The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

The other day I woke up and it hit me. I’m married! It was one of those moments when I woke up and realized that this is it. I’m living the dream. It isn’t a dream anymore. This is the life I’ve always wanted. It’s real. He’s real. I’m married to an absolutely wonderful husband that God brought into my life. 

One year ago today, we said, “I do.” Today is our first Anniversary and although we can’t be together, I’m glad that there’s no place else I’d rather be–than together. No, marriage isn’t perfect and yes, we’ve had arguments and challenges, but if I had it to do all over again, I would marry Daniel in a heartbeat. God has truly blessed us. 

We have an amazing love story. God truly brought us together. There are so many details to our story, but I will give you the short version. I know it’s gonna be long, but believe me, it really is the short version. 

We met at the second house on the left on Elm Street. Daniel was in the Army and had just been relocated to Tennessee from New York. He was on his way back to New York to pack his bags after passing the special training program. This training started the day after Christmas in 2021. We had been talking since December 6th. 

On December 5th, I got a message from Daniel’s grandma. Now here’s a little history. Daniel’s grandparents live in northern Michigan where his grandpa pastors a small church in a small town where my great aunt and uncle live. My family and I went up there all the time, and if we were there for a Sunday (which happened often), we would go to church with my great aunt and uncle. So we got to know Daniel’s grandparents, and his grandma became a good friend of mine. In 2015, I started doing music ministry and would sing at different churches including The Vanderbilt Community Church in northern Michigan. 

On December 5th, 2021, I sang at that church and while riding home with my sister, I got the following message from Daniel’s grandma. She said, “Guess what, beautiful young lady! Our grandson Daniel watches our church every Sunday. He commented on your beautiful voice. I sure would like you two to hook up. ;) He is a strong Christian young man in the Army. He is currently in upper state New York...” And she went on to tell me what he does. 

My cousin was also stationed at Fort Drum at that time, so I was messaging Caleb and she was messaging Daniel to see if they knew each other. Daniel’s grandma was more interested in hooking the two of us up, though, and she told me so, ha-ha. 

She went on to ask me if it was okay to give Daniel my information. I didn’t know what to do, and that’s exactly what I told her. Her reply came about an hour later when she told me that she had just gotten off the phone with Daniel and had given him my information. I couldn’t believe it! I did not tell her she could do that, but looking back now, I sure am glad she did. I waited on pins and needles wondering what would happen next. At this point in my life, I had never been on a date and as far as I knew, no boy had ever been interested in me. I didn’t know about this Daniel. I didn’t know him, and I didn’t know what his intentions were. I was nervous, to say the least. 

The next day, Daniel messaged me. We continued messaging for the remainder of the month and throughout his special training. His grandparents wanted to take me with them to meet him at the special graduation ceremony that was going to take place in Tennessee from the training program, but I wasn’t ready and I didn’t want our first meeting to take away from his achievement. Things changed, and they didn’t end up getting to go either, but on his way back to New York to pack his bags for the move to Tennessee, Daniel met his grandparents at an AirB&B in my hometown. It was February and I felt more comfortable meeting him, knowing that his grandparents would be there. But either way, I was so nervous. 

I went to the front door of the second house on the left on Elm Street and his grandpa barely was able to crack the door to tell me that there was a couch in front of it and I would have to go around back. Then I heard Daniel call my name. By this time, we had talked on the phone and facetimed each other quite a bit, so I recognized his voice. I walked around the corner and there he was. He was wearing a khaki shirt and was holding the door open in his sock feet. I will never forget that moment. Seeing him in real life took my breath away. And he sure was handsome! Of course I didn’t let him know that until weeks later. 

As soon as we walked in the door, his grandma snapped this photo of us. It was so awkward, ha-ha. She even told us to hug each other, but we weren't quite ready for that yet. We had barely said hello before she was telling us to smile for a picture.

