Joseph's POV:

Dear My Love, My Life, My everything,

I remember the very first moment I met Kendra in the parking lot of High Street Baptist church, driving my big Lifewise bus; she has the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen. A few days after meeting, I gained the courage to ask Kendra out for dinner. It was evident very quickly that she loved the Lord, loved her family, and loved to sing. All checkmarks in my book. After our first dinner, we went for a stroll around the park, where we found ourselves laying down together on one of the slides. With my arm beneath her head, I felt her body relax. We talked for a little bit, and I noticed her drifting off to sleep. I knew right then, I had a keeper. I wanted to be with her the rest of my life.

After about 2 months of dating, I went on an expedition during the summer with a group of men from my church, where we climbed the mountains of the High Sierras. This was first time Kendra and I were separated. I had no communication with her either; so I wrote her In my journal. Each day I would write a poem or recap of what happened, as I picked her a flower from each stop we made, and placed them in the notepad to give to her when I got back.

I remember, as I sat on top of mountains, talking to God about Kendra, I asked that His will be done in our relationship. I began to realize that she was: My love, My Life, My Everything. This was not just a school boy admiration, but a true love for a woman of God. I came back from the trip and told her that I thought she was the one. After months of falling in love with each other, I decided to ask her to be my wife; and she said yes!

Shortly after, I enlisted in the US Navy, where we were separated for 3 months during basic training, again with no communication; only love letters to write. Dear my love, my life, my everything. This is how I started out each letter. I knew that together in Christ, with our relationship focused on Jesus, we would make it; no matter where this journey takes us. Allowing God to be our foundation and to work in our lives, we are able to be where we are now; totally and completely in love. I asked the most beautiful woman to marry me, and she said yes. I got my blue eyed angel forever.

Kendra's POV:

I knew from the very beginning that our story was not a coincidence.

My friend and her husband needed extra money, so her husband helped out at life wise, where he met Huck and they became friends. My friend’s husband only drove for a short amount of time, due to the schedule. He asked Huck to help drive some of the kids at the school he worked at, for a field trip day. This is where my friend actually met Huck for the first time. With her match making spirit, she happened to ask Huck if he was single, and he says yes.

Fast forward, I actually had a date planned with someone I had met online and had been talking to for about a week. I remember that Saturday morning, God telling me not to go. So I cancelled the date, and decide to hangout with my friend and her sister. As we're sitting by the pool, my friend tells me "Hey, I have a guy for you". We talk and I find out she had just met this guy for the first time, not long prior to us hanging out. She decided to text her husband to message Huck that he has a girl for him. Despite my friends husbands, non-meddling spirit, he messaged him. Nothing happens at first.

Unknowingly, we all end up at the same parade our town was having. Huck, driving for LifeWise, and me there with my church (where I also, unknowingly, found out that's where Huck's LifeWise bus happened to be parked when not in use). As my group and I head back to the church after the parade, I remember standing in the parking lot, and my friend saying " hey, Huck is pulling in". I got so nervous that I hid behind everyone; this was not typically my personality... Huck parks the bus, and walks up to my friend and her husband. They talk, and my friends ended up inviting him out to lunch with all of us. I go along, not knowing what to expect. As we sat at the restaurant, I just observe him. And fortunately, I liked what I saw.

From that day on, we were pretty much inseparable, except for the times he had to leave for his hiking trip or the military. We had many talks about how what wanted, our lives, the Lord, and how he felt the Lord calling him into the Navy. I was honestly a little upset at first. I just found this great guy, and now he might have to leave or I might have to leave my life, if I wanted to be with him.

So I began to pray even harder. There was just something about our story, that seemed right and not coincidental. I remember asking the Lord to change my heart, if being with him was in His plan for me.

About a week later, I met some of his family. Watching him with them, I just knew he was the one. This peace came over me. And I realized that wherever he goes, I wanted to go with him. I told him that when we got back, and that's when he asked me to marry him.

Since that day, I have never felt more beautiful, loved, cherished, safe, protected, and wanted than I ever have in my life. I am so completely in love, and anyone who knows me, knows it. I am glad I listened to the Lord that beautiful Saturday morning when I hung out with my friends. I know our story wasn't a coincidence, but by design from the Lord. Thank you Jesus!

My life felt a little cloudy, until I met my sunshine.

Open House