lets get real for a minute.

I know that Todd & I are definitely not your most conventional couple. Im sure you can tell that just by looking at our picture, due to the fact that he is 20 years my senior. 

Todd & I have known each other for quite some time now. He was married to one of my moms best friends, & one of our families closest friends, Lorri. Because of Lorri our families became very close. We all spent a lot of time together, whether it be church, family vacations, or just watching the bachelor together on monday nights. Lorri was dear to my heart. She was the kind of woman who turned everything she touched into gold. I loved her dearly. EVERYBODY loved Lorri.   

Unfortunately Lorri suffered a brain aneurysm & left us to go home to Jesus in 2012. It was a difficult loss for us all. One that left us all completely heartbroken. 

Todd then started spending more time with my family. We were always making sure he was busy and doing things, making sure he had meals, etc. Todd & I started to become closer and a special bond started to form between us. We shared a love of many things, one of them being music & attended many concerts together. We were both hesitant at first to share the news of our relationship with anyone, besides our close family. We wanted to be sure it was not a "rebound" or not just my "nurturing instincts" kicking in. It was a confusing time for us all but with the support of my parents we worked through it. I was constantly in prayer. Asking God for guidance & questioning if this was the right direction for our relationship. I would ask God to give me signs that this wasn't his will for my life. But to my surprise He kept showing me otherwise. 

Grief is a crazy thing & to find love in the midst of it seemed even crazier. 

I'd be lying if I said that this is never how I pictured my life. & I'd be lying if i said that it wasn't really hard sometimes. I know that marriage is hard without all the added baggage that we have. I know that the odds are stacked against us but I also know that we have a loving God who is working for our good. We make a good team & we communicate well. We make each other really happy. 

Todd always has me laughing, even when I'm mad at him, and he is so thoughtful in every little thing that he does for me. He is constantly surprising me with things I love. He listens to me in detail & always proves it by the smallest act of kindness. Things that I didn't even realize I needed until it was done. He even carries extra sweaters for me in his car cause he knows Im always cold. He is one of the strongest & kindest men I know & I could not be more blessed to have him in my life. 

As strange as our story is & as weird as it can be sometimes I am grateful for it. & I am forever grateful for Lorri. For the person she was, for the man she helped Todd become, and for the blessings that she gave us both. 

This is the happiest I have ever been in my life & even though our story is unusual I know that it was not by accident. God always has a plan for us. I wouldn't have it any other way.