Bryan and Ashley met nearly 11 years ago.
Strangely, I met his family before he and I met.
It's a twisted web of connections...
His brother was my family church's pastor. His Mother and I first crossed paths at my workplace as I tried to sell her fragrant bath and body products. She purchased a pink elephant soap dish for her grandson-which is still in use. Bryan and his father sat just outside of the smelly store during that time. And his Mother coaxed Bryan to go into the store after she had left. Some months later, my Pastor's wife, Bryan's sister in law, just happened to be working at a place that I had become newly employed at. Their son, who received the pink elephant soap dish, also attended said workplace.
After some time, Pastor and Pastor's wife decided that Bryan and I should, at the least, meet. After repeatedly turning down the offer, I eventually gave in.
We met for the first time in church. And he talked more to my Father than I. I declined the offer of lunch afterward. He called me on Thursday of that week and we talked for quite some time. We went to dinner and a movie on the following Saturday. And that was just the beginning....
We were married 1 year, 1 month and 10 days after we first met.
It was perfect.
Bryan and Ashley have three children.
Margaret is the first who stole our hearts from the moment we knew she was on her way. A very sweet, happy baby and toddler. Now already 9 years old and is growing up so fast! She's in 3rd grade this year and LOVES learning. She is very loving, passionate, talented, caring, smart, beautiful, graceful and slightly stubborn. Maggie is wise beyond her years.
She changed.
Wyatt is our second child who was born only 9.5 months after our first. He was born at 26 weeks gestation, or 14 weeks premature. He caught us all by surprise, but he has fought hard to stay with us from the very beginning. He had a very scary entrance into the world but proved to us all he was stronger than we even thought possible. He also has Mitochondrial disease, which is a progressive, degenerative disease with no cure. He has an infectious joy about him and a genuine LOVE for life! Wyatt is in 2nd grade this year and is enjoying his 2nd year of Cub Scouts.
He taught.
Jilliana is our third child. She was born 3 years after Maggie and Wyatt, and was born 6 weeks early. She showed everyone from very early on that she will be doing things her way, in her own time. She marches to the beat of her own drum, proudly. She's now 5 years old and quite the princess. She's looking forward to starting kindergarten in the fall of 2011. I can think of many words to describe Jilly....spunky, confident, funny, independent, caring, determined, loving, beautiful, smart, and stubborn (not just a little...).
She healed.
Strangely, I met his family before he and I met.
It's a twisted web of connections...
His brother was my family church's pastor. His Mother and I first crossed paths at my workplace as I tried to sell her fragrant bath and body products. She purchased a pink elephant soap dish for her grandson-which is still in use. Bryan and his father sat just outside of the smelly store during that time. And his Mother coaxed Bryan to go into the store after she had left. Some months later, my Pastor's wife, Bryan's sister in law, just happened to be working at a place that I had become newly employed at. Their son, who received the pink elephant soap dish, also attended said workplace.
After some time, Pastor and Pastor's wife decided that Bryan and I should, at the least, meet. After repeatedly turning down the offer, I eventually gave in.
We met for the first time in church. And he talked more to my Father than I. I declined the offer of lunch afterward. He called me on Thursday of that week and we talked for quite some time. We went to dinner and a movie on the following Saturday. And that was just the beginning....
We were married 1 year, 1 month and 10 days after we first met.
It was perfect.
Bryan and Ashley have three children.
Margaret is the first who stole our hearts from the moment we knew she was on her way. A very sweet, happy baby and toddler. Now already 9 years old and is growing up so fast! She's in 3rd grade this year and LOVES learning. She is very loving, passionate, talented, caring, smart, beautiful, graceful and slightly stubborn. Maggie is wise beyond her years.
She changed.
Wyatt is our second child who was born only 9.5 months after our first. He was born at 26 weeks gestation, or 14 weeks premature. He caught us all by surprise, but he has fought hard to stay with us from the very beginning. He had a very scary entrance into the world but proved to us all he was stronger than we even thought possible. He also has Mitochondrial disease, which is a progressive, degenerative disease with no cure. He has an infectious joy about him and a genuine LOVE for life! Wyatt is in 2nd grade this year and is enjoying his 2nd year of Cub Scouts.
He taught.
Jilliana is our third child. She was born 3 years after Maggie and Wyatt, and was born 6 weeks early. She showed everyone from very early on that she will be doing things her way, in her own time. She marches to the beat of her own drum, proudly. She's now 5 years old and quite the princess. She's looking forward to starting kindergarten in the fall of 2011. I can think of many words to describe Jilly....spunky, confident, funny, independent, caring, determined, loving, beautiful, smart, and stubborn (not just a little...).
She healed.
