Our Journey

How did we meet....I'm SO glad you asked ;)

Josh first walked into church I was 15.....and thought he was the hottest guy ever! He walked in with cut off jeans, super tall, lace up doc's, plaid shirt unbuttoned with a t shirt under, LONG hair and earrings.....I thought "My mom will hate him, I love him"

Over the next few years I got to know the person deep inside that "tough guy" look. He was a deep thinker, had a compassionate heart, quiet and peaceful, a passion for the poor and a desire to be a man of God. Every time he opened his mouth I was in awe. I told myself that one day I would marry a guy like Josh Brooks.

Now, during all of this Josh was attending a local Christian College and I was in High School. It never crossed my mind to actually date him because that was a HUGE no-no. Youth group interns didn't date youth group girls. The first year I was "legal" to date he was away on Mission Year...a year long mission trip to Oakland. I supported him through this ministry hoping he might NOTICE I EXIST (no such luck).

He came home and was at church the day the youth group returned from a water ski trip. I was tired and sun burned. I got home to my mom saying "Josh Brooks is home, you should go up to church and talk to him". Okay, good idea! I threw on a t shirt and some jeans and headed out the door....only to be stopped by my mother "aren't you going to clean up a bit, do your hair and put on some make up" to which I quickly answered "NO!"

I went up to church and talked with Josh (along with a million other people). We talked about Oakland and how much he loved it....that was about it. This started my "stalking". You people think I'm kidding. Let me explain:

Josh was living with one of my friends boyfriends. Angela and I would just "happen" to stop by after church, bible study, dinner or any other random time we thought about it. Of course she and her boyfriend would go outside and talk so Josh and I were left alone in the apt. Josh would turn the TV on, fall asleep or give the SHORTEST answers possible when I tried to start a conversation. After Angela and I started making it a habit to stop by Josh made it a habit to stop showering....NO LIE! He would come home all stinky from working in a donations warehouse, he would come to bible study stinky...pretty much do anything to get this "annoying girl" to leave him alone. He should have known that stalkers don't give up that easy :)

Well Angela wanted to go to Six Flags for Fright Fest one year.....so Josh and I went along. SO NOT A DATE! We all hung out and did stuff that evening, until I wanted to go to a haunted house (I'm no dummy! You are someplace with the guy you like get him to take you to a haunted house....it's a great excuse to hug on him :) Angela and her boyfriend didn't want to go, so sweet Josh offered to take me (YES, my plans working!!)

Of course the only thing I remember about the haunted house is how good Josh smelled because my face was buried in his back the entire time (I hate being scared). Afterwards our friends were still on their ride so we grabbed a snack and had a chat. He bought me a lemon chill (wow, he must really like me...come to find out that's just the nice guy Josh is). We went the the carousal and started talking. We talked about all sorts of things.....and were right on target with eachothers views on God, marriage, family and life in general. He was running through his mental check list and FINALLY thought "this girl might be worth dating"

One of our first outings as a couple was to his sisters wedding. I was scared to death! My grandma helped me pick out a dress (SO glad she was in town). Josh was in the wedding so I ended up sitting with his best friend Colin (thanks Colin for making it an enjoyable day). I was terrified by this crash course of friends and family....I wasn't even Josh's girlfriend so it was just awkward.

We didn't end up with any pictures of us all dressed up so he arranged a photo shoot with his sister.....those are the more formal pictures in the montage below. We were awkward but cute...I treasure those pictures! He painted me a picture frame that says "Hanging by a Moment" which is our song (first song in the montage). Every gift he has ever given me has been filled with so much thought and love......

So now we were dating and it soon became evident at church. The big thing was the time he came back early from a trip to see me.....and came in during our prayer (for his safe return) at bible study. At that point everyone knew what was up and that Josh Brooks just might be in love. We spent countless nights talking until the sun came up.....I had never been able to talk with a guy this way! Our conversations were deep, meaningful and always left me wanting more. Thanks to technology we kept in touch during vacations via email....I still have them. I read them often and will treasure them always.

I began writing letters to my "future" husband when I was 14 or 15. I was reading a series of books called the Christy Miller Series and she wrote to her future husband....I loved the idea! It's funny to think I began writing these letters around the same time I first met Josh. I would often say "I long for the day we will meet.....maybe we already have" God's timing is perfect and His plan for our lives is SOOO much better than what I could have done ;) I gave these letters to Josh just before he left for bootcamp along with TONS of mementos from our dating life. It's a scrapbook we will enjoy over the years.

Josh and I started dating October 13, 2000. I moved out of my parents house September 10, 2001 and into my first apt October 31, 2001. We were engaged December 24, 2001 and married June 1, 2002. Josh joined the AF summer of 2004. His bootcamp and tech school caused him to miss birthdays, Thanksgiving, portions of Christmas break, my graduation and me getting my first REAL job as a teacher. Now his deployment has caused him to miss more birthdays, anniversary's, Valentines day and the biggest sacrifice, the birth of Stephanie Jo. September 11 changed our lives and perspective forever.....that's when this whole Air Force journey started to brew (although it didn't really surface for several years). I don't regret one second of of our courtship, marriage just the two of us and now as a family of three. God has taught me amazing, life changing lessons through Joshua Brooks, my soul mate, Stephanie's Daddy, my husband, my love, my hero. I long for the day we can be together again and look forward to what lies ahead in this crazy journey called life.

Until then....Happy anniversary baby! Love ya much!

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