Later that day, Daniel's grandpa went outside with the two of us to watch Daniel fly his drone, but soon, his grandpa disappeared. We saw him and Daniel's grandma peaking at us through the blinds. It was hilarious. They were so obvious.

For the next two days, we got to spend time together in person and Daniel got to know my family. Daniel tried to come back every month or holiday weekend, so that we could spend more time getting to know each other in person, and we talked ALL the time. That first visit, I knew I liked him. The second visit (which took place in March), I knew I was gonna marry him. I know that sounds crazy, but I just knew. 

Before he met me in February, I had told him about my Muscular Dystrophy. That was hard. I couldn’t believe that he wanted to pursue me anyway, and I struggled with that. I didn’t want either of us to end up with a broken heart, and I didn’t think it was fair for him to end up with someone like me. He didn’t think about it that way at all. 

One night after we met in February, I was house sitting for our neighbor and talking to Daniel on facetime. I was having a really rough night with my MD and couldn’t really talk. I was so worn out that I was having a hard time breathing and was in so much pain that I just lay there looking at him. Daniel just stayed with me on the phone and talked about God and Heaven. He read the Bible with me and prayed with me, and then he told me something that still brings tears to my eyes. 

He said that I reminded him of the verse in the Bible that talks about the merchant giving up everything for the pearl. He told me that I was his treasure. Here I was, at one of my lowest points and feeling like he would surely come to the realization that life with me would be too hard, but instead of walking away, he stayed with me and even told me that I was his treasure. It was a very special moment for us. 

We talked about so many things over the months and weeks of getting to know each other. We had a lot of deep conversations about all of the hard things. I didn’t make it easy for Daniel. I needed him to realize what he was signing up for, and I wanted to make sure that we were on the same page with our beliefs and how we wanted to live life. In March of 2022, we went on our first official date. I know this sounds crazy, but I already knew I was going to marry him. I wouldn’t have said yes to the date if I wasn’t going to say yes to the proposal (which came in August). We weren’t dating for fun. We were looking for our life partner. 

We prayed so much about whether or not we were right for each other, and God just kept showing us in ways that only He could, that we were supposed to be together. There are so many little details that God worked out and so many ways that He reassured us both–separately and together. I cannot tell you our story without telling you that God wrote it. 

We made so many great memories while getting to know each other. The first “I love you”, the first dance, getting stuck in the snow in my van, etc. We had some funny moments too. The cross earrings I wore the first day I met him, just in case he tried anything funny, to remind him that Jesus was watching. Saying "I love ice-cream" instead of "I love you" to guard our hearts at the beginning of our growing relationship. The time Daniel scooped me off my feet after asking me to be his girl, only to fall and drop me in the snow. These things still make us laugh.

On August 12 at 8:47 PM, Daniel took me to the foot of the cross at the Vanderbilt Community Church and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes and cried…A LOT! And now, we celebrate our first anniversary. Second only to Salvation, Daniel is the best gift God has ever given me. 

Daniel’s grandfather married us at The Vanderbilt Community Church where Daniel first saw me and where he proposed at the foot of the cross. We don’t have it all figured out, but one thing I know for sure. When you put God first in your marriage, He brings you both closer to Him and closer to each other.

Getting stuck in the snow.   Our first dance.                        The first “I love you”.

Our wedding day.

The kiss. Leaving the church. At the reception.

Riding away in the 1959 white Cadillac.

Pictures in the gazebo at my great aunt and uncle's place. Our Honeymoon.

God works in the details. When I was nine years old, I wanted to learn to play the guitar because I wanted to play at our family reunions with my relatives from Texas and Missouri who always brought the banjo, guitar, mandolin, etc. I played my first guitar in the gazebo at my great aunt and uncle’s place Up North where Daniel and I later got our wedding photos. 

