My Love Story

Josh and I have a unique love story. We met on the internet in 2002, but not the way that you might think. I was in a Christian MSN Chat Room (waaaay back in the day!) and Josh was in the same chat room. I was a Junior in High School and at that point I was planning on studying Nursing at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU). Josh asked if anyone was going to OBU. I told him that I was thinking about going in 2003. He sent me an IM, and that’s where it all started. We didn’t talk very long. I added him to my friend list, and didn’t think much else about it. However, I did get in big trouble with my Mom for talking to a stranger online.

We would chat online off and on over the next year or so. We started talking a lot more after I graduated- the Summer of 2003. We were both in relationships, so it really was just a friendship. Josh was not in a good relationship and it was causing him to doubt his faith in the Lord and everything he had been taught growing up. I had just finished a World Religions class, so I was determined to encourage him and bring him back to the Truth. I prayed for him and sent him Scripture every single day. I did not even know this guy in real life, but he was already so important to me.

Our friendship continued to grow. I remember one night when he mentioned something called Ouachita…I asked him what in the world that was. As it turns out…He was going to Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas…not Oklahoma Baptist University!! I had no idea there was any other OBU! At this point I had decided to start classes at Johnson County Community College in the Fall anyway.

At the end of the Summer we both were single. We talked about how awesome it would be to meet someday. I remember the first day Josh called me. I was so nervous. It was a little awkward for the first few minutes, but we ended up talking for over three hours. It was then that I knew I had to meet him, and the sooner the better. Soon after that we were able to see each other on a web cam. I was shocked when I saw him! He had a not so great profile picture, and mine was not great either. I was very happily surprised to see just how cute he was.

My incredible Mom drove me 8 hours south to Arkadelphia, AR in October 2003 to meet Josh and his parents. We pulled in to a Shell gas station to meet him. I was so incredibly nervous! My heart was literally pounding. I got out of the car and we hugged for the longest time. I hopped in his car, and my Mom followed us to Hot Springs to have dinner with Josh’s parents. We ate at Red Lobster, and I could barely eat. I fell in love with Josh’s parents instantly. I had to pinch myself to see if this was really happening.

The whole weekend was incredible. We spend every waking moment together. I honestly did not want to go home. We officially started dating that weekend. We knew it was going to be hard being 8 hours away from each other. We broke up briefly over Christmas break, but were back together by Valentine’s Day. I knew he was “the one”. He gave me a promise ring in March, and he proposed in October of 2004. We were married on August 6, 2005.

I am more in love with him today than ever. God truly wrote our love story. It is so funny to us that we did meet on the internet because it seems so long ago, and kind of crazy.