked for my phone number and called me. We talked quite a bit on the phone, and he continued to visit Nashville on the weekends. One particular Monday night night he called and told me that he was interested in starting a courtship with me and wanted to know how I felt about it. I told him that I was interested, but he needed to talk to my dad about it. So, he met with my dad on the following Friday. Dad gave us permission, and we officially began courting on May 22, 2009. Over the course of the next 2 months, we spent a lot of time getting to know each other as well as each other's families. I also did a lot of praying, as the point of our courtship was to find out if God would have us to get married. Eventually, God began to confirm to both of of that we should move forward to engagement. (Now for the really fun part!)

Matt had two weeks vacation beginning at the end of July, so most of that time he was here in Nashville. On Tuesday, August 4th, Matt called me and said he'd like to take me to lunch. He picked me up at my house and we headed out. I asked him where we were going to eat, and he said "That's a surprise." Being intrigued but not suspicious, I tried to think of where he was taking me. I eventually figured it out (only because I saw a sign for "Cheekwood" :). We ate lunch, walked around the gardens a while, and then made our way up to the mansion. We walked around to the side where there is a beautiful little covered balcony that overlooks the gardens. The view was breathtaking! We stood there for a few minutes, and then...Matt looked at me with his stunning green eyes and began his proposal of marriage to me. I was so shocked and surprised that I can't remember much of what he said! I immediately started to cry. Matt pulled a beautiful diamond ring out of his pocket, got down on one knee, and asked "Will you marry me?" Still crying, I said "YES!". He stood to his feet, put the ring on my finger, and then said something that I will never forget. For the first time, he said "I love you." As we left Cheekwood, holding hands (also a first!!), neither one of us could stop smiling and laughing. That night, we had a nice dinner with both our families to celebrate the occasion.

Since that day, our lives have been busy, busy, busy with wedding plans. But it has been a wonderful and joyful experience so far. With each new day, I fall more in love with Matthew. He is a wonderful man of God, and I am so excited to spend the rest of my life serving God with him. The Lord has blessed me with a husband-to-be who is exceedingly and abundantly above everything I ever asked or thought. All praise and glory to Him!