When my family split, it broke my heart and I put the guitar away. It was too painful to play it. Years later, I saw my friends playing their guitars at a Vacation Bible School for the kids. It inspired me to get mine back out. That same year my grandma had been diagnosed with cancer. I pulled my guitar out from under the bed, dusted it off, and played it for her.

When she died on the day after Christmas in 2015, I was heart broken again and almost put my guitar back away. It was so painful to play it, but I knew Grandma wouldn’t want me to stop. I knew I needed to keep my guitar out. I had started doing music ministry that year not long before my grandma passed away, and I decided that I would use my guitar for God. So I played through the pain. I wrote lots of sad songs, and soon my guitar became a symbol of healing for me. I continued my music ministry and it brought Daniel to me. God works in the details. 

My great aunt and uncle came to the Lord and started going to church at the Vanderbilt Community Church when we were kids. We went with them when we were there, and I got to know Daniel’s grandparents who later played a huge role in matchmaking us and also marrying us at that same church. God works in the details. 

My sister started directing Vacation Bible school at The Vanderbilt Community Church and I was her side kick. After two years, she was inspired to start teaching Sunday school at that same church. She started driving two to three hours one way every weekend to teach, and I went with her when I could and would bring my guitar. It was one of these weekends when Daniel first saw me. God works in the details. 

In the fall of 2021, a couple months before Daniel and I started talking, I was feeling depressed and discouraged. I had been diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy in February of 2021 and was having a lot of health issues. One weekend, when I was Up North at my great aunt and uncle’s place, I woke up feeling so down.

I felt a pull to go outside and play my guitar. I didn’t really want to, but I felt like I should. When I went outside and saw the beautiful fall colors all around me, I was reminded how much God loves me. If God cares enough to take the time to paint each tiny leaf, how much more does He care for me? And He didn’t have to make things beautiful, but He did. God works in the details. 

That morning, I started crying and I finally came to the place in my life where I knew I would be okay. I knew that if I had God, I had everything I needed. I knew that I may not have a husband because of my disease. I had wanted one so badly all my life. It was my dream. But that morning, I realized that God was the answer. He was all I needed. And I was satisfied with only Him. I needed to come to that place in my life. God needed to be my everything. And then…then He gave me Daniel. 

When we surrender all; when we give our lives over completely to God to do with as He pleases, He blesses us. I decided that day that I was going to continue to live for God. I wanted Him to use me, and I was excited to live life with Him. I was in love with God. He was all I needed. He is all I need. But just to show me how much He loves me, He then blessed me with a husband. I had no idea that two months later, I would start talking to the man I was going to marry, but God knew all along. God works in the details. 

Today is a special day for Daniel and me, but it’s also a day that we are reminded of how God works in our lives. He brought us together and worked out every detail–even before we knew each other. God has shown us that even through the hard times and the points when we feel like giving up, that we are not alone. God is there and He is at work. 

On our first anniversary, we look back over all that God has brought us through and are overwhelmed. I am beyond blessed to have Daniel in my life, and I am so glad God gave him to me. What an amazing gift! So here’s to one year married. Here’s to the rest of our lives with each other and with God. This isn't our story. This is God’s story–how He worked in our lives and continues to do so. God is amazing and He writes the best kind of love stories. 

The greatest of all love stories took place at the cross. God loves you so much that He gave His only son to die for you. And He rose again so that you too can conquer the grave and live eternally with Him after death. If you believe this, confess your sins to Him, and ask for His forgiveness, He will give it to you. It’s a free gift.

I said Daniel was my second greatest gift from God. This is the first. When we love God back, we live for Him and He helps us to grow to be more and more like Him. He walks with us through life’s trials and never leaves us alone. He provides for our needs and shows us His love in so many ways. 

Daniel and my love story is just an example of how God showed His love to us. I love that Daniel proposed at the foot of the cross. The cross is the symbol of God's love. Ours a great love story, but what Christ did on the cross was the definition of love’s greatest sacrifice. There is no greater love. And that is the greatest love story ever told.